Daily readings

Sunday, August 2, 2026

18th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

Celebration18th Sunday of Ordinary Time

TypeSunday

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 Sunday August 2, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Sunday August 2, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Isaiah 55:1-3, psalm Psalm 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18, second reading Romans 8:35, 37-39,and Gospel Matthew 14:13-21.

What is the Gospel for Sunday August 2, 2026?

The Gospel for Sunday August 2, 2026 is Matthew 14:13-21. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Sunday August 2, 2026?

The psalm for Sunday August 2, 2026 is Psalm 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18. 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 Sunday August 2, 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

Isaiah 55:1-3

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.

55:1All you that thirst, come to the waters: and you that have no money hurry, buy, and eat: come you, buy wine and milk without money, and without any price.

2Why do you spend money for that which is not breed, and your work for that which does not satisfy you? Hearken diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and your soul shall be delighted in fatness.

3Incline your ear and come to me: hear and your soul shall lire, and I will make an eternal covenant with you, the faithful mercies of David.

Psalm

Psalm 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18

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.

145:8Whose mouth has said emptiness: and their right hand is the right hand of sin.

9To you, O God, I will sing a new canticle: on the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings I will sing praises to you.

15They have called the people happy, that has these things: but happy is that people whose God is the Lord.

Second Reading

Romans 8:35, 37-39

How to read it

This reading often teaches Christians how to live with steadiness, charity, and faith. Look for one clear encouragement or warning you can carry into the day.

8:35Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble? or distress? or famine? or nakedness? or danger? or persecution? or the sword?

37But in all these things we overcome, because of him that has loved us.

38For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might,

39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel

Matthew 14:13-21

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.

14:13Which when Jesus had heard, he retired from from there by boat, into a desert place apart, and the crowds having heard of it, followed him on foot out of the cities.

14And he coming forth saw a great crowd, and had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

15And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying: This is a desert place, and the hour is now past: send away the crowds, that going into the towns, they may buy themselves victuals.

16But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go: give you them to eat.

17They answered him: We have not here, but five bread, and two fishes.

18He said to them: Bring them here to me.

19And when he had commanded the crowds to sit down upon the grass, he took the five bread and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the bread to his disciples, and the disciples to the crowds.

20And they did all eat, and were satisfied. And they took up what remained, twelve full baskets of fragments.

21And the number of them that did eat, was five thousand men, besides women and children.

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

Isaiah 55:1-3

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 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18

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

Romans 8:35, 37-39

The second reading is usually taken from the New Testament letters or Revelation. It helps connect the day’s proclamation to Christian life in the Church.

Gospel

Matthew 14:13-21

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 Sunday August 2, 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.