Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time
Tuesday January 13, 2026
Daily Mass Readings for Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
- First Reading –1 Samuel 1:9-20: Deeply distressed, Hannah prays for a son, promising his dedication to the Lord. Misunderstood by Eli, she clarifies her earnest prayer. God answers, blessing her with a son, Samuel.
- Responsorial Psalm – 1 Samuel 2: My spirit exults in the Lord, who reverses fortunes: empowering the weak, feeding the hungry, and elevating the lowly to places of honor, manifesting His just and merciful nature.
- Gospel – Mark 1:21-28: In Capernaum’s synagogue, Jesus’ authoritative teaching astounded the congregation, contrasting sharply with the scribes’ methods. His authority was strikingly evident when he commanded an unclean spirit to exit a man. The spirit’s dramatic expulsion, marked by convulsions and a loud cry, left the audience in deep amazement. They marveled at Jesus’ powerful teachings and control over unclean spirits. This incident rapidly spread Jesus’ fame throughout Galilee.
Upcoming dates: January 13, 2026, January 11, 2028, January 15, 2030, January 13, 2032
What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.
Mark 1:27
Themes for the Readings for Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 shows us themes of faith, authority, and hope in times of need. The readings highlight the power of honest prayer, Jesus’ authority, and the impact of God’s action in daily life.
- Persistent Prayer and Hope: Hannah’s prayer is filled with trust as she pours out her heart to God. Her example encourages us to bring our own needs to God with patience and hope.
- Authority of Jesus’ Words: In the synagogue, Jesus speaks with authority that amazes the crowd. This authority is a reminder of His power and the truth in His words, which guides and inspires.
- God’s Response to Sincerity: Hannah’s humble prayer is misunderstood by Eli at first, but her sincerity touches God. Her story invites us to approach God honestly, trusting that He listens to our truest needs.
- Jesus’ Power to Heal: Jesus commands an unclean spirit to leave, demonstrating His power over all that harms us. This shows us that Jesus can heal our own inner struggles and difficulties.
- Faith in God’s Timing: Hannah’s waiting and Jesus’ timely help to the possessed man remind us that God’s help comes in His time. This theme encourages us to trust in His timing, even when answers seem delayed.
- Spreading Good News: The witnesses in the synagogue eagerly share what they experienced with Jesus. Their response encourages us to share our faith with others, helping to spread hope and strength.
Reflecting on Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 brings us closer to understanding trust, humility, and the importance of sharing faith. Through these lessons, we can find encouragement and direction in our own journey with God.
Thoughts for Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
On Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, the readings invite us to see how trust, healing, and compassion reveal God’s presence. From Hannah’s deep prayer for a child to Jesus’ powerful healing of a man in distress, we see that God understands every human need and listens to our prayers. Both the first reading and the Gospel highlight how openness to God brings hope and peace, even in challenging situations. Through these reflections, we consider the strength of trusting in God, the power of Jesus’ healing, and the importance of compassion toward others.
Trusting God with Our Needs
In the first reading for Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, we see Hannah’s deep and trusting prayer. She is distressed but brings her heart to God, sharing her sorrow and desire for a child. Despite feeling misunderstood, she doesn’t let doubt or fear take over her prayer. She believes that God hears her, even if she does not know how or when He will answer.
Hannah’s trust encourages us to open up to God with our own struggles. We may not face the same pain, but everyone has moments of deep need. Through her example, we see the value of patient, honest prayer. Her hope can remind us to seek God’s presence rather than focus on immediate answers.
Trusting God with our worries can bring us peace, even when we don’t see the outcome. As Hannah’s story shows, God’s timing and answer often surprise us, but they fulfill us in ways we may not expect. Like Hannah, we are invited to approach God with a heart full of trust.
Jesus Heals with Authority
In the Gospel for Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, Jesus reveals His power to heal as He commands an unclean spirit to leave a man in the synagogue. The crowd is amazed, for they have never seen authority like His. Jesus’ words bring immediate healing, showing His care for those suffering and His power over all forms of harm.
This healing highlights Jesus’ deep compassion and readiness to help. He did not hesitate when someone in pain was brought to Him, and His response was quick and freeing. Jesus’ ability to drive out harm reassures us that we, too, can turn to Him with our own struggles, confident that He listens and wants to bring peace to our lives.
Today, inner struggles may feel overwhelming, and they can weigh heavily on our minds and hearts. But this passage encourages us to bring our worries to Jesus. Like the man in the synagogue, we can find freedom from anything that burdens us when we trust Jesus to bring His peace and healing into our lives.
Faith and Strength in the Face of Judgment
Both Hannah and the man possessed by the unclean spirit face moments of judgment from others. Hannah is wrongly judged by Eli, the priest, who assumes her deep prayer is drunkenness. Yet Hannah remains firm in her faith, explaining her sincere prayer. Similarly, the man with the unclean spirit encounters the judgment of a society that misunderstands his struggle, but Jesus approaches him with compassion instead of judgment.
These readings on Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 remind us of the value of understanding and compassion toward others. We may not know their inner battles, but we can support and pray for them instead of judging. Both stories show that God sees the heart and understands our needs far better than anyone else.
