Gospel: January 16, 2026

January 16, 2026 (Friday)

1st Week in Ordinary Time

Psalter: Week 1 (Green)

Ps 89:16-17, 18-19

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

1st Reading: 1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22a*

Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

After some days, Jesus returned to Capernaum. As the news spread that he was in the house, so many people gathered, that there was no longer room even outside the door. While Jesus was preaching the word to them, some people brought to him a paralyzed man.

The four men who carried him couldn’t get near Jesus because of the crowd, so they opened the roof above the room where Jesus was and, through the hole, lowered the man on his mat. When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”

Now, some teachers of the law, who were sitting there, wondered within themselves, “How can he speak like this, insulting God? Who can forgive sins except God?”

See Also

Missing bride-to-be found in Pangasinan ‘alive and well’ 

At once, Jesus knew in his spirit what they were thinking, and asked, “Why do you wonder? Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man,‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your mat and walk?’ But now you shall know, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”

And he said to the paralytic, “Stand up, take up your mat and go home.” The man rose and, in the sight of all those people, he took up his mat and went out. All of them were astonished and praised God, saying, “Never have we seen anything like this!”

Reflection:

Pray for others and their intentions.

The remarkable display of compassion and faith exhibited by the friends of the paralytic man mirrors what we do in intercessory prayer. Our faith is not only personal; it is communal as well. We can always pray on behalf of another person, especially when we recognize that their need is much greater than our own. We also believe this when we ask the Blessed Mother and the saints for their intercession regarding our specific needs. They are not gods; instead, they are friends of God who can help us draw closer to the source of grace. Make it a habit to pray for others and their intentions. Learn to seek the help of others in prayer. It is the least and best we can do for each other in charity.