Daily Readings

January 21, 2026 – Daily Readings

Listen, today’s readings are all about courage and faith in the face of impossible odds. We’ve got young David stepping up to face Goliath with nothing but trust in God, and the Psalm reminds us that the Lord is our rock who trains our hands for battle and our hearts for praise. Then in the Gospel Jesus walks into a synagogue and boldly does good even when people are watching and waiting to condemn him. What’s powerful here is how God equips his servants, whether it’s David facing a giant or Jesus healing on the Sabbath with unwavering purpose. The Alleluia reminds us Jesus preached the Gospel and cured every disease, showing God’s kingdom at work in real time. God doesn’t hold back. Faith is active and fearless in these readings, and we see how trust in God leads to victory and healing in ways we don’t expect.

Reading I

1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51

David spoke to Saul: “Let your majesty not lose courage. I am at your service to go and fight this Philistine.” But Saul answered David, “You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him, for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth.” David continued: “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will also keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine.” Then, staff in hand, David selected five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s bag. With his sling also ready to hand, he approached the Philistine. With his shield bearer marching before him, the Philistine also advanced closer and closer to David. When he had sized David up, and seen that he was youthful, and ruddy, and handsome in appearance, the Philistine held him in contempt. The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with a staff?” Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods and said to him, “Come here to me, and I will leave your flesh for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.” David answered him: “You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel that you have insulted. Today the LORD shall deliver you into my hand; I will strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will leave your corpse and the corpses of the Philistine army for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field, thus the whole land shall learn that Israel has a God.” All this multitude, too, shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 144:1b, 2, 9-10

R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
My refuge and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, my shield, in whom I trust, who subdues my people under me.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
O God, I will sing a new song to you; on the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings I will sing praises to you. Who givest salvation to kings; who hast redeemed thy servant David from the malicious sword.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Gospel Acclamation

Matthew 4:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia. Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mark 3:1-6

Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

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.