Daily Readings

January 17, 2025 Daily Readings

Today we’re called to embrace God’s promise of rest by uniting in faith and obedience. The First Reading from Hebrews warns us to avoid the pitfalls of disobedience and strive to enter into God’s rest. The Psalm reminds us not to forget the works of the Lord, encouraging us to keep our hearts steadfast. In the Gospel, Jesus heals a paralytic, demonstrating His authority to forgive sins and inviting us to rise and walk in newness of life. Together, these passages challenge us to deepen our faith, remember God’s deeds, and trust in Jesus’s power to heal and forgive.

Reading I

Hebrews 4:1-5, 11

Let us be on our guard
while the promise of entering into his rest remains,
that none of you seem to have failed.
For in fact we have received the Good News just as our ancestors did.
But the word that they heard did not profit them,
for they were not united in faith with those who listened.
For we who believed enter into that rest, just as he has said:
As I swore in my wrath,
“They shall not enter into my rest,”
and yet his works were accomplished at the foundation of the world.
For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this manner,
And God rested on the seventh day from all his works;
and again, in the previously mentioned place,
They shall not enter into my rest.
Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest,
so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 78:3 and 4bc, 6c-7, 8

R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord!

What we have heard and know,
and what our fathers have declared to us,
we will declare to the generation to come
The glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength.

R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

That they too may rise and declare to their sons
that they should put their hope in God,
And not forget the deeds of God
but keep his commands.

R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

And not be like their fathers, a generation wayward and rebellious,
A generation that kept not its heart steadfast
nor its spirit faithful toward God.

R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

Alleluia

Luke 7:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door, and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him,
“Child, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves,
so he said,
“Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say,
‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”—
he said to the paralytic,
“I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”
He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded and glorified God, saying,
“We have never seen anything like this.”

Daily Readings

January 25, 2026 – Daily Readings

Daily Readings

January 24, 2026 – Daily Readings

Listen, today’s readings take us deep into the heart of love that mourns and the strange way of Christ: David grieves a fallen friend and king with raw sorrow, the Psalm cries out for God’s saving face amidst tears and conflict, the Alleluia calls us to open our hearts to Christ’s word, and in the Gospel Jesus is so close to the crowds that his own think he’s lost his mind. In this **Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church**, we’re reminded that love is patient with grief, faithful in prayer, and rooted in the wisdom of Christ’s way, even when it seems surprising to the world. Today isn’t about neat answers: it’s about the depth of compassion that refuses to shy away from pain while trusting in the Lord’s presence. As we walk through these texts, we meet a God who weeps with us and a Savior whose closeness changes how we understand love and life. Let that shape your prayer today with trust and honest heart. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Reading I

2 Samuel 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27

After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag; and on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes rent and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and did obeisance. David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” … Then David took hold of his clothes, and rent them; and so did all the men who were with him; and they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. “Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen! Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you daintily in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon thy high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 80:2-3, 5-7

R. (4b) Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved. O shepherd of Israel, hearken, O guide of the flock of Joseph! From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Rouse your power, and come to save us. R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved. O LORD of hosts, how long will you burn with anger while your people pray? You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in ample measure. You have made us a laughingstock to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us. R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

Alleluia

Acts 16:14b

R. Alleluia, alleluia. Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mark 3:20-21

Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

Daily Readings

January 23, 2026 – Daily Readings

Listen, today’s readings are all about mercy that refuses to give up on God’s plan. In the first reading, David has Saul in his power but holds back because he knows Saul is God’s anointed, choosing mercy over revenge and trusting God to judge rightly. The Psalm echoes this deep trust, calling out for God’s mercy and sheltering confidence even in danger. Then the Alleluia reminds us that Christ is reconciling the whole world to the Father and entrusting us with that message. In the Gospel, Jesus calls the Twelve and sends them out with authority, showing that mercy and mission go hand in hand: followers aren’t just chosen to be near Jesus but to carry his reconciling love to others. Today’s Word invites us to step into that same mercy, to trust God’s justice and join Jesus in bringing peace and healing to our world.

Reading I

1 Samuel 24:3-21

Saul took three thousand picked men from all Israel and went in search of David and his men in the direction of the wild goat crags. When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave, which he entered to relieve himself. David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave. David’s servants said to him, “This is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘I will deliver your enemy into your grasp; do with him as you see fit.'” So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul’s mantle. Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off an end of Saul’s mantle. He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, as to lay a hand on him, for he is the LORD’s anointed.” With these words David restrained his men and would not permit them to attack Saul. Saul then left the cave and went on his way. David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked back, David bowed to the ground in homage and asked Saul: “Why do you listen to those who say, ‘David is trying to harm you’? You see for yourself today that the LORD just now delivered you into my grasp in the cave. I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead. I decided, ‘I will not raise a hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed and a father to me.’ Look here at this end of your mantle which I hold. Since I cut off an end of your mantle and did not kill you, see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion. I have done you no wrong, though you are hunting me down to take my life. The LORD will judge between me and you, and the LORD will exact justice from you in my case. I shall not touch you. The old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’ So I will take no action against you. Against whom are you on campaign, O king of Israel? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, or a single flea! The LORD will be the judge; he will decide between me and you. May he see this, and take my part, and grant me justice beyond your reach!” When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul answered,

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 57:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11

R. (2a) Have mercy on me, God, have mercy. Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. In the shadow of your wings I take refuge, till harm pass by. R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy. My wanderings you have counted; my tears are stored in your flask; are they not recorded in your book? Then do my enemies turn back, when I call upon you. R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy. I lie in the midst of lions that greedily devour human prey; their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongue a sharp sword. R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let your glory be over all the earth. R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

Alleluia

2 Corinthians 5:19

R. Alleluia, alleluia. God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mark 3:13-19

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.