A Homily – The Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

First Reading - 2 Kings 4:42-44

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 144(145):10-11,15-18

Second Reading – Ephesians 4:1-6

Gospel Acclamation – John 6:63,68

Alternative Acclamation – Luke 7:16

The Gospel According to John 6:1-15 ©

                        

(NJB)

 

Listen!

 It is wise to trust in the providence of God, knowing that it does not manifest itself as miraculous or supernatural activity; we are the agents of the divine, God’s providence comes through us. Those one-hundred men experienced this when the bread was distributed and none of them took more than one hundredth of what had been given, each of them took less than a fifth of a loaf…and there was some left over.

 Know this.

 God, the creator of the universe, God is not a king.

 God is present in all times and all places, even in the deepest recesses of the human heart, but God does not intervene directly in human events. God’s influence over us is indirect; God shows us the way and it is for us to take it. It is up to us to act on God’s behalf in relation to our sisters and brothers, to care for our mother’s and father’s as God would have us do. God’s power does not interfere with our freedom in any way.

 Contemplate the vast power of God, in whom and through whom the entire universe exists; contemplate the way of justice, love and humility, keep to it, and share it with the stranger, the alien and even your adversary.

 The apostle calls us to selflessness and to love, to recognize this truth: Gods spirit animates all things. God is God of all beings; the whole of what is came into being through the divine, exists in the divine, and without the divine would cease to be, because God’s spirit animates all things.

 As children of God we each share in the same grace that was manifested by Jesus of Nazareth. We each receive an equal share of God’s love, which is a love without measure, infinite and eternal. We each reflect that grace for one another according to our own willingness and our individual capacities which fluctuate in direct proportion to our desires and ambitions for ourselves and our families.

 Be mindful of doctrine and its pitfalls.

 Peter would have us believe that he follows Jesus because Jesus has the secret to eternal life, as if this were the purpose of the gospel, as if believing in the proposition that Jesus is the “Holy One of God” is the key to receiving the gift, as if the gift had not already been given to all of God’s children.

 Peter wants us to believe access to Jesus, to the truth and the reality of life everlasting, is parceled out by God through the church, allowing some to come to it while refusing others.

 This scheme is not true.

 Jesus preached the good news, and the good news is this:

 God loves you and you are saved. You are not saved for anything you have done, you did not earn it, you are saved because God loves you and God love’s everyone.

 The promise of salvation is not that you will be spared from suffering and torment in hell, or that when you are judged God will forgive you…if you do x, y, and z.

 God has already forgiven you, you are already saved. God has prepared you and everyone for eternal life, this is the good news…the really good news.

 Believe it!

 Let the goodness of the promise flow through you now and start living as if it were true.

 We are not called to believe in the idea that Jesus is this or that, the “Holy One of God;” we are called to act on the principles of Jesus’ faith, to be charitable and of service to each other.

 Remember.

 At least half a century had passed from the time of Jesus’ death to the time that Luke’s Gospel was written. By this time Palestine (Judea and Samaria) were completely under Roman rule, Jerusalem had been ruined, its temple destroyed, and the population killed or in bondage, scattered across the Empire in the second great Diaspora.

There were no witnesses to the events Luke describes, the story is a fabrication, pure myth, it never happened. Nevertheless, it became part of the tradition and was handed down as evidence that Jesus had both great compassion and great power.

 The raising of the dead man at Nain asserts the notion that widow should not be left alone, with no husband or son to protect her. This is a metaphor not a miracle, suggesting that the mission of the church is to protect the widow and keep her in life. This reversal of social norms and the common way of life is the miracle. The widow has entered the church, and the family of God will prevent the widow from being forces out into the margins of society.

 It is not that the widow’s son died, and returned to life; it is that Jesus appointed the church to care for the widow in place of her dead son. This is what puts Jesus directly in the tradition of the prophets, not the miracle making, the wonder working, the acts of power and the magic. It is his work as an advocate for justice in the community, his compassion and humility that mark him as the prophet that he was.

 Consider the gospel reading for today; this reading from John is piece of pure propaganda and a gross misrepresentation of Jesus’ ministry.

 The gospel writers took a story from the common tradition and embellished it, transforming a story that was suggestive of a miracle, the feeding of the multitudes, into an explicit work of magic.

 In other versions of this story the miracle of faith which led to the feeding of the people could be read as having come from the people themselves, because they were following the way that Jesus was leading them in, they shared what they had and each received a portion of what was put on the common table. The people, seeing how little food there was to be passed around, contributed to the stores of foodstuffs they each had in their possession; those without enough taking what they needed, and those with extra giving what they had in the spirit of communitarianism and hospitality that was a hallmark of the nascent church.

