Daily Mass Readings – Wednesday, 2 September 2026

1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal. As unto little ones in Christ.

2 I gave you milk to drink, not meat; for you were not able as yet. But neither indeed are you now able; for you are yet carnal.

3 For, whereas there is among you envying and contention, are you not carnal, and walk according to man?

4 For while one saith, I indeed am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollo; are you not men? What then is Apollo, and what is Paul?

5 The ministers of him whom you have believed; and to every one as the Lord hath given.

6 I have planted, Apollo watered, but God gave the increase.

7 Therefore, neither he that planteth is any thing, nor he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8 Now he that planteth, and he that watereth, are one. And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour.

9 For we are God’s coadjutors: you are God’s husbandry; you are God’s building.

R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.

13 The Lord hath looked from heaven: he hath beheld all the sons of men.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

14 From his habitation which he hath prepared, he hath looked upon all that dwell on the earth.

15 He who hath made the hearts of every one of them: who understandeth all their works.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and protector.

21 For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have trusted.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

18 The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

38 And Jesus rising up out of the synagogue, went into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever, and they besought him for her.

39 And standing over her, he commanded the fever, and it left her. And immediately rising, she ministered to them.

40 And when the sun was down, all they that had any sick with divers diseases, brought them to him. But he laying his hands on every one of them, healed them.

41 And devils went out from many, crying out and saying: Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them he suffered them not to speak, for they knew that he was Christ.

42 And when it was day, going out he went into a desert place, and the multitudes sought him, and came unto him: and they stayed him that he should not depart from them.

43 To whom he said: To other cities also I must preach the kingdom of God: for therefore am I sent.

44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

Paul addresses a community divided by loyalty to particular preachers, reminding them that both he and Apollos are servants. One plants, another waters, but God gives the growth. Envy and contention reveal a heart still learning to belong fully to Christ. The psalm places this lesson within God’s care: we are his people, seen and understood by the One who made every heart, and our hope rests in him.

In the Gospel, Jesus brings that divine care close. He heals Simon’s mother-in-law, touches the sick, frees those troubled by evil, and then moves on to preach the kingdom in other places. His compassion cannot be possessed by one household or one crowd; he has been sent for all. We too serve as God’s co-workers when we offer care, speak the good news, and make room for Christ’s healing. Our task is faithful service, without claiming the results as our own. God alone gives the increase, and trusting him frees us to serve with greater humility and peace.

Lord Jesus, Son of God, heal what is disordered in us and free us from rivalry, pride, and the need to be recognized. Make us faithful servants of your kingdom, ready to plant and water wherever you send us. Give us compassion for those who suffer and courage to share the glad tidings of freedom. Teach us to trust your work when we cannot see its growth. Keep your people united in you, our helper and protector, and let our service lead others to rejoice in your holy name. Amen.