Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 17, 2026
First Reading: 1 Samuel 9.1-4, 17-19; 10.1a
1There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.2He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites-a head taller than any of the others.3Now the donkeys belonging to Saul's father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys."4So he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha, but they did not find them. They went on into the district of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. Then he passed through the territory of Benjamin, but they did not find them.17When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD said to him, "This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people."18Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, "Would you please tell me where the seer's house is?"19"I am the seer," Samuel replied. "Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart.
1Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the LORD anointed you leader over his inheritance?
Psalm 21
1O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give!2You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah3You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.4He asked you for life, and you gave it to him- length of days, for ever and ever.5Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.6Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.7For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.8Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes.9At the time of your appearing you will make them like a fiery furnace. In his wrath the LORD will swallow them up, and his fire will consume them.10You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind.11Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed;12for you will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow.13Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.
Gospel: Mark 2.13-17
13Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them.14As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.15While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Sermon
Today's readings reveal God's remarkable way of working in human lives, often through the unexpected. In the First Book of Samuel, we see Saul, a strong and impressive young man, sent on a mundane errand to search for his father's lost donkeys. This ordinary task, however, becomes the path to a divine appointment. Unbeknownst to him, he is led directly to the prophet Samuel, who anoints him as the first king of Israel, fulfilling God's plan for His people. Similarly, in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus encounters Levi, a tax collector – a profession despised by many Jews for its association with Roman occupation and often marked by corruption. Yet, Jesus simply says, "Follow me," and Levi immediately rises and does so, abandoning his old life. Jesus then dines with many tax collectors and sinners, prompting the indignant Pharisees to question His actions.
These two narratives, separated by centuries, beautifully illustrate a consistent theme: God’s call is often surprising, breaking through our expectations and leading us down paths we never anticipated. Saul wasn't looking for a kingdom, and Levi certainly wasn't expecting an invitation to apostleship from a holy man; both were caught in the midst of their daily routines. God's perspective isn't limited by human judgment or social standing. He looks at the heart and sees potential. Jesus's response to the Pharisees, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the just, but sinners," underscores this profound truth. It reminds us that His mission is one of mercy and healing for all, especially those who recognize their need for it.
For us, these readings offer both comfort and challenge. They remind us that God's hand is active in our lives, guiding us even in our most ordinary moments or through our own "lost donkeys." We are called to be open to His presence and direction, trusting that His plans are always for our good, even if they diverge from our immediate aims. Furthermore, Jesus's radical inclusivity with Levi and other sinners challenges us to examine our own hearts. Do we, like the Pharisees, draw lines, or do we extend welcome and compassion to all, recognizing that we, too, are sinners in need of the Divine Physician? God’s transformative grace is for everyone, and we are called to embody that same welcoming love.