Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 30, 2026
First Reading: 2 Samuel 11.1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17
1Now it happened that, at the turn of the year, in the time when kings usually go forth to war, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all of Israel, and they laid waste to the sons of Ammon, and they besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem2While these things were taking place, David happened to arise from his bed after midday, and he walked upon the terrace of the king’s house. And he saw, across from his terrace, a woman washing herself. And the woman was very beautiful3Therefore, the king sent and inquired who the woman might be. And it was reported to him that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite4And so, David sent messengers, and he took her. And when she had entered to him, he slept with her. And presently, she was purified from her uncleanness5And she returned to her house, having conceived an unborn child. And sending, she informed David, and she said, "I have conceived.6Then David sent to Joab, saying, "Send me Uriah, the Hittite." And Joab sent Uriah to David7And Uriah went to David. And David inquired whether Joab was doing well, and about the people, and how the war was being conducted8And David said to Uriah, "Go into your house, and wash your feet." And Uriah departed from the house of the king. And a meal from the king followed after him9But Uriah slept before the gate of the king’s house, with the other servants of his lord, and he did not go down to his own house10And it was reported to David by some, saying, "Uriah did not go into his house." And David said to Uriah: "Did you not arrive from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?13And David called him, so that he might eat and drink before him, and he made him inebriated. And departing in the evening, he slept on his bedding, with the servants of his lord, and he did not go down to his own house14Therefore, when morning arrived, David wrote a letter to Joab. And he sent it by the hand of Uriah15writing in the letter: "Place Uriah opposite the warfare, where the battle is the strongest, and then abandon him, so that, having been wounded, he may die.16And so, when Joab was besieging the city, he positioned Uriah in the place where he knew the strongest men to be17And the men, departing from the city, made war against Joab. And some of the people among the servants of David fell, and Uriah the Hittite also died
Psalm 51
1Unto the end. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he went to Bathsheba. Be merciful to me, O God, according to your great mercy. And, according to the plentitude of your compassion, wipe out my iniquity2Wash me once again from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin3For I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me4Against you only have I sinned, and I have done evil before your eyes. And so, you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you give judgment5For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sinfulness did my mother conceive me6For behold, you have loved truth. The obscure and hidden things of your wisdom, you have manifested to me7You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed. You will wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow8In my hearing, you will grant gladness and rejoicing. And the bones that have been humbled will exult9Turn your face away from my sins, and erase all my iniquities10Create a clean heart in me, O God. And renew an upright spirit within my inmost being11Do not cast me away from your face; and do not take your Holy Spirit from me12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and confirm me with an unsurpassed spirit13I will teach the unjust your ways, and the impious will be converted to you14Free me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will extol your justice15O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will announce your praise16For if you had desired sacrifice, I would certainly have given it, but with holocausts, you will not be delighted17A crushed spirit is a sacrifice to God. A contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn18Act kindly, Lord, in your good will toward Zion, so that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up19Then you will accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations, and holocausts. Then they will lay calves upon your altar
Gospel: Mark 4.26-34
26And he said: "The kingdom of God is like this: it is as if a man were to cast seed on the land27And he sleeps and he arises, night and day. And the seed germinates and grows, though he does not know it28For the earth bears fruit readily: first the plant, then the ear, next the full grain in the ear29And when the fruit has been produced, immediately he sends out the sickle, because the harvest has arrived.30And he said: "To what should we compare the kingdom of God? Or to what parable should we compare it31It is like a grain of mustard seed which, when it has been sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds which are in the earth32And when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all the plants, and it produces great branches, so much so that the birds of the air are able to live under its shadow.33And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as much as they were able to hear34But he did not speak to them without a parable. Yet separately, he explained all things to his disciples
Sermon
Today's readings present us with a stark contrast: the profound depth of human sin and the mysterious, quiet power of God's Kingdom. In the first reading, we witness King David, a man after God's own heart, straying from his duty by remaining in Jerusalem during wartime. From this idleness, a series of catastrophic choices unfolds: he succumbs to lust, commits adultery with Bathsheba, then engages in elaborate deception and ultimately orchestrates the murder of her loyal husband, Uriah, to cover his sin. It is a sobering account of how quickly unchecked desire and the abuse of power can corrupt even the greatest among us, leading to betrayal and bloodshed. The Gospel, however, speaks of a different reality: Jesus describes the Kingdom of God through two parables. It is like a seed sown that grows and bears fruit whether the sower understands how or not, and like a tiny mustard seed that, once planted, grows into the largest of shrubs, providing shelter for all.
These two narratives, so different in tone and content, offer us profound insights for our daily lives. David's tragic story serves as a powerful cautionary tale, reminding us of the destructive spiral that begins when we neglect our duties and entertain temptations. One moral compromise can quickly lead to a web of lies and even greater evils, demonstrating the terrible cost of putting our own desires above God's law and the dignity of others. Yet, even in the face of such human failing, the parables of the Kingdom reassure us of God's persistent grace and unwavering plan. They remind us that the work of God often begins small, grows mysteriously beyond our full comprehension, and ultimately becomes vast and encompassing. Our task is not to orchestrate grand schemes or succumb to worldly power, but to humbly sow seeds of faith, love, and righteousness in our own lives and communities, trusting that God will bring about the growth, even when we don't see immediate results. We are called to be vigilant against the deceit of sin, while simultaneously nurturing the quiet, transformative power of God's presence within us and around us.