Daily readings

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Saint Casimir. Lent. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationSaint Casimir

TypeCommemoration

SeasonLent

Year2026 archive

The Roman Catholic readings for this date are shown below on-site. Use plain reading mode if you want clearer modern wording, or switch back to the original Douay-Rheims wording at any time.

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Reading mode

Plain mode helps modern readers follow the text more easily.

The on-site reading text is drawn from public-domain Douay-Rheims sources. Plain mode is a built-in reading aid that modernizes older wording for easier understanding while keeping the same Roman Catholic reading references for the day.

What are the Mass readings for Wednesday March 4, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Wednesday March 4, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Jeremiah 18:18-20, psalm Psalm 31:5-6, 14, 15-16, no second reading is appointed for this Mass,and Gospel Matthew 20:17-28.

What is the Gospel for Wednesday March 4, 2026?

The Gospel for Wednesday March 4, 2026 is Matthew 20:17-28. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Wednesday March 4, 2026?

The psalm for Wednesday March 4, 2026 is Psalm 31:5-6, 14, 15-16. It is included below in the same reading order used at Mass, between the first reading and the Gospel.

Are these the USCCB daily readings for Wednesday March 4, 2026?

The same day's Catholic readings are gathered here on-site, with the official readings link available below in the source note.

First Reading

Jeremiah 18:18-20

How to approach it

Read this as the first big movement of the day. Notice what God is doing, who is speaking, and what part of the story or teaching should stay with you.

18:18And they said: Come, and let us invent devices against Jeremias: for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor guidance from the wise, nor the word from the prophet: come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us give no heed to all his words.

19Give heed to me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my adversaries.

20Shall evil be rendered for good, because they have digged a pit for my soul? Remember that I have stood in your sight, so speak good for them, and turn away your indignation from them.

Psalm

Psalm 31:5-6, 14, 15-16

How to pray it

The psalm is meant to be prayed, not rushed. If the wording feels older, focus on the main movement of the prayer: trust, praise, sorrow, gratitude, or hope.

31:5You will bring me out of this snare, which they have hidden for me: for you are my protector.

6Into your hands I commend my spirit: you have redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth.

14For I have heard the blame of many that dwell round about. While they assembled together against me, they consulted to take away my life.

15But I have put my trust in you, O Lord: I said: You are my God.

16My lots are in your hands. Deliver me out of the hands of my enemies; and from them that persecute me.

Gospel

Matthew 20:17-28

What to watch for

The Gospel is the center of the reading set. Pay close attention to what Jesus says, what Jesus does, and what response he is asking for.

20:17And Jesus going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart, and said to them:

18Look we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and they shall condemn him to death.

19And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked, and scourged, and crucified, and the third day he shall rise again.

20Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of him.

21Who said to her: What will you? She says to him: Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on your right hand, and the other on your left, in your kingdom.

22And Jesus answering, said: You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink? They say to him: We can.

23He says to them: My chalice indeed you shall drink; but to sit on my right or left hand, is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by my Father.

24And the ten hearing it, were moved with indignation against the two brothers and sisters.

25But Jesus called them to him, and said: You know that the leaders of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who are the greater, exercise power upon them.

26It shall not be so among you: but whoever will be the greater among you, let him be your minister:

27And he that will be first among you, shall be your servant.

28Even as the Son of Man is not come to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many.

How the readings move through Mass today

The Liturgy of the Word normally moves from the first reading to the psalm, then to the second reading when one is appointed, then to the Gospel, and then into the homily. On weekday Masses, the second reading is often omitted, so the Church moves from the psalm directly to the Gospel.

First Reading

Jeremiah 18:18-20

The first reading is usually taken from the Old Testament. It prepares the heart to hear how God has been acting through his covenant and promises.

Psalm

Psalm 31:5-6, 14, 15-16

The psalm is the Church’s prayerful response to the first reading. It helps the congregation answer God’s word with trust, praise, repentance, or hope.

Second Reading

Usually omitted today

There is no second reading at many weekday Masses. On days like this, the liturgy moves from the psalm directly to the Gospel.

Gospel

Matthew 20:17-28

The Gospel is the high point of the Liturgy of the Word. Catholics stand because Christ himself speaks to his people in a special way through the Gospel proclamation.

Homily

After the Gospel

The homily follows the Gospel. It should gather the day’s readings together, explain the mystery being celebrated, and help people carry the word of God into ordinary life.

What the homily usually draws together

A Catholic homily usually gathers the first reading, the psalm, and the Gospel into one spiritual movement. It may explain how the Old Testament prepares for Christ, how the apostles witness to the risen Lord, how the psalm teaches the Church to pray, and how the Gospel calls for faith and conversion now.

If you are preparing before Mass, try to carry one sentence, one image, or one invitation from the readings with you. That usually makes the homily easier to follow because you already know what part of God's word has stayed with you.

What about the Prayers of the Faithful for Wednesday March 4, 2026?

The Prayers of the Faithful are usually written locally by a parish, diocese, or celebrant, so there is not always one universal text for this exact day. The scriptural readings above are the stable part the whole Church receives, and they usually shape the petitions that follow at Mass.

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Thursday, March 5, 2026

Source note

The day's references and liturgical celebration data come from the Catholic Readings API, while the on-site scripture text is rendered from public-domain Douay-Rheims sources so the day's readings can be read directly on the page.