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Ordinary Time · Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year A

Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16 (5a)

A Prayer for Mercy and an Undivided Heart

July 19, 2026

David in Prayer, Jean Fouquet
David in Prayer, Jean Fouquet, c. 1452–1460British Library, London
David in armour kneels in a broad landscape between the armies and the fallen, praying to God, who appears in a ring of red cherubim above.Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy … Teach me your way, O Lord … Turn to me and be gracious to me.Jean FouquetThe greatest French painter of the 1400s, court painter to Charles VII and Louis XI, who brought Italian perspective to French illumination.British Library, LondonThe British Library in London, the national library of the United Kingdom.British Library, London
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 13:24-43Mt 13:24-43 orMatt. 13:24-30Mt 13:24-30
Second ReadingRom. 8:26-27Rom 8:26-27
First ReadingWis. 12:13, 16-19Wis 12:13, 16-19
Responsorial PsalmPs. 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16 (5a)Ps 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16 (5a)

Overview & Insights

"For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you." (Psalm 86:5)

A prayer of a servant in distress asking God for grace and protection. The psalmist praises God as forgiving and incomparable, and asks for an undivided heart to revere God's name.

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Take it further: Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16 (5a)

Commentary

Working Preacher: Commentary on Psalm 86:11-17Working Preacher: Commentary on Ps 86:11-17 Working Preacher

A preaching focused reflection on this prayer for mercy.

Enduring Word: Psalm 86Enduring Word: Ps 86 Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse evangelical commentary on the psalm.

Bible Hub: Psalm 86 CommentariesBible Hub: Ps 86 Commentaries BibleHub

Several commentators gathered on this prayer of David.

Background & Word Study

Sefaria: Psalms 86 (Hebrew)Sefaria: Ps 86 (Hebrew) Sefaria

The Hebrew text with English and classical Jewish commentary.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Psalm 86Catena: Ps 86 Catena

Patristic comment on the psalm gathered by verse.

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