Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 8, 2026
Psalm 72
1Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!2May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!3Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness!4May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!5May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!6May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!7In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!8May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!9May desert tribes bow down before him and his enemies lick the dust!10May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!11May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!12For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.13He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.14From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.15Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day!16May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!17May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!18Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.19Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!20The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.
Gospel: Luke 4.14-22a
14And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.15And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.17And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,18"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."20And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.21And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."22And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, "Is not this Joseph's son?"
Sermon
In today's Gospel, we witness Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returning to Galilee to begin his public ministry. His fame quickly spreads as he teaches in the synagogues. Significantly, he journeys to Nazareth, his hometown, and on the Sabbath, he enters the synagogue according to his custom. There, he is handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, from which he reads a pivotal passage: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." After rolling up the scroll, he declares to the astonished congregation, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
This moment in Nazareth is not merely a reading; it is a profound declaration of Jesus' identity and the very heart of his mission. He reveals himself as the long-awaited Messiah, announcing the inauguration of God's kingdom of justice, healing, and liberation for all, with a special focus on the poor, the captive, the blind, and the oppressed. The initial wonder of the people at his gracious words, quickly followed by the questioning, "Is this not Joseph's son?" underscores the challenge of recognizing the divine in the familiar, a struggle that often mirrors our own in daily life. Are we truly attentive to Christ's message, or do our preconceived notions prevent us from fully embracing the radical newness he brings?
The fulfillment of this scripture in our hearing today is a personal call to us. Just as Jesus was anointed by the Spirit to bring good news, we too are called to be agents of God's grace in the world. This means actively seeking out opportunities to embody his mission: offering compassion to those in need, advocating for the marginalized, and working for justice and peace in our communities. Each day presents a chance to make Christ's redemptive work present through our words and actions, bringing hope and liberation to those around us, and truly living out the acceptable year of the Lord in our time.