Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 23, 2026
First Reading: 1 Samuel 24.2-20
2So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.3He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.4The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'" Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.5Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.6He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD."7With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.8Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.9He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'?10This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD's anointed.'11See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.12May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.13As the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you.14"Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?15May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand."16When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he wept aloud.17"You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.18You have just now told me of the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.19When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today.20I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.
Psalm 57
1Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.2I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.3He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah God sends his love and his faithfulness.4I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts- men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.6They spread a net for my feet- I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path- but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah7My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.8Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.9I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.10For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.11Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
Gospel: Mark 3.13-19
13Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.14He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach15and to have authority to drive out demons.16These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);17James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder);18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Sermon
In our first reading, we witness David’s profound restraint and respect for God’s anointed, even as King Saul relentlessly hunts him. When Saul, unbeknownst to him, enters the very cave where David and his men are hiding, David has a clear opportunity to end his persecution. His men even urge him to act, seeing it as God's deliverance. Yet, David refuses to lay a hand on Saul, contenting himself with cutting a piece from Saul's cloak as proof of his forbearance. He understands that Saul, though deeply flawed and unjust, remains God's chosen king. This act of mercy and trust in divine justice deeply moves Saul, who recognizes David's superior righteousness and acknowledges his destiny as king. Meanwhile, our Gospel from Mark presents Jesus calling his first apostles, inviting specific individuals to join him on a mountain. He chooses twelve, not only to be with him, but to be sent out with authority to preach, heal, and cast out demons, thus establishing the foundation of his Church.
These readings, separated by centuries, both speak to the nature of calling and the exercise of authority and mercy. David, though divinely anointed to succeed Saul, refuses to seize power through violence, trusting in God's timing and demonstrating a radical respect for the Lord’s anointed, even an unworthy one. He acts with integrity, offering mercy rather than vengeance. Similarly, Jesus calls his disciples, not randomly, but those whom he wills, bestowing upon them a sacred authority to carry on his mission. This mission, as exemplified by Christ himself and prefigured by David’s actions, is one of healing, preaching, and ultimately, love and forgiveness, even in the face of betrayal, as the mention of Judas Iscariot subtly reminds us. Both passages highlight a divine plan unfolding, not through human ambition or violence, but through a holy calling and a commitment to righteous action.
In our own lives, we are often faced with choices that test our integrity and our faith in God’s justice. Do we react with vengeance or anger when wronged, or do we, like David, show mercy and trust that God will vindicate us in His time? We are all called, through our baptism, to be disciples of Christ, to be "sent out" into our daily lives to bear witness to His love and truth. This means exercising the authority of Christ within us to choose forgiveness over resentment, understanding over judgment, and reconciliation over division. Just as Jesus carefully chose and empowered His apostles, so too does He empower us through grace to live lives of integrity and compassion, reflecting His mercy to a world often quick to condemn and slow to forgive. Let us strive to respond to our calling with the same humble courage and merciful spirit that David showed, and the receptive obedience of the first apostles.