Daily readings

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor. Lent. A clean reading layout for church, prayer, or preparation.

CelebrationSaint Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor

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.

Reading mode

Plain mode helps modern readers follow the text more easily.

On-site scripture text: Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition. 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.

1

First Reading

Isaiah 49:8-15

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.

8Thus says the Lord: In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you: and I have preserved you, and given you to be a covenant of the people, that you might raise up the earth, and have the inheritances that were destroyed:

9That you might say to them that are bound: Come forth: and to them that are in darkness: Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in every plain.

10They shall not hunger, nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun strike them: for he that is merciful to them, shall be their shepherd, and at the fountains of waters he shall give them drink.

11And I will make all my mountains a way, and my paths shall be exalted.

12Look these shall come from afar, and look these from the north and from the sea, and these from the south country.

13Give praise, OH you heavens, and rejoice, OH earth, you mountains, give praise with jubilation: because the Lord has comforted his people, and will have mercy on his poor ones.

14And Sion said: The Lord has left me, and the Lord has forgotten me.

15Can a woman forget her infant, so as not to have pity on the son of her womb? and if she should forget, yet will not I forget you.

2

Psalm

Psalm 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18

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.

8Whose mouth has said emptiness: and their right hand is the right hand of sin.

9To you, OH God, I will sing a new canticle: on the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings I will sing praises to you.

3

Gospel

John 5:17-30

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.

17But Jesus answered them: My Father works until now; and I work.

18Hereupon therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he did not only break the sabbath, but also said God was his Father, making himself equal to God.

19Then Jesus answered, and said to them: Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son cannot do any thing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing: for what things soever he does, these the Son also does in like manner.

20For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things which himself does: and greater works than these will he show him, that you may wonder.

21For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and gives life: so the Son also gives life to whom he will.

22For neither does the Father judge any man, but has given all judgment to the Son.

23That all men may honour the Son, as they honour the Father. He who honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father, who has sent him.

24Truly, truly I say to you, that he who hears my word, and believes him that sent me, has life eternal; and comes not into judgment, but is passed from death to life.

25Truly, truly I say to you, that the hour comes, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear shall live.

26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has given the Son also to have life in himself:

27And he has given him power to do judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

28Wonder not at this; for the hour comes, in which all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God.

29And those who have done good things, shall come forth to the resurrection of life; but those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.

30I cannot of myself do any thing. As I hear, so I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not my own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Source note

This page uses the Catholic Readings API for the day's references and liturgical celebration data, while the on-site scripture text is rendered from the public-domain Douay-Rheims Bible distributed through the Open Bibles project.