Mass Readings — Friday, January 23, 2026

First Reading: (1 Samuel 24:3–21)

David spares Saul’s life in the cave, choosing mercy over vengeance.

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 57:2, 3–4, 6, 11)

R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

Alleluia: (2 Corinthians 5:19)

“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”

Gospel: (Mark 3:13–19)

Jesus goes up the mountain and chooses the Twelve, calling them by name and sending them out.

Reflection

1. “Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.” (Psalm 57)

This psalm is David’s prayer while hiding from Saul. It is the cry of someone who knows danger, betrayal, and fear, yet refuses to let bitterness take root.

David’s prayer becomes our own:
“Lord, protect me, but also protect my heart from becoming like the one who hurts me.”

Mercy is not weakness.
Mercy is strength under control.

2. David Spares Saul: Mercy Over Vengeance (1 Samuel 24)

This reading presents one of Scripture’s most dramatic moments. David has every reason to strike Saul down:

• Saul is unjust.

• Saul is violent.

• Saul is hunting him.

• Saul has betrayed him.

Yet David chooses mercy, not revenge.

This moment foreshadows Christ Himself, the One who forgives His enemies and refuses to return evil for evil.

David teaches us this enduring truth:
Character is revealed not when we are powerless, but when we have power and choose restraint.

3. “He Called to Himself Those He Wanted.” (Mark 3:13)

Jesus ascends the mountain—a place of encounter with God—and chooses the Twelve.

He does not choose the perfect;
He chooses the willing.

He does not choose the powerful;
He chooses the available.

He does not choose the already holy;
He chooses those who will walk with Him and be transformed.

This Gospel reminds us that our calling is not accidental. Christ calls each of us by name—not because we are flawless, but because He desires to work through us.

4. “Entrusting to Us the Message of Reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

The Alleluia verse unites today’s readings beautifully.

David reconciles with Saul.
Jesus forms a community of apostles.
God reconciles the world through Christ.

And now, we are entrusted with that same mission:

• healing wounds,

• restoring relationships,

• choosing mercy,

• speaking peace,

• living forgiveness.

This work is not easy, but it is holy.

The Reflection: “Called to Mercy, Called by Name”

Today’s readings form a clear and compelling arc:

• David chooses mercy when vengeance is within reach.

• The Psalm cries out for God’s protection and compassion.

• Jesus calls ordinary people to an extraordinary mission.

• Paul reminds us that reconciliation is our vocation.

The message is unmistakable:

God calls you to be a person of mercy-a bridge-builder, a reconciler.

Not because it is easy,
but because it is the way of Christ.

Today's Mass Readings for Thursday, January 22, 2026

First Reading:

(1 Samuel 18:6–9; 19:1–7)

Responsorial Psalm

(Psalm 56:2–3, 9–10a, 10b–12, 13–14)
“In God I trust; I shall not fear.”

Alleluia Verse

(2 Timothy 1:10)
“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” 

Gospel: (Mark 3:7–12)

God bless you 

Pal Ronnie 

MASS READINGS-January 21, 2026

Memorial of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr

FIRST READING: (1 Samuel 17:32–33, 37, 40–51)

RESPONSORIAL PSALM  (Psalm 144:1–2, 9–10)

Response: Blessed be the Lord, my rock.

ALLELUIA

Alleluia, alleluia. The Lord is faithful in all His words and holy in all His works.

GOSPEL: (Mark 3:1–6)

Jesus enters the synagogue where a man with a withered hand is present. The Pharisees watch to see if He will heal on the Sabbath. Jesus challenges them, saying:
“Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil?”
He heals the man. The Pharisees immediately begin plotting with the Herodians to destroy Him.

REFLECTION

Today’s readings highlight courage, faith, and the cost of doing good.

1. David’s Courage Comes From Trust, Not Strength

David faces Goliath with no armor, no sword, and no physical advantage. His confidence is rooted entirely in God.
This reading reminds us that:

• God equips us for the battles He calls us to.

• Our strength is not measured by what we carry, but by who carries us.

• Even overwhelming obstacles fall when faced with faith.

2. Jesus Heals Even When It Costs Him

Jesus heals the man with the withered hand knowing it will provoke His enemies.
He chooses compassion over compliance, mercy over fear.
This challenges us to ask:

• Do I avoid doing good because of how others might react?

• Do I let criticism or judgment silence my compassion?

• Am I willing to stand with the vulnerable even when it is unpopular?

3. St. Agnes: Purity, Courage, and Witness

On her memorial, we remember a young girl who chose Christ over comfort, safety, and even life itself.
Her courage mirrors David’s, small in stature, mighty in faith.

Mass Readings and Reflection for January 20, 2026

First Reading (1 Samuel 16:1–13)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 89:20, 21–22, 27–28)

Response: I have found David, my servant.

Alleluia

The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

Gospel: (Mark 2:23–28)

Reflection: 

Today’s readings revolve around God’s vision, God’s priorities, and God’s mercy, all of which differ sharply from human expectations.

