Daily readings

Monday, May 4, 2026

Monday of the 5th week of Easter. Eastertide. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationMonday of the 5th 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.

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 Monday May 4, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Monday May 4, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Acts 14:5-18, psalm Psalm 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16, no second reading is appointed for this Mass,and Gospel John 14:21-26.

What is the Gospel for Monday May 4, 2026?

The Gospel for Monday May 4, 2026 is John 14:21-26. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Monday May 4, 2026?

The psalm for Monday May 4, 2026 is Psalm 115:1-2, 3-4, 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 Monday May 4, 2026?

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

1

First Reading

Acts 14:5-18

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.

14:5And when there was an assault made by the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to use them contumeliously, and to stone them:

6They understanding it, fled to Lystra, and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the whole country round about, and were there preaching the gospel.

7And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked.

8This same heard Paul speaking. Who looking upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

9Said with a loud voice: Stand upright on your feet. And he leaped up, and walked.

10And when the crowds had seen what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice in the Lycaonian tongue, saying: The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men;

11And they called Barnabas, Jupiter: but Paul, Mercury; because he was chief speaker.

12The priest also of Jupiter that was before the city, bringing oxen and garlands before the gate, would have offered sacrifice with the people.

13Which, when the apostles Barnabas and Paul had heard, rending their clothes, they leaped out among the people, crying,

14And saying: You men, why do you these things? We also are mortals, men like to you, preaching to you to be converted from these vain things, to the living God, who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them:

15Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

16Nevertheless he left not himself without teaching, doing good from heaven, giving rains and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

17And speaking these things, they scarce restrained the people from sacrificing to them.

18Now there came there certain Jews from Antioch, and Iconium: and persuading the crowd, and stoning Paul, drew him out of the city, thinking him to be dead.

2

Psalm

Psalm 115:1-2, 3-4, 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.

115:1I have loved, because the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer.

2Because he has inclined his ear to me: and in my days I will call upon him.

3The sorrows of death have encompassed me: and the perils of hell have found me. I met with trouble and sorrow:

4and I called upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, deliver my soul.

3

Gospel

John 14:21-26

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.

14:21The one who has my commands, and keepeth them; he it is that loves me. And he that loves me, shall be loved of my Father: and I will love him, and will clear myself to him.

22Judas says to him, not the Iscariot: Lord, how is it, that you will clear yourself to us, and not to the world?

23Jesus answered, and said to him: If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and will make our abode with him.

24He that loves me not, keepeth not my words. And the word which you have heard, is not mine; but the Father's who sent me.

25These things have I said to you, abiding with you.

26But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatever I shall have said to you.

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.

1

First Reading

Acts 14:5-18

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.

2

Psalm

Psalm 115:1-2, 3-4, 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.

3

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.

4

Gospel

John 14:21-26

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.

5

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 Monday May 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.

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.