Scripture readings for Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time emphasize universal mercy

The scripture readings for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, scheduled for August 16, 2026, focus on themes of universal mercy and acceptance regardless of nationality or religion.

Key passages include Isaiah, which describes God bringing foreigners who join themselves to the Lord into holy mountains, and the Psalms, which call for all nations to praise God. The readings from Romans and the Gospel of Matthew further emphasize divine magnanimity. In the Gospel, Jesus interacts with a Canaanite woman seeking help for her daughter, presenting a moment that challenges the exclusionary attitudes of his disciples.