Liturgy Notes, Sunday Prep, Planning for Mass
Liturgy Notes, Sunday Prep, Planning for Mass
January 18, 2026
January 18, 2026
2nd Sunday of Year A
The Church
Governments and Salvation of the World
Those Burdened by Adversity
Local Parish / Faith Community
Video courtesy of
the Diocese of
Colorado Springs
TWTW infographic highlighting key points in the video
THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Diocese of Colorado Springs video series.
Video courtesy of
Society of Our Lady
of the Most Holy Trinity
TWTW infographic highlighting key points in the video
THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Society of Our Lady video series "Liturgy Prep."
Video courtesy of
Eternal Word
Television Network
TWTW infographic highlighting key points in the video
THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and EWTN video series "The Word on the Word."
Video courtesy of
Ascension Press
Faith Formation Leader
TWTW infographic highlighting key points in the video
THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Sundays with Ascension video series "Encountering the Word."
Video courtesy of
the Dominican Friars of
of St. Albert the Great
TWTW infographic highlighting key points in the video
THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Dominican Friars, Province of St. Albert the Great.
Video courtesy of
Catholic Women
Preach
TWTW infographic highlighting key points in the video
THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Catholic Women Preach video series.
Video courtesy of
Frank Pavone at
Priests for Life
TWTW infographic highlighting key points in the video
THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and PRIESTS FOR LIFE.
Scroll down page
for Fr. Lawrence Mick
Infographic
Fr. Lawrence Mick
2025 infographic based on Fr. Lawrence's 2013 column
Fr. Lawrence Mick was a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, columnist, workshop leader on parish renewal and the author of many books on the liturgy. He is a long-time contributor to Celebration and other national publications.
Top Two
Online Resources
for Lectors
1st Reading Lector Tips
Lisa Bellecci's Videos
Historical Situation / Theological Background: View
The Structure of This Passage: Note that the Lord speaks first ("You are my servant, ..."), then the Servant, and then the Lord again ("It is too little, ..."). Jacob and Israel are both names for the same people (indeed, they were both names of the same patriarch). Mark these changes with pauses and changes in tone of voice.
To prepare your proclamation, read this two ways:
- You're the Servant of the Lord. God loves you in a special way, but the mission to which God calls you is frightening.
- You have to announce that mission to audiences that may be indifferent or hostile. Indeed, you have to get your audience to see themselves as the Lord's Servant with you, a very tall order.
So first, read the passage as if it's the private rehearsal for the announcement, then read it as if you are actually making the speech. In your actual proclamation, give it like the forceful, dramatic speech it is.
God wants that people brought back to himself, but that's not all: God furthermore wants to make the servant, that is the people, a beacon for other nations, that God's salvation may reach all the earth. This is the revolutionary part of the message, for most peoples still conceived their gods as local, territorial and tribal. A God whose care is universal was (and remains) a hard sell, needing courageous servants who can make the case convincingly. Deliver it with a strong finish. Nothing more important was ever said.
2nd Reading Lector Tips
Lisa Bellecci's Videos
Theological Background: View
In your proclamation, pause between the elements as described above. Emphasize the word "apostle" in the first sentence. Pause before "to the church." And pause once more before "Grace to you ..."
January 18-25, 2026
“that they all may be one.” (cf. John 17:21)
Promotional and preparatory materials for the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity can be found at the World Council of Churches and the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute websites, including:
- Suggestions for observing the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
- Thematic poster art, music, and prayer cards (English/Spanish)
- Scripture readings, commentaries and questions for reflection
- Ecumenical prayer service model
- Historical and contextual information
UNITED STATES (USCCB) — Monthly Calendar / Sunday’s Readings