Daily readings

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Saint Bernardine of Siena, Priest. Eastertide. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationSaint Bernardine of Siena, Priest

TypeOptional Memorial

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 Wednesday May 20, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Wednesday May 20, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Acts 20:28-38, psalm Psalm 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab, no second reading is appointed for this Mass,and Gospel John 17:11b-19.

What is the Gospel for Wednesday May 20, 2026?

The Gospel for Wednesday May 20, 2026 is John 17:11b-19. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Wednesday May 20, 2026?

The psalm for Wednesday May 20, 2026 is Psalm 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab. 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 May 20, 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 20:28-38

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.

20:28Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, in which the Holy Ghost has placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.

29I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31Therefore watch, keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not, with tears to admonish every one of you night and day.

32And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build up, and to give an gift among all the sanctified.

33I have not coveted any man's silver, gold, or apparel, as

34You yourselves know: for such things as were needful for me and them that are with me, these hands have furnished.

35I have showed you all things, how that so labouring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the word of the Lord Jesus, how he said: It is a more blessed thing to give, rather than to receive.

36And when he had said these things, kneeling down, he prayed with them all.

37And there was much weeping among them all; and falling on the neck of Paul, they kissed him,

38Being grieved most of all for the word which he had said, that they should see his face no more. And they brought him on his way to the ship.

2

Psalm

Psalm 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab

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.

68:29Command your strength, O God: confirm, O God, what you have wrought in us.

30From your temple in Jerusalem, kings shall offer presents to you.

33Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth: sing you to the Lord: Sing you to God,

34who mounteth above the heaven of heavens, to the east. Look he will give to his voice the voice of power:

35give you glory to God for Israel, his magnificence, and his power is in the clouds.

36God is wonderful in his saints: the God of Israel is he who will give power and strength to his people. Blessed be God.

3

Gospel

John 17:11b-19

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.

17:11And now I am not in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name whom you has given me; that they may be one, as we also are.

12While I was with them, I kept them in your name. Those whom you gavest me have I kept; and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the scripture may be fulfilled.

13And now I come to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy satisfied in themselves.

14I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world; as I also am not of the world.

15I pray not that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from evil.

16They are not of the world, as I also am not of the world.

17Sanctify them in truth. Your word is truth.

18As you have sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

19And for them do I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

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 20:28-38

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 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab

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 17:11b-19

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 Wednesday May 20, 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.