Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 26, 2026
First Reading: 2 Timothy 1.1-8 or Titus 1.1-5
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,2To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.3I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;4Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;5When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.6Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.8Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
1Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;3But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;4To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Psalm 96
1O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.2Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.3Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.4For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.5For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.6Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.7Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.8Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.9O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.10Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.11Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.12Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice13Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Gospel: Luke 10.1-9
1After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.2Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.3Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.4Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.5And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.6And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.7And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.8And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:9And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
Sermon
Saint Paul, writing to his beloved Timothy, urges him to rekindle the gift of God within him, a gift received through the laying on of hands, rooted in the sincere faith passed down through his grandmother and mother. Paul reminds Timothy that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control, and encourages him not to be ashamed of the Gospel or of Paul’s own imprisonment, but to join in suffering for the Good News. This heartfelt encouragement finds its echo in the Gospel, where our Lord Jesus Christ designates seventy-two disciples and sends them out in pairs. He commissions them to go ahead of Him into every town and place, proclaiming that the Kingdom of God has drawn near, healing the sick, and bringing peace, all while warning them that they go as "lambs among wolves."
These readings powerfully remind us of our own call to discipleship and evangelization. Paul's exhortation to Timothy to stir into flame the grace within him is a personal challenge to each one of us. How often do we let the gifts of the Holy Spirit lie dormant, allowing fear, apathy, or worldly concerns to prevent us from living out our faith boldly? Like the seventy-two sent out with minimal provisions, we are called to trust in God's providence, to detach ourselves from excessive worldly worries, and to step out in faith, ready to share the peace and truth of the Gospel in our own unique circumstances.
The harvest, as Jesus tells us, is still abundant, but the laborers remain few. We are those laborers. Let us not be ashamed of our testimony, but rather, by the power of the Holy Spirit, strive to bring the Kingdom of God closer to those around us. This means overcoming our fears, actively nurturing the grace we have received, and courageously offering the peace of Christ in our families, workplaces, and communities. May we all heed the call to rekindle our faith and become effective, loving, and self-controlled witnesses to the enduring Good News.