Daily readings

Sunday, August 23, 2026

21st Sunday of Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

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.

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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 23, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Sunday August 23, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Isaiah 22:19-23, psalm Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8, second reading Romans 11:33-36,and Gospel Matthew 16:13-20.

What is the Gospel for Sunday August 23, 2026?

The Gospel for Sunday August 23, 2026 is Matthew 16:13-20. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Sunday August 23, 2026?

The psalm for Sunday August 23, 2026 is Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 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 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

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.

22:19And 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.

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.

138:1Upon 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.

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

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.

11:33O 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.

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.

16:13And 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 are 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 are 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.

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 22:19-23

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 138:1-2, 2-3, 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.

Second Reading

Romans 11:33-36

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 16:13-20

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 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.