Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 21, 2026
First Reading: 1 Samuel 17.32-33, 37, 40-51
32And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.33And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.37David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.40And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.41And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.42And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.43And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.44And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.45Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.46This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.47And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.48And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.49And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.50So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.51Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
Psalm 144
1Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:2My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.3LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!4Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.5Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.6Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.7Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;8Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.9I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.10It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.11Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:12That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:13That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:14That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.15Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
Gospel: Mark 3.1-6
1And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.2And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.3And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.4And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.5And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.6And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
Sermon
Today, we witness two powerful encounters where divine intervention and faithful action challenge human limitations and rigid interpretations. In the first account, young David stands before the formidable Goliath, a giant warrior whom all Israel fears. Despite Saul's skepticism and Goliath's mockery, David, a mere shepherd boy, declares his trust in the Lord, who had protected him from lions and bears. With only a sling and a few stones, he confronts Goliath, not in his own strength, but in the name of the God of Israel, achieving an astonishing victory that rallies his people. Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus enters the synagogue and encounters a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees, more concerned with finding fault than with human suffering, watch to see if He will heal on the Sabbath, hoping to accuse Him. Jesus, deeply saddened and angered by their hardened hearts and spiritual blindness, confronts their legalistic rigidity by asking if it is lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath. He then compassionately heals the man, choosing mercy over a narrow interpretation of the law.
Both narratives highlight a profound truth: God's power often manifests in unexpected ways, defying human logic and challenging ingrained norms. David’s faith reminds us that our "Goliaths" – whether personal struggles, societal injustices, or seemingly insurmountable obstacles – are not to be faced alone, but with an unwavering trust in the Lord's strength. We are called to step out in courage, believing that God can use our humble efforts to achieve great things. Jesus' actions, on the other hand, call us to examine our own hearts. Do we prioritize rigid adherence to rules or traditions over genuine compassion and the opportunity to alleviate suffering? His anger and sadness reveal the gravity of a heart closed to mercy and blinded by self-righteousness, urging us to embody the spirit of the law, which is love.
The common thread is the transformative power of faith and love in the face of fear and legalism. These accounts invite us to cultivate a courage rooted in divine trust and a compassion that actively seeks to do good, even when it is inconvenient or meets with opposition. True strength is found not in human might or strict adherence to the letter of the law, but in a living faith that acts with mercy, embodying God's loving will for humanity. This path, though it may draw criticism, ultimately brings healing and reveals the true glory of God.