Daily readings

Thursday, July 23, 2026

Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious, Patron of Europe. Ordinary Time. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationSaint Bridget of Sweden, Religious, Patron of Europe

TypeFeast

SeasonOrdinary Time

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 July 23, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Thursday July 23, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13, psalm Psalm 36:6-7ab, 8-9, 10-11, no second reading is appointed for this Mass,and Gospel Matthew 13:10-17.

What is the Gospel for Thursday July 23, 2026?

The Gospel for Thursday July 23, 2026 is Matthew 13:10-17. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Thursday July 23, 2026?

The psalm for Thursday July 23, 2026 is Psalm 36:6-7ab, 8-9, 10-11. 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 July 23, 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 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13

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.

2:1And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

2Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: Thus says the Lord: I have remembered you, pitying your soul, pitying your youth, and the love of your espousals, when you followedst me in the desert, in a land that is not sown.

3Israel is holy to the Lord, the first fruits of his increase: all those who devour him offend: evils shall come upon them, says the Lord.

7And I brought you into the land of Carmel, to eat the fruit thereof, and the best things thereof: ad when you entered in, you defiled my land, and made my gift an abomination.

8The priests did not say: Where is the Lord? and those who held the law knew me not, and the pastors transgressed against me: and the prophets prophesied in Baal, and followed idols.

12Be astonished, O you heavens, at this, and you gates thereof, be very desolate, says the Lord.

13For my people have done two evils. They have left me, the fountain of living water, and have digged to themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Psalm

Psalm 36:6-7ab, 8-9, 10-11

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.

36:6O Lord, your mercy is in heaven, and your truth reacheth, even to the clouds.

7Your righteousness is as the mountains of God, your judgments are a great deep. Men and beasts you will preserve, O Lord$1

8O how have you multiplied your mercy, O God! But the people shall put their trust under the covert of your wings.

9They shall be inebriated with the plenty of your house; and you shall make them drink of the torrent of your pleasure.

10For with you is the fountain of life; and in your light we shall see light.

11Extend your mercy to them that know you, and your righteousness to them that are right in heart.

Gospel

Matthew 13:10-17

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.

13:10And his disciples came and said to him: Why speakest you to them in parables?

11Who answered and said to them: Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven: but to them it is not given.

12For the one who has, to him shall be given, and he shall abound: but the one who has not, from him shall be taken away that also which he has.

13Therefore do I speak to them in parables: because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14And the prophecy of Isaias is fulfilled in them, who says: By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive.

15For the heart of this people is grown gross, and with their ears they have been dull of hearing, and their eyes they have shut: lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

16But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.

17For, amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the things that you hear and have not heard them.

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 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13

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 36:6-7ab, 8-9, 10-11

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

Matthew 13:10-17

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 July 23, 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.