Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 9, 2026
First Reading: 1 John 5.5-13
5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God6This is the One who came by water and blood: Jesus Christ. Not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit is the One who testifies that the Christ is the Truth7For there are Three who give testimony in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. And these Three are One8And there are three who give testimony on earth: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood. And these three are one9If we accept the testimony of men, then the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony of God, which is greater: that he has testified about his Son10Whoever believes in the Son of God, holds the testimony of God within himself. Whoever does not believe in the Son, makes him a liar, because he does not believe in the testimony which God has testified about his Son11And this is the testimony which God has given to us: Eternal Life. And this Life is in his Son12Whoever has the Son, has Life. Whoever does not have the Son, does not have Life13I am writing this to you, so that you may know that you have Eternal Life: you who believe in the name of the Son of God
Psalm 147
1Alleluia. Praise the Lord, because the psalm is good. Delightful and beautiful praise shall be for our God2The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He will gather together the dispersed of Israel3He heals the contrite of heart, and he binds up their sorrows4He numbers the multitude of the stars, and he calls them all by their names5Great is our Lord, and great is his virtue. And of his wisdom, there is no number6The Lord lifts up the meek, but he brings down the sinner, even to the ground7Sing before the Lord with confession. Play psalms to our God on a stringed instrument8He covers heaven with clouds, and he prepares rain for the earth. He produces grass on the mountains and herbs for the service of men9He gives their food to beasts of burden and to young ravens that call upon him10He will not have good will for the strength of the horse, nor will he be well pleased with the legs of a man11The Lord is well pleased with those who fear him and with those who hope in his mercy12Alleluia. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem. Praise your God, O Zion13For he has reinforced the bars of your gates. He has blessed your sons within you14He has stationed peace at your borders, and he has satisfied you with the fat of the grain15He sends forth his eloquence to the earth. His word runs swiftly16He provides snow like wool. He strews clouds like ashes17He sends his ice crystals like morsels. Who can stand firm before the face of his cold18He will send forth his word, and it will melt them. His Spirit will breathe out, and the waters will flow19He announces his word to Jacob, his justices and his judgments to Israel20He has not done so much for every nation, and he has not made his judgments manifest to them. Alleluia
Gospel: Luke 5.12-16
12And it happened that, while he was in a certain city, behold, there was a man full of leprosy who, upon seeing Jesus and falling to his face, petitioned him, saying: "Lord, if you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.13And extending his hand, he touched him, saying: "I am willing. Be cleansed." And at once, the leprosy departed from him14And he instructed him that he should tell no one, "But go, show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your cleansing, just as Moses has commanded, as a testimony for them.15Yet word of him traveled around all the more. And great crowds came together, so that they might listen and be cured by him from their infirmities16And he withdrew into the desert and prayed
Sermon
Today's first reading from 1 John reminds us that it is only through belief in Jesus as the Son of God that we overcome the world and receive the gift of eternal life. The Apostle emphasizes the divine testimony concerning Christ—by water and blood, and by the Spirit—affirming the truth of His identity and saving work. This divine assurance is far greater than any human word. In the Gospel of Luke, we encounter a powerful illustration of this truth as Jesus meets a man full of leprosy, a condition that brought not only physical suffering but also social and religious ostracization. With profound humility, the leper approaches Jesus, trusting in His power and willingness to cleanse him. And Jesus, full of compassion, extends His hand, touches him—an act that would make others unclean—and immediately restores him to health and wholeness.
Both readings, therefore, speak to the transformative power of Jesus Christ. While 1 John speaks of the spiritual victory over the world and the promise of eternal life through faith, Luke shows us a tangible demonstration of Christ's authority and boundless compassion. The physical cleansing of the leper, who was effectively dead to society, prefigures the spiritual cleansing from sin and the new life offered to all who believe. Just as the leper's healing served as a testimony for the priests, so too does God's testimony about His Son, received through faith, assure us of our salvation. Jesus' willingness to touch the untouchable demonstrates His desire to reach us in our own uncleanness, whatever our struggles or sins may be, and make us whole.
In our daily lives, we face various forms of "leprosy"—sins, anxieties, isolating fears, or despair that threaten to separate us from God and neighbor. Like the leper, we are called to approach Jesus with humble trust, believing in His unwavering willingness and power to cleanse and heal us. And as 1 John assures us, this belief is not in vain; it is the source of our victory and the foundation of our hope for eternal life. Let us also remember Jesus' example of withdrawing to pray after this powerful healing, reminding us that even amidst active service and overwhelming demands, our spiritual strength comes from constant communion with the Father. May our lives, touched and transformed by Christ, also become a living testimony to His enduring love and saving grace.