Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection January 08, 2026

08th January 2026 (Thursday)

Psalter: Week 2

Readings of the Day

First Reading: 1 John 4:19–5:4

Beloved, We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Psalm 72:1-2, 14 and 15bc, 17 R. (see 11)

R/. All nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. The Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives

R/. Alleluia

Gospel: Luke 4:14-22

At that time: Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth.

Daily Gospel Reflection

Thursday – After Epiphany

Main Point: Love is the only and greatest reason for all devotion and charity and love alone is the remedy for all the maladies in the society

1. Jesus declares his mission manifesto in the gospel. He makes clear the essential purpose and the tenets of his mission. He never loses sight of this focus and the direction of this mission. The components of this mission are very clear.

2. The recipients or the target group of this mission are the poor, the captives, the oppressed, and the blind. The poor receive good news, the captives receive liberty, the oppressed gain freedom and the blind receive sight.

3. Thus truly it is time acceptable to the Lord. All this mission is accomplished by the power of the Spirit, by being anointed by him. And this in turn is founded on Love. Obedience to the will of the Father for the salvation of humanity, and dedication to that mission of salvation in charity become the motivating and driving forces.

4. Now, two aspects of the message for us: one, we are the recipients; if so, how much in poor spirit do we receive the good news? How much do we allow ourselves to be liberated from our captivity? How much are we freed from the oppression of sin? How much do we receive the sight from the Lord? The second aspect is, as givers and promoters: how much good news do we give to the poor? How much do we release the captives and the oppressed? How much do we give sight to the blind?

My Practice: True mission is in fact a mission of love. It comprises love for God in communion and love for the other in compassion, and moves on the power of the Spirit