1. God Sees the Heart, Not the Surface

Samuel is ready to anoint the tallest, strongest, most impressive son of Jesse. But God interrupts that instinct:

“The LORD looks into the heart.”

This reminds us that God’s choices often surprise us. He chooses the overlooked, the underestimated, the quiet one in the field.

In your own life, this reading invites you to:

• Stop judging your worth by external measures.

• Trust that God sees what others miss.

• Believe that God can call you even when you feel “too small” or “not ready.”

2. Jesus Reorders the Law Around Love

In the Gospel, Jesus confronts a rigid interpretation of the Sabbath. The Pharisees see rule-breaking; Jesus sees hunger, need, and mercy.

His message is clear:

God’s law is meant to serve human flourishing, not burden it.

This challenges us to examine our own hearts:

• Do we cling to rules while forgetting compassion?

• Do we judge others without understanding their hunger or struggle?

• Do we forget that mercy is the heartbeat of God’s law?

3. David and Jesus: Two Kings, One Spirit

David is anointed king; Jesus reveals Himself as Lord of the Sabbath.
Both are chosen by God, both misunderstood, both guided by the Spirit.

Today’s readings invite us to let the Spirit guide our decisions, our judgments, and our compassion.

Amen.

Mass Readings for January 19, 2026

First Reading: (1 Samuel 15:16-23)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 23)

Alleluia: (Hebrews 4:12)

“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.”

Gospel: (Mark 2:18-22)

Reflection

Obedience is better than sacrifice of the Heart.  Our sacrifice can't make up for our disobedience. (First Reading & Psalm)

Today’s readings start with a dramatic scene: Samuel rebukes King Saul, not for what he did, but for how he listened-or rather, how he didn’t listen wholeheartedly to God. Saul tried to justify his selective obedience by wrapping it in religious language, “sacrifices for the LORD”, yet Samuel cuts to the heart of the matter: God desires obedience more than ritual.

The Responsorial Psalm echoes this: God does not demand offerings the way humans might imagine. Instead, what honors Him is a life aligned with His ways, a heart that truly hears and responds to His words, not just recites them.

Key insight: External piety-even good deeds- rings hollow if it is not rooted in genuine obedience and love for God.

“New Wine” and the New Covenant (Gospel)

In the Gospel, people question Jesus about fasting. Rather than defending a rule, Jesus teaches about relationship. The disciples do not fast while the “Bridegroom”, Jesus Himself , is present. In calling Himself the Bridegroom, Jesus reveals that faith is not primarily about following empty rules, but about sharing life with Him.

His metaphors, new cloth on old garments, new wine in old wineskins, point to the radical newness of the Kingdom He inaugurates. The new cannot be simply added onto the old without transformation. This newness demands hearts that are flexible, open, and responsive to God’s Spirit, not mere adherence to past forms.

Becoming New Wineskins

Today’s readings invite us to ask:

• Where in my life am I offering God my “sacrifices” while holding back obedience?

• Am I trying to squeeze Christ’s new life into old habits that resist transformation?

• How can I welcome Jesus as Bridegroom-joyfully, vulnerably, and obediently-so that the new wine of His grace can transform me from within?

God does not want our performance, He wants our hearts. When we surrender to His will, we become vessels ready to receive the life He longs to pour into us.

Amen.

God bless you

Pal Ronnie

Mass Readings and Reflection for Sunday January 18th 2026

Today is the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

I made it to Mass at the St. Raphael Chapel at Work. It was a beautiful Mass. 

First Reading: (Isaiah 49:3, 5–6)

“You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory…
I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 40:2, 4, 7–8, 8–9, 10)

R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Second Reading: (1 Corinthians 1:1–3)

“To you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy…
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Alleluia: (John 1:14a, 12a)

“The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted him, he gave power to become children of God.”

Gospel: (John 1:29–34)

John the Baptist sees Jesus and proclaims:
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

He testifies that he saw the Spirit descend like a dove and remain upon Jesus, revealing Him as the Son of God.

Reflection:

“Behold the Lamb: Recognizing God When He Passes By”

Today’s readings revolve around one powerful spiritual movement:
recognition.

Isaiah speaks of a servant chosen from the womb, destined to be a light to the nations.
John the Baptist points to Jesus and cries out, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
Paul reminds the Corinthians, and us, that we are called to be holy.

Each reading is an invitation to see God clearly and to respond with a willing heart.

1. God reveals Himself, but we must notice Him

John the Baptist had one mission:
to help others recognize Jesus.

He didn’t say, “Look at me.”
He said, “Look at Him.”

In a world full of noise, distraction, and self-promotion, John’s humility is a spiritual wake-up call.
He teaches us that holiness begins with attention, the ability to notice God’s presence in ordinary moments.

God is always speaking.
The question is whether we are listening.

2. “Here am I, Lord”, the posture of a servant

The Psalm gives us the only fitting response to God’s revelation:

“Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.”

Not:

• “Here am I, Lord, if it’s easy.”

• “Here am I, Lord, after I finish my plans.”

This is the posture of availability, 
the posture of Mary at the Annunciation,
the posture of Jesus in Gethsemane.

Holiness is not perfection.
Holiness is availability.

