Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 25, 2026
First Reading: Isaiah 9.1-4
1In the earlier time, the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali were lifted up. But in the later time, the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, the Galilee of the Gentiles, was weighed down2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. A light has risen for the inhabitants of the region of the shadow of death3You have increased the nation, but you have not increased the rejoicing. They will rejoice before you, like those who rejoice at the harvest, like the victorious exulting after capturing the prey, when they divide the spoils4For you have prevailed over the yoke of their burden, and over the rod of their shoulder, and over the scepter of their oppressor, as in the day of Midian
Psalm 27
1A Psalm of David, before he was sealed. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid2Meanwhile, the guilty draw near to me, so as to eat my flesh. Those who trouble me, my enemies, have themselves been weakened and have fallen3If entrenched armies were to stand together against me, my heart would not fear. If a battle were to rise up against me, I would have hope in this4One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, so that I may behold the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple5For he has hidden me in his tabernacle. In the day of evils, he has protected me in the hidden place of his tabernacle6He has exalted me upon the rock, and now he has exalted my head above my enemies. I have circled around and offered a sacrifice of loud exclamation in his tabernacle. I will sing, and I will compose a psalm, to the Lord7Hear my voice, O Lord, with which I have cried out to you. Have mercy on me, and hear me8My heart has spoken to you; my face has sought you. I yearn for your face, O Lord9Do not turn your face away from me. In your wrath, do not turn aside from your servant. Be my helper. Do not abandon me, and do not despise me, O God, my Saviour10For my father and my mother have left me behind, but the Lord has taken me up11O Lord, establish a law for me in your way, and direct me in the right path, because of my enemies12Do not surrender me to the souls of those who trouble me. For unjust witnesses have risen up against me, and iniquity has lied to itself13I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living14Wait for the Lord, act manfully; and let your heart be strengthened, and remain with the Lord
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1.10-13, 17-18
10And so, I beg you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that every one of you speak in the same way, and that there be no schisms among you. So may you become perfect, with the same mind and with the same judgment11For it has been indicated to me, about you, my brothers, by those who are with Chloes, that there are contentions among you12Now I say this because each of you is saying: "Certainly, I am of Paul;" "But I am of Apollo;" "Truly, I am of Cephas;" as well as: "I am of Christ.13Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize: not through the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ become empty18For the Word of the Cross is certainly foolishness to those who are perishing. But to those who have been saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God
Gospel: Matthew 4.12-17
12And when Jesus had heard that John had been handed over, he withdrew into Galilee13And leaving behind the city of Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, near the sea, at the borders of Zebulun and of Naphtali14in order to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah15"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way of the sea across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles16A people who were sitting in darkness have seen a great light. And unto those sitting in the region of the shadow of death, a light has risen.17From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say: "Repent. For the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.
Sermon
Today's readings invite us to contemplate the radiant presence of God amidst human brokenness. We hear in the Gospel how Jesus, upon hearing of John the Baptist's arrest, withdraws into Galilee, specifically Capernaum, fulfilling the ancient prophecy of Isaiah. For centuries, the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, often marginalized and exposed to foreign invasions, lived in a form of darkness. Isaiah foretold that a great light would dawn upon these very people, those sitting in the shadow of death. Jesus’ decision to begin his public ministry there, proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near," reveals Him as this promised light, bringing hope, liberation, and the very presence of God's reign to those who most keenly felt their need for it.
This glorious light of Christ is the foundation of our faith, yet we often, like the Corinthians, stumble and lose sight of its unifying power. Saint Paul addresses the deep divisions within the Corinthian community, where people were aligning themselves with different leaders – Paul, Apollos, Cephas – rather than with Christ alone. He firmly reminds them that Christ is not divided, that they were baptized into His name, not any human's. The power of God, he insists, is found not in human wisdom or eloquence, but in the message of the Cross, which may seem foolish to the perishing but is salvation to those who believe. This teaches us that the Light of Christ, which shines into our darkness, is meant to unite us, not splinter us into factions based on personalities or preferences.
The call to repentance and the dawning of the Kingdom in Galilee are for us today. We all experience moments of spiritual or existential darkness, times when we feel oppressed, lost, or alienated. Just as Jesus brought light to a forgotten region, He desires to shine His grace into the darkest corners of our lives. Let us recognize His presence and respond to His call to turn away from sin and self-centeredness. Furthermore, let us guard against the divisive spirit that Paul condemned. Our ultimate allegiance must always be to Christ crucified and risen, the source of our unity and the sole author of our salvation. In a world so often divided, our witness must be one of profound unity in Him, reflecting the singular, undivided Light that has dawned upon us.