Thursday, 26 November 2026
Thursday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for the universal ChurchGeneral Roman Calendar, used by Catholics worldwide
First Reading
Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a
18:1After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory. 2He cried with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hated bird!
21A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all. 22The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman of whatever craft will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you. 23The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you, for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived.
19:1After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God; 2for his judgments are true and righteous. For he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.” 3A second said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke goes up forever and ever.”
9He said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.’” He said to me, “These are true words of God.”
Responsorial Psalm
1Shout for joy to the LORD, all you lands!
2Serve the LORD with gladness.
Come before his presence with singing.
3Know that the LORD, he is God.
It is he who has made us, and we are his.
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, and bless his name.
5For the LORD is good.
His loving kindness endures forever,
his faithfulness to all generations.
Gospel
20“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. 21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein. 22For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath to this people. 24They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25“There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; 26men fainting for fear and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28But when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”
Why two sets of readings today? In the United States, priests may celebrate a special Mass for Thanksgiving Day, with readings chosen for thanking God for all his gifts. Elsewhere, and at many U.S. Masses too, the readings of the weekday are used.
In the United StatesMay be celebrated today in the United States
Thanksgiving Day
First Reading
22Now bless the God of all,
who everywhere does great things,
who exalts our days from the womb,
and deals with us according to his mercy.
23May he grant us joyfulness of heart,
and that peace may be in our days in Israel for the days of eternity,
24to entrust his mercy with us,
and let him deliver us in his time!
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11
2Every day I will praise you.
I will extol your name forever and ever.
3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised!
His greatness is unsearchable.
4One generation will commend your works to another,
and will declare your mighty acts.
5I will meditate on the glorious majesty of your honor,
on your wondrous works.
6Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts.
I will declare your greatness.
7They will utter the memory of your great goodness,
and will sing of your righteousness.
8The LORD is gracious, merciful,
slow to anger, and of great loving kindness.
9The LORD is good to all.
His tender mercies are over all his works.
10All your works will give thanks to you, LORD.
Your saints will extol you.
11They will speak of the glory of your kingdom,
and talk about your power,
Second Reading
3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I always thank my God concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5that in everything you were enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge— 6even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you— 7so that you come behind in no gift, waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gospel
11As he was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee. 12As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance. 13They lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed. 15One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice. 16He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. 17Jesus answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” 19Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.”
Text: World English Bible, Catholic Edition (public domain). Reading citations: cpbjr/catholic-readings-api (MIT license). The Lectionary text used at Mass in the United States is the NABRE, which you can read at USCCB.