MONTHLY DEVOTIONAL FOR 21 JANUARY
January 21, 2026
FEAST OF SAINTS VINCENT PALOTTI AND VINCENT OF SARAGOSSA – 22nd JANUARY
January 22, 2026
TODAY’S GOSPEL READING
21 JANUARY, 2026
Mark 3:1-6
Jesus entered the synagogue.
There was a man there who had a withered hand.
They watched Jesus closely
to see if he would cure him on the sabbath
so that they might accuse him.
He said to the man with the withered hand,
“Come up here before us.”
Then he said to the Pharisees,
“Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?”
But they remained silent.
Looking around at them with anger
and grieved at their hardness of heart,
Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”
He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel
with the Herodians against him to put him to death.
THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD!
REFLECTION
In the synagogue, Jesus sees a man with a withered hand and a room full of watchful eyes. He chooses compassion over rigid rules, healing on the Sabbath and restoring what was broken. This moment reveals God’s heart: the law exists to give life, not to suffocate it. Yet, while one man’s hand is healed, other hearts harden. The passage challenges us to ask whether we use religion to protect love—or to avoid it.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You see our wounds and our fears, even when others judge or remain silent. Heal what is withered within us—our compassion, courage, and faith. Free us from hardness of heart and teach us to choose love over convenience, mercy over fear. May our lives reflect Your healing presence wherever we are. Amen
