Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 67
22 JAN 2017 A.D.



First Reading
Is 8:23—9:3

First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali;
but in the end he has glorified the seaward road,
the land west of the Jordan,
the District of the Gentiles.

Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness:
for there is no gloom where but now there was distress.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.



Responsorial Psalm
Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.



Second Reading
1 Cor 1:10-13, 17

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree in what you say,
and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters,
by Chloe's people, that there are rivalries among you.
I mean that each of you is saying,
"I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos,"
or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ."
Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you?
Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,
and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,
so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.



Alleluia

Mt 4:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.



Gospel

MT 4:12-23

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.
He went around all of Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people.

or
Mt 4:12-17

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Bible Study--3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time--Cycle A
(courtesy of Vince Contreras: Sunday Scripture Study for Catholics)


"Just as at sea those who are carried away from the direction of the harbor bring themselves back on course by a clear sign, on seeing a tall beacon light or some mountain peak coming into view, so
Scripture may guide those adrift on the sea of life  back into the harbor of the divine will." --St. Gregory of Nyssa

Thanks BeNotAfraid.

Always a pleasure, cb73!

Thanks for being here.

..one point, which this old thick head learned today, was that Andrew (brother of Peter) was at first the disciple of John the Baptist, while his elder brother, Simon Peter was still "out fishing." Peter just clung to his nets and family life. Both were average "working class" people. No royalty or privileged class here; fisherman are hard workers.

But, when his younger brother, Andrew, listened and saw John proclaim Jesus as "the Lamb of God,"  Andrew went back to Peter and basically said: "You better come with me and see this new teacher we have, his name is Jesus." Peter never doubted his brother and was curious, so he made the trip.

So it was really younger brother, Andrew, who introduced Peter to our Blessed Lord. The rest, of course, is history!

...it seems that the old saw about "old age and wisdom" was bested by youth and spirit. AMEN! Thanks, St. Andrew:


"...no, really. Take some time. You've got to come see and listen to this man..."


"...well, if you say so, I'll do it. You're my brother and fellow fisherman--you've not steered me wrong yet."

Thanks BNA!! This is one of the most well known stories of the gospel, very well simple lesson about faith and obedience to God....Drop everything and follow him, for he is the Lord.

I also love the reading from St Paul's letter to the church in Corinth. A simple reminder from the church founder that Christianity is inclusive, and we are all children of God baptized into his church as his "adopted" sons and daughters. What a great message to keep in mind in this day and age of divided politics and religious beliefs in which we live. Remember that despite our differences in tradition, all Christians are called to the Lord through Christ's message in the gospel.

I absolutely love this thread because of the many lessons visually, and verbally it offers.

So grateful for all of you.

You took the words right out of my mouth, angelfire!

usmc_delaware's points are well taken! THANK YOU for your clarity! Like you say, it''s what we need in our fractured world today!

BeNotAfraid I think you mean usmc_delaware,  I'm not that smart.

smart enough to follow Jesus, and that's all that counts according to Acts 4:13

"Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, they were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus."

That second reading casts a huge shadow over the divisions among us.

YEP!
my fault for the mis-ID! (chalk it up to a "Sr. Moment!")

correction made.

..not to worry, tho--both of you are strong in Christ!

AND--That's all that counts!

P.S.
I used to have a great bud at mess hall who could care less what you called him; his joke was: "Call me anything you want, EXCEPT late for chow!"

Same for our faith and beliefs--"Call us anything you want, EXCEPT not a Catholic!"

so true, TWIRE, so true!

May the Holy Spirit mend and cement us all back together so that HIS will and not OUR will be done!