Daily readings

Friday, January 16, 2026

Friday of the 1st week of Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationFriday of the 1st week of Ordinary Time

TypeWeekday

SeasonOrdinary Time

Year2026 archive

The Roman Catholic readings for this date are shown below on-site. Use plain reading mode if you want clearer modern wording, or switch back to the original Douay-Rheims wording at any time.

Reading mode

Plain mode helps modern readers follow the text more easily.

The on-site reading text is drawn from public-domain Douay-Rheims sources. Plain mode is a built-in reading aid that modernizes older wording for easier understanding while keeping the same Roman Catholic reading references for the day.

What are the Mass readings for Friday January 16, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Friday January 16, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading 1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22a, psalm Psalm 89:16-17, 18-19, no second reading is appointed for this Mass,and Gospel Mark 2:1-12.

What is the Gospel for Friday January 16, 2026?

The Gospel for Friday January 16, 2026 is Mark 2:1-12. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Friday January 16, 2026?

The psalm for Friday January 16, 2026 is Psalm 89:16-17, 18-19. It is included below in the same reading order used at Mass, between the first reading and the Gospel.

Are these the USCCB daily readings for Friday January 16, 2026?

The same day's Catholic readings are gathered here on-site, with the official readings link available below in the source note.

1

First Reading

1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22a

How to approach it

Read this as the first big movement of the day. Notice what God is doing, who is speaking, and what part of the story or teaching should stay with you.

8:4Then all the leaders of Israel being assembled, came to Samuel to Ramatha.

5And they said to him: Look you are old, and your sons walk not in your ways: make us a king, to judge us, as all nations have.

6And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, that they should say: Give us a king, to judge us. And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

7And the Lord said to Samuel: Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For they have not rejected you, but me, that I should not reign over them.

10Then Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people that had desired a king of him,

11And said: This will be the right of the king, that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and put them in his chariots, and will make them his horsemen, and his running footmen to run before his chariots,

12And he will appoint of them to be his tribunes, and centurions, and to plough his fields, and to reap his corn, and to make him arms and chariots.

13Your daughters also he will take to make him ointments, and to be his cooks, and bakers.

14And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best oliveyards, and give them to his servants.

15Moreover he will take the tenth of your corn, and of the revenues of your vineyards, to give his eunuchs and servants.

16Your servants also and handmaids, and your goodliest young men, and your asses he will take away, and put them to his work.

17Your flocks also he will tithe, and you shall be his servants.

18And you shall cry out in that day from the face of the king, whom you have chosen to yourselves. and the Lord will not hear you in that day, because you desired to yourselves a king.

19But the people would not hear the voice of Samuel, and they said: Nay: but there shall be a king over us.

20And we also will be like all nations: and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and tight our battles for us.

21And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord.

22And the Lord said to Samuel: Hearken to their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel: Let every man go to his city.

2

Psalm

Psalm 89:16-17, 18-19

How to pray it

The psalm is meant to be prayed, not rushed. If the wording feels older, focus on the main movement of the prayer: trust, praise, sorrow, gratitude, or hope.

89:16blessed is the people that knows jubilation. They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of your face:

17and in your name they shall rejoice all the day, and in your righteousness they shall be exalted.

18For you are the glory of their strength: and in your good pleasure shall our horn be exalted.

19For our protection is of the Lord, and of our king the holy one of Israel.

3

Gospel

Mark 2:1-12

What to watch for

The Gospel is the center of the reading set. Pay close attention to what Jesus says, what Jesus does, and what response he is asking for.

2:1And again he entered into Capharnaum after some days.

2And it was heard that he was in the house, and many came together, so that there was no room; no, not even at the door; and he spoke to them the word.

3And they came to him, bringing one sick of the palsy, who was carried by four.

4And when they could not offer him to him for the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was; and opening it, they let down the bed in which the man sick of the palsy lay.

5And when Jesus had seen their faith, he says to the sick of the palsy: Son, your sins are forgiven you.

6And there were some of the teachers of the law sitting there, and thinking in their hearts:

7Why does this man speak thus? he blasphemeth. Who can forgive sins, but God only?

8Which Jesus presently knowing in his spirit, that they so thought within themselves, says to them: Why think you these things in your hearts?

9Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy: Your sins are forgiven you; or to say: Arise, take up your bed, and walk?

10But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins, (he says to the sick of the palsy,)

11I say to you: Arise, take up your bed, and go into your house.

12And immediately he arose; and taking up his bed, went his way before all; so that all wondered and glorified God, saying: We never saw the like.

How the readings move through Mass today

The Liturgy of the Word normally moves from the first reading to the psalm, then to the second reading when one is appointed, then to the Gospel, and then into the homily. On weekday Masses, the second reading is often omitted, so the Church moves from the psalm directly to the Gospel.

1

First Reading

1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22a

The first reading is usually taken from the Old Testament. It prepares the heart to hear how God has been acting through his covenant and promises.

2

Psalm

Psalm 89:16-17, 18-19

The psalm is the Church’s prayerful response to the first reading. It helps the congregation answer God’s word with trust, praise, repentance, or hope.

3

Second Reading

Usually omitted today

There is no second reading at many weekday Masses. On days like this, the liturgy moves from the psalm directly to the Gospel.

4

Gospel

Mark 2:1-12

The Gospel is the high point of the Liturgy of the Word. Catholics stand because Christ himself speaks to his people in a special way through the Gospel proclamation.

5

Homily

After the Gospel

The homily follows the Gospel. It should gather the day’s readings together, explain the mystery being celebrated, and help people carry the word of God into ordinary life.

What the homily usually draws together

A Catholic homily usually gathers the first reading, the psalm, and the Gospel into one spiritual movement. It may explain how the Old Testament prepares for Christ, how the apostles witness to the risen Lord, how the psalm teaches the Church to pray, and how the Gospel calls for faith and conversion now.

If you are preparing before Mass, try to carry one sentence, one image, or one invitation from the readings with you. That usually makes the homily easier to follow because you already know what part of God's word has stayed with you.

What about the Prayers of the Faithful for Friday January 16, 2026?

The Prayers of the Faithful are usually written locally by a parish, diocese, or celebrant, so there is not always one universal text for this exact day. The scriptural readings above are the stable part the whole Church receives, and they usually shape the petitions that follow at Mass.

Source note

The day's references and liturgical celebration data come from the Catholic Readings API, while the on-site scripture text is rendered from public-domain Douay-Rheims sources so the day's readings can be read directly on the page.