Mass Readings

Sunday, October 18, 2026

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday · Ordinary Time · Cycle A · Year II · Green

Reading I

Isa 45:1, 4-6

Thus saith the Lord to my anointed Cyrus, whose right hand I have taken hold of, to subdue nations before his face, and to turn the backs of kings, and to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut.

For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have made a likeness of thee, and thou hast not known me.

I am the Lord, and there is none else: there is no God besides me: I girded thee, and thou hast not known me:

That they may know who are from the rising of the sun, and they who are from the west, that there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is none else:

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 96:1+3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10

A canticle for David himself, when the house was built after the captivity. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people.

For the Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: but the Lord made the heavens.

Bring ye to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the Gentiles, bring ye to the Lord glory and honour:

Bring to the Lord glory unto his name. Bring up sacrifices, and come into his courts:

Adore ye the Lord in his holy court. Let all the earth be moved at his presence.

Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned. For he hath corrected the world, which shall not be moved: he will judge the people with justice.

Reading II

1 Thess 1:1-5b

Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians: in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace be to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for you all: making a remembrance of you in our prayers without ceasing,

Being mindful of the work of your faith and labour and charity: and of the enduring of the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ before God and our Father.

Knowing, brethren, beloved of God, your election:

For our gospel hath not been unto you in word only, but in power also: and in the Holy Ghost and in much fulness, as you know what manner of men we have been among you for your sakes.

Gospel Acclamation

Phil 2:15d-16a

That you may be blameless and sincere children of God, without reproof, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation: among whom you shine as lights in the world.

Holding forth the word of life to my glory in the day of Christ: because I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain.

Gospel

Matt 22:15-21

Then the Pharisees going, consulted among themselves how to insnare him in his speech.

And they sent to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying: Master, we know that thou art a true speaker and teachest the way of God in truth. Neither carest thou for any man: for thou dost not regard the person of men.

Tell us therefore what dost thou think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

But Jesus knowing their wickedness, said: Why do you tempt me, ye hypocrites?

Shew me the coin of the tribute. And they offered him a penny.

And Jesus saith to them: Whose image and inscription is this?

They say to him: Caesar's. Then he saith to them: Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God, the things that are God's.

About These Readings

Scripture text from the Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision, 1899), which is in the public domain. The Mass readings appointed for today follow the Lectionary for Mass approved for the dioceses of the United States.

Psalm verses follow the Vulgate numbering in the Douay-Rheims, which may differ by one chapter and a few verses from the Hebrew numbering used by the modern Lectionary. The substance of each Psalm is the same.

Read today’s NAB readings at USCCB ↗