Catholic Daily Readings

Daily Mass Readings For Monday, August 18, 2025

Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading I: Judges 2:11-19

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 106:34-35, 36-37, 39-40, 43ab and 44

Alleluia: Matthew 5:3

Gospel: Matthew 19:16-22

Liturgical vestments: Green

August - 17
August - 18
August - 19

Monday, August 18, 2025: Readings & Responsorial Psalm & Gospel

Each day, the Mass readings invite us into a deeper encounter with God. Through Scripture, we hear His voice speaking to our hearts, guiding us, comforting us, and calling us to a life of holiness. The Word of God is not just a story from the past; it is alive, relevant, and transformative.

Every reading is an opportunity for grace. Some days, the words challenge us to grow; other days, they console us in our struggles. But always, they nourish our souls, strengthening our faith and drawing us closer to Christ.

Let us open our hearts to the Word of God daily. May we not just hear it but live it, allowing it to shape our actions and deepen our love for Him. Lord, speak to us today, and help us to follow You more faithfully. Amen.

Reading I

Judges 2:11-19

The children of Israel offended the LORD by serving the Baals.
Abandoning the LORD, the God of their fathers,
who led them out of the land of Egypt,
they followed the other gods of the various nations around them,
and by their worship of these gods provoked the LORD.

Because they had thus abandoned him and served Baal and the Ashtaroth,
the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel,
and he delivered them over to plunderers who despoiled them.
He allowed them to fall into the power of their enemies round about
whom they were no longer able to withstand.
Whatever they undertook, the LORD turned into disaster for them,
as in his warning he had sworn he would do,
till they were in great distress.
Even when the LORD raised up judges to deliver them
from the power of their despoilers,
they did not listen to their judges,
but abandoned themselves to the worship of other gods.
They were quick to stray from the way their fathers had taken,
and did not follow their example of obedience
to the commandments of the LORD.
Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge
and save them from the power of their enemies
as long as the judge lived;
it was thus the LORD took pity on their distressful cries
of affliction under their oppressors.
But when the judge died,
they would relapse and do worse than their ancestors,
following other gods in service and worship,
relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 106:34-35, 36-37, 39-40, 43ab and 44

R.   (4a) Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They did not exterminate the peoples,
   as the LORD had commanded them,
But mingled with the nations
   and learned their works.
R.   Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They served their idols,
   which became a snare for them.
They sacrificed their sons
   and their daughters to demons.
R.   Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They became defiled by their works,
   and wanton in their crimes.
And the LORD grew angry with his people,
   and abhorred his inheritance.
R.   Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Many times did he rescue them,
   but they embittered him with their counsels.
Yet he had regard for their affliction
   when he heard their cry.
R.   Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Alleluia

Matthew 5:3

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Matthew 19:16-22

A young man approached Jesus and said,
“Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”
He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good?
There is only One who is good.
If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
He asked him, “Which ones?”
And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
honor your father and your mother;
and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The young man said to him,
“All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go,
sell what you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad,
for he had many possessions.

Reflection

“If you are not master of yourself — though you may be powerful — your air of mastery moves me to pity and laughter.” (Saint Josemaría)

“Jesus shows that the commandments must not be understood as a minimum limit not to be gone beyond, but rather as a path involving a moral and spiritual journey towards perfection, at the heart of which is love.” (Saint John Paul II)

“‘Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?’ To the young man who asked this question, Jesus answers first by invoking the necessity to recognize God (..) as the supreme Good (...). Then Jesus tells him: ‘If you would enter life, keep the commandments’ (...). Finally Jesus sums up these commandments positively: ‘You shall love your neighbor as Yourself’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2052)

Saint of the Day

St. Helena, Empress

St Helena was the mother of Constantine, the emperor who made Christianity legal. Her fervent Christian faith prompted in her a profound care for the poor. But she is perhaps best known for the discovery of the True Cross of Christ. Her feast day is 18 August. Read all...View all...

St Agapitus, Martyr of Palestrina

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