Daily readings

Monday, September 21, 2026

Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. Ordinary Time. A clean reading layout for church, prayer, or preparation.

CelebrationSaint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

TypeFeast

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

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13

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.

1I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called,

2With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity.

3Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4One body and one Spirit; as you are called in one hope of your calling.

5One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all.

7But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the giving of Christ.

11And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors,

12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13Until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ;

2

Psalm

Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5

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.

2The heavens show forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth the work of his hands.

3Day to day uttereth speech, and night to night shows knowledge.

4There are no speeches nor languages, where their voices are not heard.

5Their sound has gone forth into all the earth: and their words to the ends of the world.

3

Gospel

Matthew 9:9-13

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.

9And when Jesus passed on from from here, he saw a man sitting in the custom house, named Matthew; and he says to him: Follow me. And he rose up and followed him.

10And it happened as he was sitting at food in the house, look many tax collectors and sinners came, and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.

11And the Pharisees seeing it, said to his disciples: Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?

12But Jesus hearing it, said: Those who are in health need not a physician, but those who are ill.

13Go then and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

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.