3. You are called to be a light

Isaiah’s prophecy is not only about Israel, it is also about you.

God says:
“It is too little for you to be my servant…
I will make you a light to the nations.”

God’s plans for you are always bigger than your plans for yourself.
He calls you beyond comfort, beyond fear, beyond smallness.

You were not created to hide.
You were created to shine.

4. The Lamb of God takes away sin, personally

When John says, “Behold the Lamb of God,” he is announcing:

• Freedom from shame

• Healing from wounds

• Release from burdens

• Restoration of identity

Jesus does not only take away the sin of the world,
He takes away your sin,
your heaviness,
your past.

This is not abstract theology.
This is personal salvation.

Spiritual Takeaway for Today

• Pay attention. God is passing by in your day, in people, in silence, in Scripture.

• Be available. Say “Here am I, Lord,” even if your voice trembles.

• Shine. You are called to be a light in your home, your work, and your community.

• Behold the Lamb. Let Jesus take what you’ve been carrying too long.

God bless you 

Pal Ronnie 

Mass Readings and Reflection for Saturday, January 17, 2026 Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot

First Reading: (1 Samuel 9:1–4, 17–19; 10:1)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 21:2–3, 4–5, 6–7)

Response:
“Lord, in your strength the king is glad.”

Alleluia: Jesus said: "Those who are sick need a physician; I have come to call sinners".

Alleluia.

Gospel: (Mark 2:13–17)

Jesus walks by the sea and sees Levi sitting at the tax booth. He says only:

“Follow me.”
Levi rises and follows.

Later, Jesus eats in Levi’s house with many tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees question His behavior. Jesus answers:

“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick.
I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Theme:
Jesus does not wait for people to become clean before calling them. He calls first, and heals along the way. In other words, He doesn't call the perfected, He calls first and perfect the people He call later. 

Reflection

Saul is chasing donkeys.
Levi is collecting taxes.
Neither is praying in the temple. Neither is on retreat. Yet God steps directly into their ordinary work and changes everything.

This is how God usually moves, quietly, unexpectedly, inside normal life.

We may feel like our days are full of “lost donkey” errands: work, errands, fatigue, paperwork, family logistics, unfinished plans. But Scripture says: God is not waiting for a more spiritual version of our life to call us. He calls us where we are.

Saul is anointed with oil, not for status, but for service. The psalm reminds us that true strength is not personal greatness but dependence on God’s love. Identity rooted in performance will always shake; identity rooted in God will not be moved.

Then comes Levi. Jesus does not lecture him. He does not test him. He simply says, “Follow me.” And Levi gets up. That is grace: not perfection first, but movement.

When Jesus eats with sinners, He reveals God’s heart. The Church is not a museum of the holy, it is the waiting room of the Divine Physician. If we feel inconsistent, weak, distracted, or compromised, we are not disqualified. You are exactly who the Physician came for.

What is today asking us:

• Let God speak in our work, not just in prayer time.

• Build our worth on His love, not our performance.

• Bring our sickness to the Physician instead of hiding it.

• When He says, “Follow me,” rise, even if we don’t feel ready.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You called Saul in the middle of an errand
and Levi in the middle of his work.
Call me again today in the middle of my ordinary life.
Remind me that I am anointed for your service,
not by my strength but by your love.
Heal what is sick in me,
and give me courage to rise and follow you.

Saint Anthony, Abbot, pray for us. 

Amen.

God bless you

Have a great weekend 

Pal Ronnie 

AI Will Note Save Us

 

Credit: Business Insider 

President Trump Received Nobel Prize from Venezuela and Not Oslo I can Explain in Person

 

Mass Readings and Reflection for January 16, 2026

First Reading: (1 Samuel 8:4–7, 10–22a)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 89:16–17, 18–19)

R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Alleluia: (Luke 7:16)

A great prophet has arisen in our midst; God has visited his people.

Gospel: (Mark 2:1–12)

Reflection: “Choosing the Wrong King”

Israel’s request for a king reveals a deep spiritual truth:
When we feel insecure, we often choose human solutions over divine trust.

God isn’t angry because they want leadership—
He is grieved because they want to replace Him with something visible, predictable, and controllable.

Just like Israel:

• We sometimes choose comfort over calling.

• We choose human approval over God’s direction.

• We choose what “everyone else is doing” instead of what God is inviting us to do.

The Gospel completes the message beautifully.
The people in Capernaum also come to Jesus with a need—but instead of rejecting Him, they break open a roof to get closer.

Two crowds.
Two responses.
Two outcomes.

Israel says:

“We want another king.”

The friends of the paralytic say:

“We want Jesus, no matter what it takes.”

Spiritual Takeaway for Today

• Autonomy without God becomes slavery.
  Israel wanted independence, but Samuel warned it would lead to oppression.

• Faith breaks roofs.
  When we bring our deepest needs to Jesus, He gives more than we ask—not just healing, but forgiveness and restoration.

• Let God be King again.
  Not just in crisis, but in decisions, relationships, finances, and identity.

God bless you 

Pal Ronnie