Gospel of the day (Luke 5:1-11)

At that time: The crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear the word of God. He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ And Simon answered, ‘Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.’ And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’ For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.’ And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Pope Leo Warns of Global Drift Toward Conflict, Urges Renewal of Dialogue and Human Dignity

Vatican City, January 9, 2026 — In an extensive address to the Diplomatic Corps in Rome, Pope Leo XIV invoked the enduring wisdom of Saint Augustine’s City of God to frame today’s geopolitical and ethical challenges. Drawing parallels between the collapse of Rome in 410 AD and current global instability, the Pope warned that pride and self-interest—what Augustine termed amor sui—continue to fuel division and violence.

The Pontiff lamented the erosion of multilateral diplomacy, noting that “war is back in vogue” and that peace is increasingly pursued through weapons rather than dialogue. He called this trend a grave threat to the rule of law and international order. “Peace is no longer sought as a gift and a desirable good in itself,” he said, urging nations to recommit to the principles that inspired the United Nations after World War II.

Pope Leo XIV highlighted humanitarian law as a non-negotiable safeguard, condemning attacks on civilians and essential infrastructure. He warned that violations of human dignity—whether through war crimes, persecution, or ideological coercion—signal a dangerous “short circuit” in the global human rights framework.

The address also touched on cultural and moral concerns, including the weakening of language and freedom of expression. The Pope criticised the rise of “Orwellian-style” discourse that excludes dissenting voices and reaffirmed the importance of conscientious objection and religious liberty, which he called “the first of all human rights.” He expressed alarm at growing restrictions on these freedoms and the persecution of Christians, which affects over 380 million believers worldwide.

He emphasised that exercising conscientious objection —such as refusing military service or declining to perform abortions or euthanasia—is not an act of rebellion but a commitment to personal integrity. This right, he said, balances collective interests with individual dignity and safeguards diversity against authoritarian tendencies.

Turning to social issues, the Pope defended the sanctity of life and the family, strongly rejecting practices such as abortion and surrogacy, and advocating for policies that support mothers, families, and vulnerable individuals. He also called for global efforts to combat drug addiction and abolish the death penalty.

Despite the sobering tone, Pope Leo XIV offered hope, citing recent peace initiatives in Bosnia and the South Caucasus as “seeds of peace that need to be cultivated.” He concluded with a call for humility and courage in peace-making: “A humble and peace-loving heart is what I wish for each of us and for all who dwell in our countries at the beginning of this New Year.”

Image: Associated Press/Alamy Stock Photo

Gospel of the day (Mark 1:14-20)

After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

The Baptism of the Lord invites us to contemplate Jesus as an adult, standing at the threshold of His public ministry. This mystery is deeply connected to Christmas and the Epiphany, and helps us understand more fully who Christ is.

At Christmas, we celebrate the Word made flesh, born of the Virgin Mary. From the very first moment of His conception, Jesus was already the Christ. His humanity was consecrated and anointed by His own divine power. He did not become the Christ later in life. He was always the Son of God made man.

At the Epiphany, Christ was revealed to the nations, symbolised by the Magi who came from the East to adore Him. Now, at His Baptism in the Jordan, Jesus is manifested definitively as the Messiah to Israel and as the Son of the Father to the whole world.

The Father’s voice from heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit reveal the mystery of the Trinity. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are made known in Christ. The Spirit resting upon Jesus seals His mission as the Anointed One sent for the salvation of the world.

Though He was always the Christ, Jesus truly shared our humanity, growing in wisdom, stature and grace. At His Baptism, His identity and mission are made visible, marking the beginning of His saving work among us.

Requiem Mass of Netta McNealis | 10 January 2026
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