Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 29, 2026
First Reading: 2 Samuel 7.18-19, 24-29
18Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?19And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD!24And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O LORD, became their God.25And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken.26And your name will be magnified forever, saying, 'The LORD of hosts is God over Israel,' and the house of your servant David will be established before you.27For you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house.' Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.28And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.29Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever."
Psalm 132
1Remember, O LORD, in David's favor, all the hardships he endured,2how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,3"I will not enter my house or get into my bed,4I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,5until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."6Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.7"Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!"8Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.9Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy.10For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one.11The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.12If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne."13For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place:14"This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.15I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.16Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy.17There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.18His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine."
Gospel: Mark 4.21-25
21And he said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?22For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."24And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.25For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."
Sermon
In our first reading, we hear King David’s profound prayer of humble gratitude. Having just received God’s promise to establish his dynasty forever, a promise ultimately fulfilled in Christ, David is overwhelmed by divine generosity. He acknowledges his unworthiness and the boundless grace of God, praying for the eternal fulfillment of these words, knowing that God's promises are true and dependable. He recognizes the vastness of God's plan, a plan that extends far beyond his own lifetime, establishing an everlasting covenant with His people. This deep humility before God's incredible plan mirrors the expansive revelation Jesus speaks of in the Gospel.
Our Lord, in the Gospel of Mark, speaks about the purpose of light: it is meant to be displayed, not hidden. The Kingdom of God, and the truth of the Gospel, is a light meant to illuminate the world, not to be kept secret or concealed. He then offers a challenging insight: the measure by which we hear and accept this truth will be the measure by which it is given back to us, and more. To those who are receptive and engage with the divine light, more understanding and grace will be given. Conversely, from those who disregard or hide what they have received, even that small measure will be taken away. This connects powerfully with David's prayer; God's revelation to David was a light, a promise that he received with an open and grateful heart, ensuring its fulfillment and further blessing.
The readings call us to reflect on how we receive and respond to God's revelation in our own lives. Like David, we are recipients of immense grace and promises in Christ. Do we respond with such humble gratitude and trust? And like the lamp, are we allowing the light of our faith and the truth of the Gospel to shine brightly through our actions and words, or are we keeping it hidden, perhaps out of fear, indifference, or spiritual laziness? Jesus reminds us that our spiritual receptivity matters. To actively listen, to generously apply God’s word, and to courageously share our faith is to open ourselves to an outpouring of even greater blessings, allowing God’s eternal plan to work through us and magnify His name.