Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Invitation

May I draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?

This invitation is intended to share with you the joy
of the Gospel. Everyone, without exception,
can experience that joy by opening their heart
to the healing power of God’s word.

Available every day

Introduction
Matthew tells us about the beginning of Jesus’ preaching.
He shows that Jesus is steeped in Scripture
and fulfils Isaiah’s prophecy:
Jesus brings light to those who are in darkness.
On this Sunday of the Word of God,
we emphasise the importance of Scripture.
This day is an invitation
to delve ever deeper into the Bible
and to renew our love for the Word of God.
It is no coincidence that this Sunday coincides with the end of the week of prayer for the unity of the Christian Churches.
After all, Scripture is a strong foundation for our unity.
Let us open our hearts to the Lord.
He brings us together in one community and nourishes us with his Word.

FIRST READING           Isa  8,23b-9:3

The people see a great light.

From the prophet Isaiah

In former times, dishonour was brought
upon the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
but in the future, honour will be brought
upon the sea route
and the other side of the Jordan,
and upon the region of the Gentiles.

The people who walk in darkness
see a great light;
a light shines upon those
who dwell in the land of deep darkness.
You have increased their joy,
you have multiplied their gladness.
Before your face they rejoice,
as with the joy of the harvest,
as men rejoice
when they divide the spoil.

For the yoke that weighed heavily on the people,
the rod on their shoulders
and the staff of their oppressors:
You have broken them
as in the days of Midian.

INTERLUDIUM                 Ps. 27(26), 1, 4, 13-14

Refrain
The Lord is my light and my guide,

The Lord is my light and my guide,
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the protector of my life,
whom shall I fear?

I ask only one thing of the Lord, I desire nothing more:
That I may dwell in God’s house as long as I live.
That I may experience the Lord’s kindness,
see his temple again with my own eyes.

I count on experiencing the Lord’s blessings
during my lifetime.
Look to the Lord and stand firm,
be courageous of heart and trust in the Lord.

SECOND READING                 1 Cor. 1:10-13, 17
Be of one mind, let there be no divisions among you.

From the first letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Christians of Corinth

Brothers and sisters,

I implore you in the name of Jesus Christ:
Be of one mind,
let there be no divisions among you;
be completely united in mind and purpose.

For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people
that there are quarrels among you,
brothers and sisters.
Each one of you seems to have his own favourite teacher:
‘I follow Paul’. ‘I am of Apollos’.
‘I am of Cephas’. ‘I am of Christ’.
Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you?
Or were you baptised in the name of Paul?

Christ did not send me to baptise.
He sent me to preach the gospel,
and not with eloquent and learned words;
otherwise the cross of Christ would lose its power.

Verse before the Gospel         Mt . 4:23

Alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom,
He healed all the diseases and ailments among the people.

GOSPEL         Mt. 4:12-23 or 12-17
He settled in Capernaum so that the word of the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled.

From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
He withdrew to Galilee.
But passing by Nazareth,
He settled in Capernaum
on the shore of the lake,
in the border region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
so that the word of the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
lying by the sea, Transjordan:
Galilee of the Gentiles!
“The people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light;
and upon those who sat in the land
of the shadow of death,
a light has dawned.”

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Once, when He was staying by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were casting their nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. A little further on, He saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.
Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
A little further on He saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
they were in the boat with their father Zebedee,
preparing the nets.
He called them,
and immediately they left the boat and their father
and followed Him.
Jesus travelled throughout Galilee,
teaching in the synagogues,
proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom,
and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
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Laudato Si

Encyclical of

POPE FRANCIS

On Care for Our Common Home

8. Patriarch Bartholomew has particularly emphasised the need
for everyone to repent for the way they mistreat the planet, because
“to the extent that we all cause small ecological damage”, we are called upon
to recognise “our small or large contribution to the disruption and destruction of the environment”. On this point, he has repeatedly expressed himself in a powerful and provocative way, inviting us to recognise our sins against creation:
“That people destroy the biological diversity of God’s creation;
that people endanger the integrity of the earth and contribute
to climate change by stripping the earth of its natural
forests or by destroying its wetlands; that people harm and
make other people sick by polluting the water, soil and air: these are all sins”. For “a crime against nature is a crime against ourselves and a sin against God”.
To be continued
Every day at 1 am