Daily readings

Sunday, December 20, 2026

4th Sunday of Advent. Advent. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

Celebration4th Sunday of Advent

TypeSunday

SeasonAdvent

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 December 20, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Sunday December 20, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16, psalm Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29, second reading Romans 16:25-27,and Gospel Luke 1:26-38.

What is the Gospel for Sunday December 20, 2026?

The Gospel for Sunday December 20, 2026 is Luke 1:26-38. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Sunday December 20, 2026?

The psalm for Sunday December 20, 2026 is Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29. 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 December 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

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

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.

7:1And it happened when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,

2He said to Nathan the prophet: Do you see that I dwell in a house of cedar, and the ark of God is lodged within skins?

3And Nathan said to the king: Go, do all that is in your heart: because the Lord is with you.

4But it happened that night, that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:

5Go, and say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Shall you build me a house to dwell in?

8And now thus shall you speak to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: a I took you out of the pastures from following the sheep to be ruler over my people Israel:

9And I have been with you wheresoever you have walked, and have killed all your enemies from before your face: and I have made you a great man, like to the name of the great ones that are on the earth.

10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, and they shall dwell in it, and shall be disturbed no more: neither shall the children of sin afflict them any more as they did before,

11From the day that I appointed judges over my people Israel: and I will give you rest from all your enemies. And the Lord foretelleth to you, that the Lord will make you a house.

12And when your days shall be fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, which shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

14I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son: and if he commit any sin, I will correct him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the people.

16And your house shall be faithful, and your kingdom forever before your face, and your throne shall be firm forever.

2

Psalm

Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29

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.

89:2The mercies of the Lord I will sing forever. I will show forth your truth with my mouth to generation and generation.

3For you have said: Mercy shall be built up forever in the heavens: your truth shall be prepared in them.

4I have made a covenant with my elect: I have sworn to David my servant:

5Your offspring will I settle forever. And I will build up your throne to generation and generation.

27He shall cry out to me: You are my father: my God, and the support of my salvation.

29I will keep my mercy for him forever: and my covenant faithful to him.

3

Second Reading

Romans 16:25-27

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.

16:25Now to him that is able to establish you, according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret from eternity,

26(Which now is made clear by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the instruction of the eternal God, for the obedience of faith,) known among all nations;

27To God the only wise, through Jesus Christ, to whom be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.

4

Gospel

Luke 1:26-38

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.

1:26And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,

27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

28And the angel being come in, said to her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you: blessed art you among women.

29Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.

30And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for you have found grace with God.

31Look you shall conceive in your womb, and shall bring forth a son; and you shall call his name Jesus.

32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob forever.

33And of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?

35And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the most High shall overshadow you. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.

36And look your cousin Elizabeth, she also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:

37Because no word shall be impossible with God.

38And Mary said: Look the servant of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.

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

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

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 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29

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 16:25-27

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

Luke 1:26-38

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 December 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.