Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 26, 2024
First Reading: 2 Timothy 1.1-8 or Titus 1.1-5
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,2To Timothy, my beloved child:Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.3I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.4As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.5I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,7for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.8Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
1Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,2in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began3and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;4To Titus, my true child in a common faith:Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.5This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you--
Psalm 96
1Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!2Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.3Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!4For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.5For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.6Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.7Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!8Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!9Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!10Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity."11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;12let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy13before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Gospel: Luke 10.1-9
1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.2And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.3Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.4Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.5Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!'6And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.7And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.8Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.9Heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the call to live with courage and trust in God’s providence. The first reading from 2 Timothy encourages us to embrace the gift of faith that has been passed down to us, just as Timothy received it from his mother and grandmother. Paul urges Timothy not to be afraid or ashamed to witness to the Gospel, but to stir into flame the grace of God that is within him. This passage emphasizes the importance of perseverance and boldness in living out our faith, even in the face of challenges.
The Gospel from Luke complements this message as Jesus sends out 72 disciples to prepare the way for his coming. He instructs them to travel lightly, without extra provisions, and to rely on the hospitality of others. This teaches us about trust in God’s plan and the simplicity of life. The disciples are called to be messengers of peace and healing, and they are not to be discouraged by rejection. Instead, they are to move on, knowing that the kingdom of God is near. This reflects the urgency of the Gospel message and the need to share it with others.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. How do we respond to the call to share the Gospel? Do we trust in God’s providence, or do we hold back because of fear or doubt? Let us ask for the grace to live with the courage and simplicity shown by the disciples. May we, like Timothy, stir into flame the gifts we have received and not be afraid to witness to the love and mercy of God in our daily lives.