Daily readings

Saturday, March 21, 2026

Saturday of the 4th week of Lent. Lent. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationSaturday of the 4th week of Lent

TypeWeekday

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 Saturday March 21, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Saturday March 21, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Jeremiah 11:18-20, psalm Psalm 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12, no second reading is appointed for this Mass,and Gospel John 7:40-53.

What is the Gospel for Saturday March 21, 2026?

The Gospel for Saturday March 21, 2026 is John 7:40-53. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Saturday March 21, 2026?

The psalm for Saturday March 21, 2026 is Psalm 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12. 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 Saturday March 21, 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 11:18-20

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.

11:18But you, O Lord, have shewn me, and I have known: then you shewedst me their doings.

19And I was as a gentle lamb, that is carried to be a victim: and I knew not that they had devised guidance against me, saying: Let us put wood on his bread, and cut him off from the land of the living, and let his name be remembered no more.

20But you, O Lord of Sabaoth, who judgest justly, and triest the reins and hearts, let me see your revenge on them: for to you I have revealed my cause.

Psalm

Psalm 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12

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.

7:2O Lord my God, in you have I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.

3Lest at any time he seize upon my soul like a lion, while there is no one to redeem me, nor to save.

9The Lord judgeth the people. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my innocence in me.

10The evil of sinners shall be brought to nought: and you shall direct the righteous: the searcher of hearts and reins is God.

11Righteous is my help from the Lord: who saveth the upright of heart.

12God is a righteous judge, strong and patient: is he angry every day?

Gospel

John 7:40-53

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.

7:40Of that crowd therefore, when they had heard these words of his, some said: This is the prophet indeed.

41Others said: This is the Christ. But some said: Does the Christ come out of Galilee?

42Does not the scripture say: That Christ comes of the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem the town where David was?

43So there arose a dissension among the people because of him.

44And some of them would have apprehended him: but no man laid hands on him.

45The ministers therefore came to the chief priests and the Pharisees. And they said to them: Why have you not brought him?

46The ministers answered: Never did man speak like this man.

47The Pharisees therefore answered them: Are you also seduced?

48Has any one of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees?

49But this crowd, that knows not the law, are accursed.

50Nicodemus said to them, (he that came to him by night, who was one of them:)

51Does our law judge any man, unless it first hear him, and know what he does?

52They answered, and said to him: Art you also a Galilean? Search the scriptures, and see, that out of Galilee a prophet rises not.

53And every man returned to his own house.

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 11:18-20

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 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12

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

John 7:40-53

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 Saturday March 21, 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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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.