Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 12, 2026
First Reading: 1 Samuel 1.1-8
1Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:2And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.3And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.4And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:5But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.6And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.7And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.8Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
Psalm 116
1I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.2Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.3The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.4Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.5Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.6The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.7Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.8For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.9I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.10I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:11I said in my haste, All men are liars.12What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?13I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.14I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.15Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.16O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.17I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.18I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,19In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
Gospel: Mark 1.14-20
14Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.16Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.17And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.18And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.19And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.20And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
Sermon
Our first reading introduces us to Hannah, a woman enduring profound suffering. Despite her husband Elkanah's love and efforts to comfort her, Hannah is tormented by her rival, Peninnah, for her barrenness. In ancient Israel, childlessness carried immense shame and sorrow, and Hannah's plight is exacerbated by Peninnah's cruel taunts, reminding her that "the Lord had closed her womb." This passage plunges us into the depths of human anguish and the struggle of faith amidst trials, where even deep personal love cannot fully soothe a heart yearning for God's particular blessing. Meanwhile, the Gospel of Mark opens with Jesus beginning his public ministry after John's arrest, proclaiming the urgent message that "the time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe in the Gospel." Immediately, he calls four fishermen – Simon, Andrew, James, and John – to leave their nets and their livelihoods, inviting them to a new purpose: to become "fishers of men." Their response is swift and unconditional, leaving everything to follow him.
These seemingly disparate accounts illuminate two distinct, yet interconnected, paths to encountering God's transformative will. Hannah's story is one of enduring barrenness and sorrow, a profound personal trial that will eventually lead her to fervent prayer and a miraculous birth, fulfilling a divine purpose. The disciples' story is one of immediate, radical call and a complete redirection of their lives towards the Kingdom of God. In both cases, individuals are confronted with a divine presence that demands a response. We too face moments of "closed wombs" in our lives – areas of deep longing, unfulfilled desires, or persistent suffering that test our faith and call for patience and trust. Simultaneously, we hear the voice of Christ calling us away from our familiar routines and self-absorption, inviting us to repent, believe, and embrace a greater purpose beyond ourselves.
The common thread is God's power to bring about new life and fruitfulness, whether from a place of profound personal suffering or through a direct, challenging invitation. Hannah's ultimate response will be one of surrender and dedication, leading to the prophet Samuel. The disciples' immediate abandonment of their former lives paves the way for the spread of the Gospel. For us, this means understanding that our trials, when offered to God, can become catalysts for spiritual growth and blessing, and our everyday lives, when surrendered to Christ, can be transformed into instruments for His Kingdom. The call to repent and believe is an invitation to open our hearts fully to God's work within us, allowing Him to transform our barrenness into blessing and our routines into radical discipleship.