Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 5, 2026
First Reading: 1 John 3.22 – 4.6
22and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.24Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.5They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.6We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
Psalm 2
1Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?2The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.3"Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters."4The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.5Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,6"I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."7I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father.8Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.9You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery."10Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.11Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Gospel: Matthew 4.12-17, 23-25
12When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee.13Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali--14to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:15"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--16the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."17From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.24News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.25Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
Sermon
Our Gospel today recounts the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, a pivotal moment where the Light of the World steps into the "land of Zebulun and Naphtali, Galilee of the Gentiles," a region long sitting in spiritual darkness and the shadow of death. From Capernaum, by the sea, Jesus begins to preach a message of urgent hope: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near." He doesn't just speak; he acts, healing every sickness and infirmity, demonstrating the tangible reality of God's kingdom breaking into the world. This active demonstration of divine love and power is the very light that dispels the darkness, drawing great crowds from all directions to witness and experience the presence of God.
The first reading from 1 John offers a vital key to understanding and discerning this divine light amidst the shadows of the world. It instructs us that keeping God's commandments—believing in Jesus Christ and loving one another—is the way we abide in Him and receive from Him. But it also issues a sober warning to "test the spirits," for many false prophets have gone out into the world. The distinguishing mark of a spirit from God, John explains, is its confession that Jesus Christ has arrived in the flesh. This central truth of the Incarnation is the bedrock of our faith and the ultimate test against the "spirit of error," which denies the full humanity of Christ and the reality of God's presence in the world. The Good News is that for those who are "of God," the Spirit within us is greater than any spirit in the world, empowering us to overcome falsehood and embrace truth.
Together, these readings call us to be discerning recipients and active participants in the Kingdom Jesus proclaims. Just as Jesus brought light and healing to a world in darkness, we are called to embody His light in our daily lives, particularly through our unwavering belief in Him and our love for one another. In a world often filled with conflicting messages and spiritual confusion, John's exhortation to "test the spirits" reminds us to anchor our faith in the truth of the Incarnate Christ. By doing so, and by heeding Jesus' call to repent and live out the Gospel, we allow the indwelling Spirit to guide us, transforming us into agents of His light and healing, making the Kingdom of Heaven present here and now for those still sitting in darkness.