Sunday, January 23, 2005
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Isaiah 8:23-9:3
The yoke of their burden you have broken

Yahweh has just afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the future he will confer glory on the way of the sea, on the land beyond the Jordan-the pagans' Galilee.

The people who walk in darkness
have seen a great light.
A light has dawned
on those who live in the land of the shadow of death.
You have enlarged the nation;
you have increased their joy.
They rejoice before you,
as people rejoice at harvest time
as they rejoice in dividing the spoil.
For the yoke of their burden,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressors,
you have broken it as on the day of Midian.

2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17
Christ is not divided

I beg of you, brothers and sisters, in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord, to agree among yourselves and do away with divisions; please be perfectly united, with one mind and one judgment.

For I heard from people of Cloe's house about your rivalries. What I mean is this: some say, "I am for Paul," and others: "I am for Apollo," or "I am for Peter," or "I am for Christ." Is Christ divided or have I, Paul, been crucified for you? Have you been baptized in the name of Paul?

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to proclaim his Gospel. And not with beautiful words! That would be like getting rid of the cross of Christ.

Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23
I will make you fish for people

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to settle down in Capernaum, a town by the lake of Galilee, at the border of Zebulun and Naphtali.

In this way the word of the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali crossed by the Road of the Sea, and you who live by the Jordan, Galilee, land of pagans, listen:

The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light; on those who live in the land of the shadow of death, a light has shone.
From that time on Jesus began to proclaim his message, "Change your ways: the kingdom of heaven is near."

As Jesus walked by the lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fish for people."
At once they left their nets and followed him.

He went on from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, Jesus called them.

At once they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus went around all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing all kinds of sickness and disease among the people.

Commentary

AGAIN we hear the wrap up of what Jesus is trying to do-what he has been sent into the world to do: to preach, fulfill the words of the prophets, bring light to those in darkness and fear; preach conversion and open peoples' eyes to the kingdom that has come in his own presence and body among us. And he calls disciples to his side so that they follow along with him, learning by watching, hearing and being in his presence, associated with him.

Again we are summoned and asked if our lives reflect what Jesus is intent on doing in the world? Are we preaching hope, justice and life for the poorest, the hungry of the earth (more than 80% of the world) and a call to change the way we live, what we do with our resources and income, our excess and our privilege and power in the world? Have we left the ways of the world: profit, greed, insensitivity to the pain of the majority, self-absorption, acceptability and the values of our nation to choose instead the company of Jesus and breaking the Word and the bread with him?

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