TUESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2026

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

St. Blaise, B and M or St. Ansgar Bp (Opt Mem)

Office: Psalter Week 4

Mass and preface of the day or memorial

Vestment: Green/White/Red

Today’s Rosary: Sorrowful Mystery

FIRST READING

A reading from the second Book of Samuel 18:9 -10, 14b, 24-25a, 30—19:3

“My son Absalom, would that I had died instead of you.”

In those days: Absalom chanced to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” And Joab took three darts in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom. Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone. And the watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth.” And the king said, “Turn aside, and stand here.” So he turned aside, and stood still. And behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, “Good tidings for my lord the king! For the Lord has delivered you this day from the power of all who rose up against you.” The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be like that young man.” And the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he wept, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!  Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” It was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people; for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle.

V/ The word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

V/The word of the Lord.

R/Thanks be to God