 The authors of John’s Gospel were not content with that; they could not resist the temptation to embellish and give the credit to Jesus’ supernatural powers for engineering a miraculous event. This editorial move undercuts the teaching of Jesus. The way he preached is a living way; it does not ask us to have faith in magic powers, but to trust in our neighbors and their basic commitment to principles of justice and compassion.

First Reading - 2 Kings 4:42-44

They Will Eat, and Have Some Left Over

A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing Elisha, the man of God, bread from the first-fruits, twenty barley loaves and fresh grain in the ear.’ ‘Give it to the people to eat’, Elisha said. But his servant replied, ‘How can I serve this to a hundred men?’ ‘Give it to the people to eat’ he insisted ‘for the Lord says this, “They will eat and have some left over.”’ He served them; they ate and had some left over, as the Lord had said.

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 144(145):10-11,15-18

The Greatness and Goodness of God

I will bless you day after day and tell of your wonderful deeds, O Lord.

Alleluia!

I will praise you to the heights, O God, my king –

  I will bless your name for ever and for all time.

I will bless you, O God, day after day –

  I will praise your name for ever and all time.

The Lord is great, to him all praise is due –

  he is great beyond measuring.

Generation will pass to generation the praise of your deeds,

  and tell the wonders you have done.

They will tell of your overwhelming power,

  and pass on the tale of your greatness.

They will cry out the story of your great kindness,

  they will celebrate your judgements.

The Lord takes pity, his heart is merciful,

  he is patient and endlessly kind.

The Lord is gentle to all –

  he shows his kindness to all his creation.

Let all your creatures proclaim you, O Lord,

  let your chosen ones bless you.

Let them tell of the glory of your reign,

  let them speak of your power –

so that the children of men may know what you can do,

  see the glory of your kingdom and its greatness.

Your kingdom stands firm for all ages,

  your rule lasts for ever and ever.

The Lord is faithful in all his words,

  the Lord is holy in all his deeds.

The Lord supports all who are falling,

  the Lord lifts up all who are oppressed.

All look to you for help,

  and you give them their food in due season.

In your goodness you open your hand,

  and give every creature its fill.

The Lord is just in all his ways,

  the Lord is kind in all that he does.

The Lord is near to those who call on him,

  to all those who call on him in truth.

For those that honour him,

  he does what they ask,

  he hears all their prayers,

  and he keeps them safe.

The Lord keeps safe all who love him,

  but he dooms all the wicked to destruction.

My mouth shall tell the praises of the Lord.

Let all flesh bless his holy name,

  for ever and ever.

Alleluia!

 

Second Reading – Ephesians 4:1-6

One Body, One Spirit, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.

 

Gospel Acclamation – John 6:63,68

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life; you have the message of eternal life.

Alleluia!

 

Alternative Acclamation – Luke 7:16

Alleluia, alleluia!

A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.

Alleluia!

 

The Gospel According to John 6:1-15 ©

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

Jesus went off to the other side of the Sea of Galilee – or of Tiberias – and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the signs he gave by curing the sick. Jesus climbed the hillside, and sat down there with his disciples. It was shortly before the Jewish feast of Passover.

Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?’ He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, ‘Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, ‘There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; he then did the same with the fish, giving out as much as was wanted. When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, ‘Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.’ So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves. The people, seeing this sign that he had given, said, ‘This really is the prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself.

 

A Homily – The Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

A Homily - The Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

A Homily – The Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

 First Reading – Ecclesiasticus 15:16-21 ©

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 118(119):1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 ©

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 ©

Gospel Acclamation – 1 Samuel 3:9, John 6:68

Alternative Acclamation – Matthew 11 :25

The Gospel According to Matthew – 5: 17 - 37 ©

 (NJB)

 Listen!

 God, the creator of the universe, God has prepared the way for you, look ahead you can see it; the lane is clear and smooth, it yours to follow, and you must be mindful, for on the margins there are ruts and grooves, there are stones and roots, and other things to stumble on.

 Consider this:

 You may take which ever path you like, because all paths lead to the divine; stop and look and you will see that you are in its midst already…Look into the fire and there is God, dip your cup in the well and there is God.

 Be mindful.

 Water cleanses without hurt, fire cleanses as it burns; in the scriptures both fire and water are symbolic of the divine and our encounter with God’s spirit, turn around and God is with you, plant your feet and God is there. Close your eyes and stop your ears, God always remains…abiding in your heart.

