Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 25, 2026
First Reading: Isaiah 9.1-4
1Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.3You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.4For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
Psalm 27
1The LORD is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?2When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.3Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.4One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.5For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.6Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.7Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.8My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek.9Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.10Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.11Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.12Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.13I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.14Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1.10-13, 17-18
10I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.11My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.12What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas "; still another, "I follow Christ."13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Gospel: Matthew 4.12-17
12When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee.13Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali--14to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:15"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--16the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."17From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Sermon
Today's readings invite us to contemplate the radiant presence of God amidst human brokenness. We hear in the Gospel how Jesus, upon hearing of John the Baptist's arrest, withdraws into Galilee, specifically Capernaum, fulfilling the ancient prophecy of Isaiah. For centuries, the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, often marginalized and exposed to foreign invasions, lived in a form of darkness. Isaiah foretold that a great light would dawn upon these very people, those sitting in the shadow of death. Jesus’ decision to begin his public ministry there, proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near," reveals Him as this promised light, bringing hope, liberation, and the very presence of God's reign to those who most keenly felt their need for it.
This glorious light of Christ is the foundation of our faith, yet we often, like the Corinthians, stumble and lose sight of its unifying power. Saint Paul addresses the deep divisions within the Corinthian community, where people were aligning themselves with different leaders – Paul, Apollos, Cephas – rather than with Christ alone. He firmly reminds them that Christ is not divided, that they were baptized into His name, not any human's. The power of God, he insists, is found not in human wisdom or eloquence, but in the message of the Cross, which may seem foolish to the perishing but is salvation to those who believe. This teaches us that the Light of Christ, which shines into our darkness, is meant to unite us, not splinter us into factions based on personalities or preferences.
The call to repentance and the dawning of the Kingdom in Galilee are for us today. We all experience moments of spiritual or existential darkness, times when we feel oppressed, lost, or alienated. Just as Jesus brought light to a forgotten region, He desires to shine His grace into the darkest corners of our lives. Let us recognize His presence and respond to His call to turn away from sin and self-centeredness. Furthermore, let us guard against the divisive spirit that Paul condemned. Our ultimate allegiance must always be to Christ crucified and risen, the source of our unity and the sole author of our salvation. In a world so often divided, our witness must be one of profound unity in Him, reflecting the singular, undivided Light that has dawned upon us.