First reading
Daily Readings & Prayers
Today
June 19, 2026
Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary TimePsalm
Psalm 132:11, 12, 13-14, 17-18
R. (13) The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling. Read on this pageGospel
Matthew 6:19-23
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. Read on this pagePray with today's readings
O God, you have chosen the apostles to make disciples of all nations, and by baptism and confirmation have called all of us to build up your holy Church. Lord, help us listen and be open to your call. May we be a Church of many priests, deacons, religious, and lay faithful who love you with our whole hearts and gladly spend our entire lives to make you known and loved by all. Amen.
Start with prayerToday's Gospel
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.”Matthew 6:19-23
Let today's Gospel guide your choices, your prayers, and the way you treat the people around you.
Pray with today's GospelPrayers for the parish
These prayers are gathered here so families, students, ministry leaders, and parishioners can find them without leaving the readings page.
Daily readings
The Church reads from Scripture every day at Mass. Reading the daily Gospel at home is a simple way to pray with the whole Church, even if you cannot get to Mass that day.
The daily readings are available free online from the USCCB and through many Catholic apps. Read slowly, notice one line that stays with you, and carry it into the day.
Daily prayer
The Catechism describes prayer as a vital and personal relationship with the living and true God. When we pray, we enter a conversation: we bring God our gratitude, our worries, our hopes: and we make room to listen, through silence, through Scripture, and through the people God puts in our lives. As in any relationship, you are invited not only to speak but to listen with an open heart.
Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.: Matthew 21:22
Prayer for Vocations
O God, you have chosen the apostles to make disciples of all nations, and by baptism and confirmation have called all of us to build up your holy Church. Lord, help us listen and be open to your call. May we be a Church of many priests, deacons, religious, and lay faithful who love you with our whole hearts and gladly spend our entire lives to make you known and loved by all. Amen.
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, heal me. Blood of Christ, drench me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. Good Jesus, hear me. In your wounds shelter me. From turning away keep me. From the evil one protect me. At the hour of death call me. Into your presence lead me, to praise you with all your saints forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer to St. Michael
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Prayer for the youth of our parish
O loving Father, look with compassion on the youth of our parish. Protect them from the dangers present in our world today. Help them to find faith in the midst of chaos, hope in the midst of uncertainty, and love in the midst of hurt. Sow your wisdom in their minds; weave your peace within their plans, and plant your joy deep within their hearts. We humbly ask these through Jesus Christ our Lord, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer for St. James School
Heavenly Father, down through the ages you have called your servants to build up your house for your glory. Be with us now as we build a firm foundation for the future of St. James School. Protect those who work for this end, and reward the many friends of this school community who have generously helped us. Help us to build a strong community here, where the children's faith will be safeguarded and their education happily completed. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Going further
The Liturgy of the Hours: the Church's daily rhythm of psalms and readings: is free online through iBreviary. The Hallow app offers thousands of guided prayer sessions. The simplest prayer of all needs no app: a few minutes of honest silence with God, anywhere.
Read today's full readings
The readings are kept here so this page can be prayed without opening another directory.
First reading
2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20
When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah,
saw that her son was dead,
she began to kill off the whole royal family.
But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah,
took Joash, his son, and spirited him away, along with his nurse,
from the bedroom where the princes were about to be slain.
She concealed him from Athaliah, and so he did not die.
For six years he remained hidden in the temple of the LORD,
while Athaliah ruled the land.
But in the seventh year,
Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carians
and of the guards.
He had them come to him in the temple of the LORD,
exacted from them a sworn commitment,
and then showed them the king’s son.
The captains did just as Jehoiada the priest commanded.
Each one with his men, both those going on duty for the sabbath
and those going off duty that week,
came to Jehoiada the priest.
He gave the captains King David’s spears and shields,
which were in the temple of the LORD.
And the guards, with drawn weapons,
lined up from the southern to the northern limit of the enclosure,
surrounding the altar and the temple on the king’s behalf.
Then Jehoiada led out the king’s son
and put the crown and the insignia upon him.
They proclaimed him king and anointed him,
clapping their hands and shouting, “Long live the king!”
Athaliah heard the noise made by the people,
and appeared before them in the temple of the LORD.
When she saw the king standing by the pillar, as was the custom,
and the captains and trumpeters near him,
with all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets,
she tore her garments and cried out, “Treason, treason!”
Then Jehoiada the priest instructed the captains
in command of the force:
“Bring her outside through the ranks.
If anyone follows her,” he added, “let him die by the sword.”
He had given orders that she
should not be slain in the temple of the LORD.
She was led out forcibly to the horse gate of the royal palace,
where she was put to death.
Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD as one party
and the king and the people as the other,
by which they would be the LORD’s people;
and another covenant, between the king and the people.
Thereupon all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal
and demolished it.
They shattered its altars and images completely,
and slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars.
Jehoiada appointed a detachment for the temple of the LORD.
All the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet,
now that Athaliah had been slain with the sword
at the royal palace.
Psalm
Psalm 132:11, 12, 13-14, 17-18
R. (13) The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
The LORD swore to David
a firm promise from which he will not withdraw:
“Your own offspring
I will set upon your throne.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
“If your sons keep my covenant
and the decrees which I shall teach them,
Their sons, too, forever
shall sit upon your throne.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
For the LORD has chosen Zion;
he prefers her for his dwelling.
“Zion is my resting place forever;
in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
“In her will I make a horn to sprout forth for David;
I will place a lamp for my anointed.
His enemies I will clothe with shame,
but upon him my crown shall shine.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
Alleluia Matthew 5:3
Matthew 5:3
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Matthew 6:19-23
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.
But store up treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
“The lamp of the body is the eye.
If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light;
but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness.
And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”
- Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Romuald, Abbot
Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Source: USCCB Daily Readings
Prayer and practice
Use the readings as a daily rhythm: Scripture first, then a short prayer, then one line carried into ordinary life.
Today's prayer
Prayer for Vocations
O God, you have chosen the apostles to make disciples of all nations, and by baptism and confirmation have called all of us to build up your holy Church. Lord, help us listen and be open to your call. May we be a Church of many priests, deacons, religious, and lay faithful who love you with our whole hearts and gladly spend our entire lives to make you known and loved by all. Amen.
RCCVA simple way to pray
- Read once for the story.
- Read again for the line that catches you.
- Sit with that line for one quiet minute.
- Ask God for the grace to live it today.