Daily readings

Sunday, September 20, 2026

25th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

Celebration25th 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 September 20, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Sunday September 20, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Isaiah 55:6-9, psalm Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18, second reading Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a,and Gospel Matthew 20:1-16a.

What is the Gospel for Sunday September 20, 2026?

The Gospel for Sunday September 20, 2026 is Matthew 20:1-16a. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Sunday September 20, 2026?

The psalm for Sunday September 20, 2026 is Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 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 September 20, 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 55:6-9

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.

55:6Seek you the Lord, while he may be found: call upon him, while he is near.

7Let the evil leave his way, and the unjust man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God: for he is bountiful to forgive.

8For my thoughts are not your thoughts: nor your ways my ways, says the Lord.

9For as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so are my ways exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.

2

Psalm

Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 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.

145:2My mercy, and my refuge: my support, and my deliverer: My protector, and I have hoped in him: who subdueth my people under me.

3Lord, what is man, that you are made known to him? or the Son of Man, that you makest account of him?

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.

3

Second Reading

Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a

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.

1:20According to my expectation and hope; that in nothing I shall be put to shame, but with all confidence, as always, so now also shall Christ be magnified in my body, wither it be by life, or by death.

21For to me, to live is Christ; and to die is gain.

22And if to live in the flesh, that is to me the fruit of work, and what I shall choose I know not.

23But I am straitened between two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, a thing by far the better.

24But to abide still in the flesh, is needful for you.

27Only let your conversation be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you, or, being absent, may hear of you, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind labouring together for the faith of the gospel.

4

Gospel

Matthew 20:1-16a

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.

20:1The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire workers into his vineyard.

2And having agreed with the workers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3And going about the third hour, he saw others standing in the market place idle.

4And he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be righteous.

5And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did in like manner.

6But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he says to them: Why stand you here all the day idle?

7They say to him: Because no man has hired us. He says to them: Go you also into my vineyard.

8And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard says to his steward: Call the workers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first.

9When therefore they were come, that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

10But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive more: and they also received every man a penny.

11And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house,

12Saying: These last have worked but one hour, and you have made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats.

13But he answering said to one of them: Friend, I do you no wrong: did you not agree with me for a penny?

14Take what is yours, and go your way: I will also give to this last even as to you.

15Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? is your eye evil, because I am good?

16So shall the last be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.

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 55:6-9

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 145:2-3, 8-9, 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.

3

Second Reading

Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a

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 20:1-16a

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 September 20, 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.