Daily readings

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Thursday of the 2nd week of Easter. Eastertide. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationThursday of the 2nd week of Easter

TypeWeekday

SeasonEastertide

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 Thursday April 16, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Thursday April 16, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Acts 5:27-33, psalm Psalm 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20, no second reading is appointed for this Mass,and Gospel John 3:31-36.

What is the Gospel for Thursday April 16, 2026?

The Gospel for Thursday April 16, 2026 is John 3:31-36. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Thursday April 16, 2026?

The psalm for Thursday April 16, 2026 is Psalm 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20. 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 Thursday April 16, 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

Acts 5:27-33

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.

5:27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,

28Saying: Commanding we commanded you, that you should not teach in this name; and look, you have satisfied Jerusalem with your teaching, and you have a mind to bring the blood of this man upon us.

29But Peter and the apostles answering, said: We ought to obey God, rather than men.

30The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you put to death, hanging him upon a tree.

31Him has God exalted with his right hand, to be Leader and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.

32And we are witnesses of these things and the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to all that obey him.

33When they had heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they thought to put them to death.

Psalm

Psalm 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20

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.

34:2I will bless the Lord always, his praise shall be always in my mouth.

9O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the person who hopeth in him.

17But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil things: to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

18The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them: and rescued them out of all their troubles.

19The Lord is nigh to them that are of a sorry heart: and he will save the humble of spirit.

20Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but out of them all will the Lord deliver them.

Gospel

John 3:31-36

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.

3:31He that comes from above, is above all. He that is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaketh. He that comes from heaven, is above all.

32And what he has seen and heard, that he testifieth: and no man receiveth his teaching.

33The one who has received his teaching, has set to his seal that God is true.

34For he whom God has sent, speaketh the words of God: for God does not give the Spirit by measure.

35The Father loves the Son: and he has given all things into his hand.

36He that believes in the Son, has life eternal; but he that believes not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God remains on him.

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

Acts 5:27-33

In Eastertide, the first reading usually comes from Acts of the Apostles so the Church stays close to the witness of the risen Lord and the life of the early Church.

Psalm

Psalm 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20

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 3:31-36

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 Thursday April 16, 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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Friday, April 17, 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.