Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 13, 2026
First Reading: 1 Samuel 1.9-20
9After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.10She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.11And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head."12As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.13Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.14And Eli said to her, "How long will you go on being drunk? Put away your wine from you."15But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.16Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation."17Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him."18And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.19They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.20And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the LORD."
1 Samuel 2
Gospel: Mark 1.21-28
21And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.22And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.23And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,24"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God."25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!"26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.27And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."28And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
Sermon
Our readings today present two powerful encounters with the divine. In the First Book of Samuel, we witness Hannah's profound distress and her fervent prayer at Shiloh. Mistaken for being drunk by the High Priest Eli, she reveals the depths of her sorrow and her desperate plea for a son, vowing to consecrate him to the Lord. God remembers her, and in time, she conceives and gives birth to Samuel. Meanwhile, the Gospel of Mark introduces us to Jesus' early ministry in Capernaum. His teaching immediately sets Him apart from the scribes, for He speaks with an undeniable authority. This authority is further demonstrated when He encounters a man with an unclean spirit in the synagogue, commanding it to be silent and depart, leaving everyone astonished by His power over even the spiritual realm.
These passages, though centuries apart, highlight different facets of God's active involvement in human affairs. Hannah's story unfolds within the context of ancient Israelite society, where barrenness was a source of great personal and social anguish. Her passionate, internal prayer underscores the importance of a deeply personal relationship with God, even when misunderstood by those around us. Eli's eventual blessing and God's remembering of Hannah remind us that divine intervention often comes in His own time and through unexpected means. Jesus, on the other hand, doesn't merely grant a petition; He embodies divine authority. He doesn't intercede *for* God; He *is* the one acting directly. The unclean spirit recognizes Him as "the Holy One of God," testifying to His inherent power and His mission to confront and overcome evil directly.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to a two-fold response. First, like Hannah, we are invited to pour out our hearts to God in persistent, humble prayer, trusting that He sees our afflictions and remembers us, even when our cries seem unheard or our faith is tested. We are reminded that our deepest desires, when offered with a sincere heart, can move the hand of God. Second, we are called to acknowledge and submit to the liberating authority of Jesus Christ. Just as He silenced the unclean spirit, He desires to bring order and peace to the chaotic parts of our lives, to silence the voices of doubt, fear, and temptation. By recognizing His presence and His sovereign power, we can experience the transformative grace that brings freedom from spiritual bondage and amazement at His work in our world.