We can look at Hannah’s persistence and the man’s encounter with Jesus as encouragement to keep faith when others don’t fully understand our journey. Knowing that God sees and knows our intentions can strengthen us when we feel judged or alone. Like them, we are invited to place our trust in God’s understanding and care.
Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 reminds us that God is close to us in every need and that Jesus’ healing power reaches both body and soul. In Hannah’s story, we find an example of trust, while Jesus’ actions show us His authority to bring peace. As we go forward, may we hold onto these lessons, looking to God with trust, sharing His compassion, and bringing our deepest concerns to Him in prayer.
Prayer
Lord, help me to trust in Your care and bring my needs to You with faith. Teach me to reach out to others with compassion and humility. When I face struggles, remind me of Your power to heal and bring peace. May I follow You with a heart open to Your love and mercy. Amen.
Reflection Questions
- How does Hannah’s prayer inspire me to bring my own needs to God?
- In what areas of my life do I need to trust Jesus’ healing power?
- How can I show compassion to those who may feel judged or misunderstood?
- What can I do to strengthen my faith and keep hope alive during difficult times?
Homilies and Reflections for Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
We Need Priests and Prophets
Fr. Richard Rohr’s homily on Mark 1:21-28 explores the two strains of spiritual teachers in Judaism and other religions: the priestly and the prophetic. Priests maintain tradition and system, while prophets critically refine it. Rohr sees this balance in figures like Moses and Jesus, who both uphold and critically assess their traditions. He cites Pope Francis as a contemporary example, embodying both priestly and prophetic roles. Rohr highlights Jesus’ first prophetic act in Mark’s Gospel, driving out evil from the synagogue, and emphasizes that true spiritual maturity involves honoring tradition while also recognizing and addressing its shortcomings.
Questions and Answers for Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2
What date is Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
The next date is Tuesday January 13, 2026.
Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years. For odd numbered years see Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1.
What are the Mass readings for Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2?
The Mass readings for Tuesday January 13, 2026 are:
First Reading –1 Samuel 1:9-20: Hannah’s Prayer and Samuel’s Birth
Responsorial Psalm – 1 Samuel 2: Rejoicing in the Lord’s Justice
Gospel – Mark 1:21-28: Jesus’ Authority Demonstrated
What is the significance of Hannah’s prayer in the first reading?
Hannah’s prayer shows her deep trust in God during her distress. It encourages us to turn to God honestly with our worries and to believe that He listens to us.
Why did Hannah promise to dedicate her son to God?
Hannah’s promise was her way of expressing gratitude and devotion. By dedicating her son to God, she was showing her willingness to let God use her blessing for a greater purpose.
What does Jesus’ authority in the synagogue mean?
When Jesus taught and commanded the unclean spirit, people saw a unique authority in Him. This reminds us of Jesus’ power to speak and act with God’s authority, guiding us toward truth and healing.
Why did people react so strongly to Jesus’ teachings?
People were amazed because Jesus spoke with authority that was unlike the scribes. His words carried a power that connected directly with people’s lives, helping them understand God in a new way.
What does the story of Jesus casting out an unclean spirit teach us?
This event shows Jesus’ authority over evil and His desire to free people from harm. It encourages us to trust in His power to overcome negative influences in our lives.
How does the fame of Jesus in Galilee apply to us?
The news of Jesus spread quickly because of His impactful words and actions. It reminds us to share the ways Jesus influences our lives so others may also learn about His message.
What lesson can we learn from Hannah’s persistence?
Hannah’s persistence shows that God values our honest and faithful prayers, even when we struggle. It teaches us that we can always bring our needs to God and patiently wait for His response.
How can Jesus’ authority inspire our faith?
Knowing that Jesus has authority over everything can strengthen our trust in Him. This encourages us to approach Him with our struggles, confident that He has the power to help.
How do this day’s readings help us see God’s closeness?
Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2 shows God’s closeness to both Hannah in her sorrow and the people in the synagogue. We learn that God meets us in our daily lives and listens to our prayers.
Trust and Authority
In Tuesday’s readings for the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2, we meet two individuals who turn to God with sincerity and find strength. In the first reading, Hannah approaches God in deep sorrow, praying for a child. Despite being misunderstood by the priest Eli, she explains her heartfelt prayer. God answers her, and soon she has a son, Samuel, whom she dedicates to God’s service. Hannah’s story reminds us of the importance of trusting God, especially in difficult times, and the strength found in heartfelt prayer.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches in a synagogue, astonishing the crowd with his authority. As He speaks, an unclean spirit in a man cries out, and Jesus commands it to leave. The spirit obeys, shocking those present and causing word of Jesus’ power to spread across Galilee. This moment reveals Jesus’ authority over both physical and spiritual forces. His command shows the people—and us—that He has true authority and the power to free and heal.
Together, these readings show the strength in turning to God, whether through prayer like Hannah or by witnessing Jesus’ authority. We learn that God hears our struggles and has the power to intervene and guide us.
Your Turn
Consider how these readings show the importance of trusting in God’s power and presence. Like Hannah, do we bring our troubles to God honestly? And like the people in the synagogue, are we open to seeing the authority of Jesus at work in our lives?
Share how these readings speak to you, and join the conversation below by adding your own reflections to the comments. Let’s encourage each other in faith.
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