Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 15, 2026
First Reading: 1 Samuel 4.1c-11
1And Samuel's word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek.2The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield.3When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."4So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.5When the ark of the LORD's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.6Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?" When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp,7the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before.8Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert.9Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!"10So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.11The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
Psalm 44
1We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.2With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our fathers; you crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish.3It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.4You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob.5Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.6I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;7but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.8In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. Selah9But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies.10You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us.11You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations.12You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale.13You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us.14You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us.15My disgrace is before me all day long, and my face is covered with shame16at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.17All this happened to us, though we had not forgotten you or been false to your covenant.18Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path.19But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals and covered us over with deep darkness.20If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,21would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?22Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.23Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.24Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?25We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.26Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love.
Gospel: Mark 1.40-45
40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.43Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:44"See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."45Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
Sermon
The first reading from 1 Samuel recounts a devastating defeat for Israel at the hands of the Philistines. Despite bringing the Ark of the Covenant into battle, believing it would secure victory, Israel suffered a massive loss, the Ark was captured, and Eli's unworthy sons perished. This episode reveals a profound spiritual crisis: Israel had begun to treat the Ark not as a sacred sign of God’s covenant presence, but as a magical talisman, presuming upon divine power without genuine repentance, faith, or obedience to God’s commands. In contrast, the Gospel of Mark presents Jesus' encounter with a leper, a man utterly ostracized by society and religious law. With profound compassion, Jesus touches and cleanses him, restoring him physically and socially. Jesus then instructs the man to show himself to the priests and offer the prescribed sacrifices, and, importantly, to tell no one, a directive the healed man immediately disobeys, leading to crowds gathering around Jesus in deserted places.
These readings, though distinct in their historical contexts, invite us to reflect on our relationship with divine power and revelation. Ancient Israel, in its spiritual decline, sought to manipulate God's power through the Ark, treating a sacred symbol as a means to an end, rather than allowing it to draw them into deeper communion and obedience. Their misplaced confidence in an object, divorced from a living relationship with God, led to disaster. Similarly, while the leper's faith in Jesus' power was commendable, his subsequent exuberance led him to disregard Jesus' specific instruction for silence. This act, though perhaps born of gratitude, inadvertently complicated Jesus' public ministry and highlights how even good intentions can sometimes overshadow the Lord's particular guidance.
For us today, these narratives serve as powerful reminders. We are called to cultivate a faith that is not superficial or superstitious, but deeply rooted in a personal relationship with God, marked by humility and obedience. We must be careful not to reduce our sacred objects, rituals, or prayers to mere charms or formulas that promise desired outcomes without demanding inner conversion. Instead, we are invited to approach Christ with the leper's humble trust in His power and willingness to heal, but also to temper our enthusiasm with a discerning ear for His specific guidance. True spiritual strength lies not in trying to control or command God's favor, but in surrendering to His will, trusting in His wisdom, and responding to His grace with both fervent faith and humble obedience, allowing Him to work in us and through us according to His perfect plan.