Daily readings

Sunday, August 16, 2026

20th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

Celebration20th 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.

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 16, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Sunday August 16, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Isaiah 56:1, 6-7, psalm Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8, second reading Romans 11:13-15, 29-32,and Gospel Matthew 15:21-28.

What is the Gospel for Sunday August 16, 2026?

The Gospel for Sunday August 16, 2026 is Matthew 15:21-28. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Sunday August 16, 2026?

The psalm for Sunday August 16, 2026 is Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8. 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 16, 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

Isaiah 56:1, 6-7

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.

56:1Thus says the Lord$1 Keep you judgment, and do righteousness: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

6And the children of the stranger that adhere to the Lord, to worship him, and to love his name, to be his servants: every one that keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, and that holdeth fast my covenant:

7I will bring them into my holy mount, and will make them joyful in my house of prayer: their holocausts, and their victims shall please me upon my altar: for my house shall be called the house of prayer, for all nations.

2

Psalm

Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

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.

67:2May God have mercy on us, and bless us: may he cause the light of his face to shine upon us, and may he have mercy on us.

3That we may know your way upon earth: your salvation in all nations.

5Let the nations be glad and rejoice: for you judgest the people with righteousness, and directest the nations upon earth.

6Let the people, O God, confess to you: let all the people give praise to you:

8may God bless us: and all the ends of the earth fear him.

3

Second Reading

Romans 11:13-15, 29-32

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.

11:13For I say to you, Gentiles: as long indeed as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I will honour my ministry,

14If, by any means, I may provoke to emulation them who are my flesh, and may save some of them.

15For if the loss of them be the reconciliation of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

29For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance.

30For as you also in times past did not believe God, but now have obtained mercy, through their unbelief;

31So these also now have not believed, for your mercy, that they also may obtain mercy.

32For God has concluded all in unbelief, that he may have mercy on all.

4

Gospel

Matthew 15:21-28

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.

15:21And Jesus went from from there, and retired into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

22And look a woman of Canaan who came out of those coasts, crying out, said to him: Have mercy on me, O Lord, you son of David: my daughter is grieviously troubled by the devil.

23Who answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying: Send her away, for she cries after us:

24And he answering, said: I was not sent but to the sheep that are lost of the people of Israel.

25But she came and adored him, saying: Lord, help me.

26Who answering, said: It is not good to take the bread of the children, and to cast it to the dogs.

27But she said: Yea, Lord; for the whelps also eat of the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters.

28Then Jesus answering, said to her: O woman, great is your faith: be it done to you as you will: and her daughter was cured from that hour.

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

Isaiah 56:1, 6-7

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.

2

Psalm

Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

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

Romans 11:13-15, 29-32

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.

4

Gospel

Matthew 15:21-28

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 Sunday August 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.

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.