Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection January 23, 2026
Friday – Second Week in Ordinary Time
23rd January 2026 (Friday)
Psalter: Week 2
Readings of the Day
First Reading: 1 Samuel 24:2-20
In those days: Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.” So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way. Afterwards David also arose, and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! May the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.” As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
Psalm 57:2, 3-4, 6 and 11 (R. 2a)
R/. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Mark 3:13-19
At that time: Jesus went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him, and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Friday – Second Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: Those who are on God’s side are ever good and magnanimous and never intend evil for others. They resemble Him and continue His own mission of love
1. What a magnanimity we see in David! Even though he knew that Saul was hunting to kill him, even though he knew that terminating Saul would make way for his easy access to the throne, even though he could in one single instant kill Saul, YET he abstained from killing him. Rather, he shows him so much reverence and makes him realise that he is not an enemy or usurper.
2. Saul himself confesses this in repentant words. He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me with good, whereas I have repaid you with evil … how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe?”
3. That is why God raises David to heights. This magnanimity and fairness of dealing are the typical traits of a true disciple of Christ. In the gospel, we find Jesus choosing his twelve apostles, each by name. He personally calls each one by name to be with him and to be sent and set on his mission. We are not mere numbers or members of a crowd. Each one is significant and personal.
4. In simple terms, every disciple puts on the same nature as his master and acts as the master would act. David was a true disciple of the real Master. God called us to be in intimacy with him and to do his work. Thus, we become like him. We are not expected to work wonders or to create new domains. It is to enrobe ourselves with the same spirit and continue the same kingdom of love, justice, and peace.
My Practice: The more we are with the Lord, the more we will become like him. The more we are like him, the more we will make others like him and bring them to him
