1st WEDNESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mark 1:29-39) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons.” (Mk 1:34)

FIRST READING - 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20

"Speak, for your servant is listening."

A reading from the Book of Samuel

¹ During the time young Samuel was minister to the Lord under Eli, the word of the Lord was scarce and vision infrequent. ^2 [a]One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. ³ The lamp of God was not yet extinguished,^[b] and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was. ⁴ The Lord called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” ⁵ He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli answered. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep. ⁶ Again the Lord called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But he answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”

⁷ Samuel did not yet recognize the Lord, since the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. ⁸ The Lord called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the youth. ⁹ So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, ¹⁰ the Lord came and stood there, calling out as before: Samuel, Samuel! Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

¹⁹ Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to go unfulfilled. ²⁰ Thus all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba came to know that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mk 1:29-39

"He cured many who were sick with various diseases."

✠From the Gospel according to Mark

²⁹ On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. ³¹ He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

³² When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. ³³ The whole town was gathered at the door. ³⁴ He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

³⁵ Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and those who were with him pursued him ³⁷ and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” ³⁸ He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” ³⁹ So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

1st WEDNESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mark 1:29-39)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear people of God,

Today's Word of God introduces to all of humanity the work of the Son of God who became man: He came into the world to save humanity, to drive evil out of human souls and bodies.

How great is the power and strength of God the Father!

For it is out of God the Father's boundless and infinite love for humanity that He could not bear to let Satan wreak havoc on humans’ souls and bodies.

He sent His Son into the world to be with and accompany humanity, to help people escape from the captivity of Satan.

God's love has triumphed over hatred, over death, over all diseases, and all sins committed by humanity. These actions were manifested through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became man. He has come and healed all the illnesses and infirmities of humanity.

In this world, any evil that arises, when He lays His hand upon it, it must all retreat.

The image of Peter's mother-in-law, who suffered from a fever and was healed by Jesus, demonstrates God’s authority and power over humanity. When Jesus Christ approached her and raised her up, the fever immediately disappeared. Besides that, many people, upon hearing of God's power manifested in Jesus, sought Him out and asked Him to cast out all illnesses and infirmities. Especially those who were held captive by evil spirits, controlled by Satan. For He is the only one who can heal all diseases and infirmities of humanity.

Throughout the journey of the Son of God becoming human and living among humanity, it is evident that He came into the world to save mankind, to cast out Satan, and to free people from Satan’s captivity.

His love encompassed the entire world. Therefore, He told His disciples that He had to go to other places to bring God's love to all of humanity, not just to one particular nation.

Besides accompanying and preaching the Gospel of salvation to people, Jesus Christ also constantly maintained an intimate relationship with God the Father, seeking strength from Him and uniting with Him to help humanity escape from Satan's captivity.

This is demonstrated in today's Gospel: early before dawn, while it was still dark, when all things and people were still asleep, He rise and went off to a deserted place, where prayed to God the Father.

This is a lesson, a shining example for all who follow Him.

God the Father desires everyone to be always vigilant in our words, actions, and deeds. We must always turn to God, uniting ourselves closely with Him so that He may strengthen us, guide us, and be with us. Only in this way will all our actions, words, and deeds be pleasing to God the Father and bring Him joy.

And above all else, we must be directed towards God the Father so that He may guide and lead our souls and bodies along His path. Only then will Satan be subdued through our obedience and intimate union with God the Father in all actions, words, and deeds.

God the Father calls upon everyone to direct all things towards Him, so that He may use our souls and bodies according to His will, that is, to become instruments that God the Father uses in the plan of saving humanity in this world.

Thanks be to God. Amen

19:00 Jan 14, 2026 - Prayer of Divine Mercy - The Way to Heaven