Welcome to Catholic Mass Readings of Today, offered for prayerful reflection and spiritual nourishment. These readings unite Catholics worldwide through the same Scripture proclaimed in churches across the globe.
Reading and reflecting on the Catholic bible readings daily helps us remain connected to the rhythm of the Church and attentive to God’s voice.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 16: 13 – 20
Catholic Mass Readings for Sunday, August 23rd 2026
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A
FIRST READING
“I place the key of the house of David upon his shoulder.”
A reading from the Book of Isaiah (ISAIAH 22: 19 – 23)
Thus says the Lord to Shebna, who is over the household: “I will thrust you from your office, and you will be cast down from your station. In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your belt on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him like a peg in a sure place, and he will become a throne of honour to his father’s house.”
The Word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Taken from Psalm 138: 1 – 2a, 2bcd – 3, 6 and 8bc (Response.) 8bc
And the response is;
Response/. O Lord, your merciful love is eternal; Discard not the work of your hands.
I thank you, Lord, with all my heart;
you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I praise you.
I bow down towards your holy temple. Response/.
I give thanks to your name
For your merciful love and your faithfulness.
You have exalted your name and your promise over all.
On the day I called, you answered me;
You increased the strength of my soul. Response/.
The Lord is high, yet he looks on the lowly,
and the haughty he knows from afar.
O Lord, your merciful love is eternal;
discard not the work of your hands. Response/.
SECOND READING
“From him and through him and to him are all things.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans (ROMANS 11: 33 – 36)
O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
The Word of the Lord.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Matthew 16: 18
Alleluia.
You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“You are Peter. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (MATTHEW 16: 13 – 20)
At that time: When Jesus came into the district of Caesare a Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
The Gospel of the Lord.
You are invited to read
As you reflect on today’s Mass readings, take a moment to listen to what God may be asking of you. Scripture has the power to console, challenge, and renew our hope when received with an open heart.
By meditating on today’s readings, we open ourselves to God’s grace and prepare our hearts to live the Gospel in our homes, communities, and the wider world.
You are welcome to choose another date from the calendar to reflect on the readings for that day.
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