Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 14, 2026
First Reading: 1 Samuel 3.1-10, 19-20
1Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli, and the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no manifest vision2Then it happened that, on a certain day, Eli was lying in his place. And his eyes had dimmed, so that he was unable to see3And so, to prevent the lamp of God from going out, Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was4And the Lord called Samuel. And responding, he said, "Here I am.5And he ran to Eli, and he said, "Here I am. For you called me." And he said: "I did not call. Return and sleep." And he went away, and he slept6And again, the Lord continued to call to Samuel. And rising up, Samuel went to Eli, and he said: "Here I am. For you called me." And he responded: "I did not call you, my son. Return and sleep.7Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not been revealed to him8And the Lord continued, and he called to Samuel still a third time. And rising up, he went to Eli9And he said: "Here I am. For you called me." Then Eli understood that the Lord had called the boy. And he said to Samuel: "Go and sleep. And if he calls to you from now on, you will say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ " Therefore, Samuel went away, and he slept in his place10And the Lord came, and stood, and he called, just as he had called the other times, "Samuel, Samuel." And Samuel said, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.19And Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, and not one of his words fell to the ground20And all of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, knew Samuel to be a faithful prophet of the Lord
Psalm 40
1Unto the end. A Psalm of David himself. I have waited expectantly for the Lord, and he was attentive to me2And he heard my prayers and he led me out of the pit of misery and the quagmire. And he stationed my feet upon a rock, and he directed my steps3And he sent a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God. Many will see, and they will fear; and they will hope in the Lord4Blessed is the man whose hope is in the name of the Lord, and who has no respect for vanities and absurd falsehoods5You have accomplished your many wonders, O Lord my God, and there is no one similar to you in your thoughts. I have announced and I have spoken: they are multiplied beyond number6Sacrifice and oblation, you did not want. But you have perfected ears for me. Holocaust and sin offering, you did not require7Then I said, "Behold, I draw near." At the head of the book, it has been written of me8that I should do your will. My God, I have willed it. And your law is in the midst of my heart9I have announced your justice in a great Church: behold, I will not restrain my lips. O Lord, you have known it10I have not concealed your justice within my heart. I have spoken your truth and your salvation. I have not concealed your mercy and your truth from a great assembly11O Lord, do not take your tender mercies far from me. Your mercy and your truth ever sustain me12For evils without number have surrounded me. My iniquities have taken hold of me, and I was not able to see. They have been multiplied beyond the hairs of my head. And my heart has forsaken me13Be pleased, O Lord, to rescue me. Look down, O Lord, to help me14Let them together be confounded and awed, who seek after my soul to steal it away. Let them be turned back and be in awe, who wish evils upon me15Let them bear their confusion all at once, who say to me, "Well, well.16Let all who seek you exult and rejoice over you. And let those who love your salvation always say, "May the Lord be magnified.17But I am a beggar and poor. The Lord has been concerned about me. You are my helper and my protector. My God, do not delay
Gospel: Mark 1.29-39
29And soon after departing from the synagogue, they went into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John30But the mother-in-law of Simon lay ill with a fever. And at once they told him about her31And drawing near to her, he raised her up, taking her by the hand. And immediately the fever left her, and she ministered to them32Then, when evening arrived, after the sun had set, they brought to him all who had maladies and those who had demons33And the entire city was gathered together at the door34And he healed many who were troubled with various illnesses. And he cast out many demons, but he would not permit them to speak, because they knew him35And rising up very early, departing, he went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed36And Simon, and those who were with him, followed after him37And when they had found him, they said to him, "For everyone is seeking you.38And he said to them: "Let us go into the neighboring towns and cities, so that I may preach there also. Indeed, it was for this reason that I came.39And he was preaching in their synagogues and throughout all of Galilee, and casting out demons
Sermon
Our first reading today from the Book of Samuel presents a beautiful and foundational image of divine calling. Young Samuel serves in the temple, unaware of God's direct voice. Repeatedly called in the night, he mistakes it for Eli, his mentor. It is only through Eli's wise discernment that Samuel learns to respond with open humility: "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." This moment marks the beginning of Samuel's prophetic journey, illustrating how God often calls us, sometimes subtly, sometimes persistently, and the vital role of spiritual guidance in helping us recognize His presence and hear His word amidst the noise of our lives. Samuel's growth and faithfulness demonstrate the power of a heart attuned to God's will.
In the Gospel of Mark, we witness Jesus' active ministry unfold with power and compassion. He heals Simon's mother-in-law, then spends the evening healing many others, clearly demonstrating his divine authority over illness and evil. Yet, amidst such intense demands and widespread popularity, Jesus does not succumb to the endless clamor for his attention. Instead, he withdraws to a deserted place to pray, grounding his ministry in intimate communion with the Father. This spiritual renewal clarifies his purpose: "Let us go into the neighboring towns and cities, so that I may preach there also. Indeed, it was for this reason that I came." Jesus teaches us that true service to God flows not merely from responding to every demand, but from a clear understanding of our divine mission, sustained by persistent prayer.
Both readings, though separated by centuries, speak to a central truth: our lives of faith are a rhythm of listening and responding. Like Samuel, we are called to cultivate an inner readiness to hear God’s voice, trusting that He speaks to us in various ways – through scripture, prayer, conscience, and the wisdom of others. And like Jesus, our active engagement in the world, our service and witness, must always be rooted in a deep, personal relationship with God, regularly nurtured through prayer and reflection. It is by saying, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening," and then seeking the quiet places to connect with Him, that we are empowered to live out our mission, bringing His healing and truth to those around us, not according to our own strength or the world's demands, but according to His divine will.