DAILY READINGS & REFLECTION
JANUARY 18, 2026
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
FIRST READING
ISAIAH 49:3, 5-6
3 And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified." 5 And now the LORD says, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength 6 he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
The Word of the Lord
_
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
PSALMS 39(40):2, 4, 7-10
Response: Here am I, Lord; I come to do thy will.
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do thy will.
Sacrifice and offering thou dost not desire;
but thou hast given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
thou hast not required.
Then I said, “Lo, I come."
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do thy will.
"In the roll of the book it is written of me;
I delight to do thy will, O my God;
thy law is within my heart.”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do thy will.
I have told the glad news of deliverance
in the great congregation;
lo, I have not restrained my lips,
as thou knowest, O LORD.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do thy will.
_
SECOND READING
1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-3
1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sos'thenes, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord
_
GOSPEL
Behold the Lamb of God!
JOHN 1:29-34
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, `After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."
The Gospel of the Lord
_
REFLECTION
DAILY QUOTE FROM THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS
John points to Jesus' saving mission, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"No longer does John need to 'prepare the way,' since the one for whom the preparation was being made is right there before his eyes... But now he who of old was dimly pictured, the very Lamb, the spotless Sacrifice, is led to the slaughter for all, that he might drive away the sin of the world, that he might overturn the destroyer of the earth, that dying for all he might annihilate death, that he might undo the curse that is upon us... For one Lamb died for all (2 Corinthians 5:14), saving the whole flock on earth to God the Father, one for all, that he might subject all to God."
(excerpt from the COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 2.1)
_
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.