Gospel for Thursday, March 19, 2026

Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Lent

Gospel for Thursday, March 19, 2026

A reading from the Holy Gospel, Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24

And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. ¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. ¹⁹Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. ²⁰But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. ²¹And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. ²⁴Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

First reading 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16

⁴And it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan, saying, ⁵Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? ¹²And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. ¹⁴I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: ¹⁶And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

Responsorial psalm Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29

Second reading Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22

¹³For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁶Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, ¹⁷(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. ¹⁸Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. ²²And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Scripture quotations: King James Version (KJV), public domain. Mass readings: Roman Lectionary references.