Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 17, 2026
First Reading: 1 Samuel 9.1-4, 17-19; 10.1a
1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.2And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.3And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.4And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.17And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.19And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
1Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
Psalm 21
1The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!2Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.3For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.4He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.5His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.6For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.7For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.8Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.9Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.10Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.11For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.12Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.13Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.
Gospel: Mark 2.13-17
13And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.14And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.15And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.16And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?17When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Sermon
Today's readings reveal God's remarkable way of working in human lives, often through the unexpected. In the First Book of Samuel, we see Saul, a strong and impressive young man, sent on a mundane errand to search for his father's lost donkeys. This ordinary task, however, becomes the path to a divine appointment. Unbeknownst to him, he is led directly to the prophet Samuel, who anoints him as the first king of Israel, fulfilling God's plan for His people. Similarly, in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus encounters Levi, a tax collector – a profession despised by many Jews for its association with Roman occupation and often marked by corruption. Yet, Jesus simply says, "Follow me," and Levi immediately rises and does so, abandoning his old life. Jesus then dines with many tax collectors and sinners, prompting the indignant Pharisees to question His actions.
These two narratives, separated by centuries, beautifully illustrate a consistent theme: God’s call is often surprising, breaking through our expectations and leading us down paths we never anticipated. Saul wasn't looking for a kingdom, and Levi certainly wasn't expecting an invitation to apostleship from a holy man; both were caught in the midst of their daily routines. God's perspective isn't limited by human judgment or social standing. He looks at the heart and sees potential. Jesus's response to the Pharisees, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the just, but sinners," underscores this profound truth. It reminds us that His mission is one of mercy and healing for all, especially those who recognize their need for it.
For us, these readings offer both comfort and challenge. They remind us that God's hand is active in our lives, guiding us even in our most ordinary moments or through our own "lost donkeys." We are called to be open to His presence and direction, trusting that His plans are always for our good, even if they diverge from our immediate aims. Furthermore, Jesus's radical inclusivity with Levi and other sinners challenges us to examine our own hearts. Do we, like the Pharisees, draw lines, or do we extend welcome and compassion to all, recognizing that we, too, are sinners in need of the Divine Physician? God’s transformative grace is for everyone, and we are called to embody that same welcoming love.