Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 21, 2026
First Reading: 1 Samuel 17.32-33, 37, 40-51
32David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."33Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth."37The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."40Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.41Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David.42He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him.43He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.44"Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"45David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.46This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.47All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."48As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.49Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.50So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.51David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.
Psalm 144
1Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.2He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.3O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him?4Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.5Part your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, so that they smoke.6Send forth lightning and scatter the enemies; shoot your arrows and rout them.7Reach down your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hands of foreigners8whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful.9I will sing a new song to you, O God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you,10to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers his servant David from the deadly sword.11Deliver me and rescue me from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful.12Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.13Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields;14our oxen will draw heavy loads. There will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets.15Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the LORD.
Gospel: Mark 3.1-6
1Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there.2Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.3Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone."4Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.5He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.6Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Sermon
Today, we witness two powerful encounters where divine intervention and faithful action challenge human limitations and rigid interpretations. In the first account, young David stands before the formidable Goliath, a giant warrior whom all Israel fears. Despite Saul's skepticism and Goliath's mockery, David, a mere shepherd boy, declares his trust in the Lord, who had protected him from lions and bears. With only a sling and a few stones, he confronts Goliath, not in his own strength, but in the name of the God of Israel, achieving an astonishing victory that rallies his people. Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus enters the synagogue and encounters a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees, more concerned with finding fault than with human suffering, watch to see if He will heal on the Sabbath, hoping to accuse Him. Jesus, deeply saddened and angered by their hardened hearts and spiritual blindness, confronts their legalistic rigidity by asking if it is lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath. He then compassionately heals the man, choosing mercy over a narrow interpretation of the law.
Both narratives highlight a profound truth: God's power often manifests in unexpected ways, defying human logic and challenging ingrained norms. David’s faith reminds us that our "Goliaths" – whether personal struggles, societal injustices, or seemingly insurmountable obstacles – are not to be faced alone, but with an unwavering trust in the Lord's strength. We are called to step out in courage, believing that God can use our humble efforts to achieve great things. Jesus' actions, on the other hand, call us to examine our own hearts. Do we prioritize rigid adherence to rules or traditions over genuine compassion and the opportunity to alleviate suffering? His anger and sadness reveal the gravity of a heart closed to mercy and blinded by self-righteousness, urging us to embody the spirit of the law, which is love.
The common thread is the transformative power of faith and love in the face of fear and legalism. These accounts invite us to cultivate a courage rooted in divine trust and a compassion that actively seeks to do good, even when it is inconvenient or meets with opposition. True strength is found not in human might or strict adherence to the letter of the law, but in a living faith that acts with mercy, embodying God's loving will for humanity. This path, though it may draw criticism, ultimately brings healing and reveals the true glory of God.