Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 12, 2026
First Reading: 1 Samuel 1.1-8
1There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.2He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.3Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD.4Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.5But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb.6And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.7This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.8Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"
Psalm 116
1I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.2Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.3The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.4Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, save me!"5The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.6The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.7Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.8For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,9that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.10I believed; therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted."11And in my dismay I said, "All men are liars."12How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?13I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.14I will fulfill my vows to the LORD 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 your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.17I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.18I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,19in the courts of the house of the LORD - in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.
Gospel: Mark 1.14-20
14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.15"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"16As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.17"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."18At once they left their nets and followed him.19When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.20Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed 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.