Daily readings

Friday, January 30, 2026

Friday of the 3rd week of Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationFriday of the 3rd 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 30, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Friday January 30, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading 2 Samuel 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17, psalm Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6a, 6bcd-7, 10-11, no second reading is appointed for this Mass,and Gospel Mark 4:26-34.

What is the Gospel for Friday January 30, 2026?

The Gospel for Friday January 30, 2026 is Mark 4:26-34. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Friday January 30, 2026?

The psalm for Friday January 30, 2026 is Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6a, 6bcd-7, 10-11. 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 30, 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

2 Samuel 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17

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.

11:1And it happened at the return of the year, at the time when kings go forth to war, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel, and they spoiled the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabba: but David remained in Jerusalem.

2In the mean time it happened that David arose from his bed after noon, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and he saw from the roof of his house a woman washing herself, over against him: and the woman was very beautiful.

3And the king sent, and inquired who the woman was. And it was told him, that she was Bethsabee the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Urias the Hethite.

4And David sent messengers, and took her, and she came in to him, and he slept with her: and presently she was purified from her uncleanness:

5And she returned to her house having conceived. And she sent and told David, and said: I have conceived.

6And David sent to Joab, saying: Send me Urias the Hethite. And Joab sent Urias to David.

7And Urias came to David. And David asked how Joab did, and the people, and how the war was carried on.

8And David said to Urias: Go into your house, and wash your feet. And Urias went out from the king's house, and there went out after him a mess of food from the king.

9But Urias slept before the gate of the king's house, with the other servants of his lord, and went not down to his own house.

10And it was told David by some that said: Urias went not to his house. And David said to Urias: Did you not come from your journey? why did you not go down to your house?

13And David called him to eat and to drink before him, and he made him drunk: and he went out in the evening, and slept on his couch with the servants of his lord, and went not down into his house.

14And when the morning was come, David wrote a letter to Joab: and sent it by the hand of Urias,

15Writing in the letter: Set you Urias in the front of the battle, where the fight is strongest: and leave you him, that he may be wounded and die.

16Therefore as Joab was besieging the city, he put Urias in the place where he knew the bravest men were.

17And the men coming out of the city, fought against Joab, and there fell some of the people of the servants of David, and Urias the Hethite was killed also.

2

Psalm

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6a, 6bcd-7, 10-11

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.

51:3Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy. And according to the crowd of your tender mercies blot out my sin.

4Wash me yet more from my sin, and cleanse me from my sin.

5For I know my sin, and my sin is always before me.

6To you only have I sinned, and have done evil before you: that you mayst be justified in your words and mayst overcome when you are judged.

7For look I was conceived in sins; and in sins did my mother conceive me.

10To my hearing you shall give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.

11Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my sins.

3

Gospel

Mark 4:26-34

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.

4:26And he said: So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast offspring into the earth,

27And should sleep, and rise, night and day, and the offspring should spring, and grow up whilst he knows not.

28For the earth of itself bringeth forth fruit, first the blade, then the ear, afterwards the full corn in the ear.

29And when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

30And he said: To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? or to what parable shall we compare it?

31It is as a grain of mustard offspring: which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth:

32And when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches, so that the birds of the air may dwell under the shadow thereof.

33And with many such parables, he spoke to them the word, according as they were able to hear.

34And without parable he did not speak to them; but apart, he explained all things to his disciples.

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

2 Samuel 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17

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 51:3-4, 5-6a, 6bcd-7, 10-11

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 4:26-34

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 30, 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.