Daily Liturgy — January 21, 2026

Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr, and the liturgy invites us to reflect on courage, fidelity, and the quiet strength that comes from trusting God completely. As we continue through the Second Week in Ordinary Time, the readings place before us two powerful images of faith in action: the youthful confidence of David as he faces Goliath, and the steady, uncompromising mercy of Christ as He heals on the Sabbath. Together, they remind us that God’s power is often revealed not through force or status, but through obedience, humility, and love that refuses to yield to fear.

In the first reading from the First Book of Samuel, we hear the familiar account of David standing before the giant Goliath. David is young, inexperienced in warfare, and dismissed by those around him as unqualified for battle. King Saul himself doubts that David can survive such a confrontation. Yet David does not place his confidence in armor, weapons, or his own abilities. Instead, he recalls how the Lord delivered him from the lion and the bear while he tended his father’s sheep. This memory becomes the foundation of his faith. David understands that the same God who protected him in the past remains faithful in the present. With a sling, five smooth stones, and unwavering trust, he steps forward, proclaiming that the battle belongs to the Lord. The victory that follows is not merely a military triumph, but a testament to what happens when faith overcomes fear.

The responsorial psalm echoes this theme of reliance on God rather than human strength. The psalmist blesses the Lord as a rock and a refuge, the one who trains hands for battle and fingers for war. Yet this battle is not only physical; it is spiritual. The psalm reminds us that all true strength comes from God, and that victories achieved apart from Him are empty. In praising the Lord as protector and deliverer, we are invited to recognize our own dependence on Him, especially when facing challenges that seem overwhelming or impossible.

The Gospel reading from Mark presents a very different kind of confrontation. Jesus enters the synagogue and encounters a man with a withered hand. Those watching Him are not filled with compassion; instead, they observe closely, hoping to accuse Him if He heals on the Sabbath. Jesus, fully aware of their intentions, poses a question that cuts to the heart of the matter: “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” The silence that follows reveals the hardness of their hearts. Jesus heals the man anyway, not out of defiance, but out of love. His action makes clear that the law was never meant to suppress mercy. True holiness is not found in rigid rule-keeping, but in a heart aligned with God’s compassion.

Saint Agnes, whose memorial we celebrate today, embodies the same fearless fidelity seen in both David and Christ. Agnes was a young girl, likely no more than twelve or thirteen years old, living in Rome during a time of fierce persecution of Christians. Despite her youth and vulnerability, she refused to renounce her faith or compromise her devotion to Christ. According to tradition, she rejected powerful suitors and threats alike, choosing death rather than betrayal of her Lord. Her martyrdom stands as a profound witness to the strength God grants to those who trust Him completely. Agnes did not rely on influence, force, or self-preservation; she relied on God alone, and her faith has echoed through the centuries.

The liturgy today gently but firmly challenges us to examine where we place our trust. Like David, we all face giants in our lives—fear, illness, loss, addiction, doubt, or despair. Like the man with the withered hand, we may feel exposed, limited, or judged by others. And like Saint Agnes, we may be called to stand firm in our convictions even when doing so costs us comfort, approval, or security. The readings remind us that God does not abandon those who lean on Him. He works through weakness, youth, and even suffering to reveal His glory.

There is also a sobering warning woven into today’s Gospel. The religious leaders, so certain of their righteousness, are blind to the presence of God standing before them. Their concern for rules eclipses their concern for the person in need. This serves as a reminder that faith must remain alive and compassionate. It is possible to know the law and still miss love. Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath calls us to examine our own hearts: do we allow fear, pride, or rigidity to prevent us from doing good when the opportunity arises?

As we honor Saint Agnes today, we are invited to pray for her intercession, asking for purity of heart, courage in trial, and unwavering devotion to Christ. Her witness assures us that holiness is not reserved for the powerful or the experienced, but is accessible to anyone who entrusts their life fully to God. In a world that often equates strength with dominance and success, today’s liturgy offers a different vision—one where true power is found in faith, mercy, and fidelity.

May this day’s readings encourage us to face our own battles with trust rather than fear, to choose compassion over convenience, and to remain faithful even when it is difficult. Like David, may we remember how God has carried us before. Like the healed man, may we allow Christ to restore what is broken within us. And like Saint Agnes, may we belong entirely to Christ, holding nothing back, confident that His grace is enough.