Daily readings

Sunday, August 23, 2026

21st Sunday of Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time. A clean reading layout for church, prayer, or preparation.

Celebration21st 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.

On-site scripture text: Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition. 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.

1

First Reading

Isaiah 22:19-23

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.

19And I will drive you out From your station, and depose you from your ministry.

20And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliacim the son of Helcias,

21And I will clothe him with your robe, and will strengthen him with your girdle, and will give your power into his hand: and he shall be as a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Juda.

22And I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder: and he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut, and none shall open.

23And I will fasten him as a peg in a sure place, and he shall be for a throne of glory to the house of his father.

2

Psalm

Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 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.

1Upon the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept: when we remembered Sion:

2On the willows in the midst thereof we hung up our instruments.

3For there those who led us into captivity required of us the words of songs. And those who carried us away, said: Sing you to us a hymn of the songs of Sion.

6Let my tongue cleave to my jaws, if I do not remember you: If I make not Jerusalem the beginning of my joy.

8OH daughter of Babylon, miserable: blessed shall he be who shall repay you your payment which you have paid us.

3

Second Reading

Romans 11:33-36

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.

33OH the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments, and how unsearchable his ways!

34For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?

35Or who has first given to him, and recompense shall be made him?

36For of him, and by him, and in him, are all things: to him be glory forever. Amen.

4

Gospel

Matthew 16:13-20

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.

13And Jesus came into the quarters of Cesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of Man is?

14But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15Jesus says to them: But whom do you say that I am?

16Simon Peter answered and said: You art Christ, the Son of the living God.

17And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art you, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

18And I say to you: That you art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever you shall bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatever you shall loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.

20Then he commanded his disciples, that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.

Source note

This page uses the Catholic Readings API for the day's references and liturgical celebration data, while the on-site scripture text is rendered from the public-domain Douay-Rheims Bible distributed through the Open Bibles project.