 Nothing evil comes from God, and without God not one thing exists, everything participates in the good.

 Listen!

 God’s law is written in our hearts. God speaks to us there. All other versions of God’s law are merely reflections of the divine law that each of us carries with us, it is the seat of conscience, it is the house of reason, it is the spirit of wisdom that dwells within us.  

 God’s law is a living flame. Look into your heart, see it shimmering there, glowing amidst the coals. God’s law is to love, and there is no other law; to love is its own reward, you will receive no other.

 Remember this!

 Those who fail at loving are not unloved by God. We are called on to love; even the hateful are called to love, as we are called to love them, knowing that love is the only cure for hatred.

 When you petition God, do not petition God for favor; do not ask God for special treatment or to prefer you over any-other-one of God’s children...and do not promise to do for God what is not within your power to do.

 When you petition the divine, be wise and ask for wisdom. Do not lie to God, or yourself when you petition God. Do not ask of God what it already lies within your power to do for yourself.

 God will not rescue you until the end beyond the ending.

 Now be mindful of the sacred text, always handle it with care and humility, it has been made a tool for human beings, the greater part of it is little more than vanity, propaganda and myth.

 There is no mystery waiting to be found within its pages except for the mystery of love, which we are commanded to…as best as we may, to love one another as God loves us. This is the demand the divine law makes on our conscience; to act mercifully in the interest of justice, to live a life filled with compassion, and be humble while following the way.

 When a leader arises among us, we must acknowledge them and their appointment if it is a reflection of the will of the people. When that leadership is pure and can we see that their work is holy, we must acknowledge that, but in the acknowledgment of these things it is important that we do not embellish a thing…let their work speak for itself, and the consequences that flow from their work speak to the generation to come…you will know the seed by the fruit that it bears.

 Remember!

 God speaks to all people. The voice of the creator speaks in the human heart.

 There fore be mindful of what the gospel teaches!

 Here is the good news: God loves you, and you are saved.

 It is as simple as that: You are saved and you are loved.

 You are not saved for anything that you have done, you did not earn it, you are saved because God loves you and for no other reason. The promise of gospel is not that you will be spared from suffering and torment in hell, or that when you are judged God will forgive you.

 God has already forgiven you. You are already saved. God has prepared you and everyone for eternal life. That is the good news, believe it!

 Believe it! And let the goodness of the promise flow through you, begin to live your life…renewed, Act as if you believed this were true.

 We are not called to believe in the idea that Jesus is this or that, the Holy One of God; we are called to act on the principles of his faith, to live lives of charity and service to each other.

 The teachings of Jesus cannot be treated like a shell game, though they are, and have been since the beginning, as Matthew’s Gospel illustrates. The way of Jesus is not a long con, neither is it a bait and switch, it is a simple teaching that cannot be controlled or owned by any one group of people.

 God has hidden nothing from you. The truth is in the openm it is there for anyone to see.

 The wise and the powerful, the learned and the clever, the weak and the meek, everyone has access to the same truth, to the knowledge of God, the meaning of justice, the freedom to hope and love, because the truth lies within us as we are all the children of God.

 Who are the wise and powerful, who are the learned and the clever, who are the faithful and childlike. In every generation, you will see a new group labeling the elder group as out of touch, blind, privileged, in the dark, corrupt, and they themselves the hers to the promise.

 It is all vanity.

 It is an endless cycle and the truth remains the same; love justice, be merciful, do good, serve God through the loving service you provide to one another: your family, your friend, your neighbor, the stranger, even your enemy, this is the way Jesus asked us to follow.

 Just because a person is wise and powerful, learned and clever, or a child of the church, does not mean they recognize the truth when they see it, or act upon when they do. It is not your station in society, it is not how other people regard you, it is not the titles you have earned, or the ways that you have been marginalized that give a person the tell on how to fulfill the calling and follow Jesus. What matters is what is in the heart, and your willingness to trust in the content of your hops.

 Consider the Gospel reading for today.

 The way is simple and elegant, and among the most difficult paths to follow, though it is accepting of everyone and forgiving to all.

 In the reading for today the writers of Matthew’s Gospel attempt to summarize Jesus’ teaching on the law. They had known Jesus, or who had been instructed in the faith by those who knew him, they believed sincerely that they understood what was in his heart.

 Nevertheless, their summary of his teaching falls short of the mark, because, as with all matters pertaining to the divine, our capacity to understanding is conditioned by our life on Earth.

 In this passage, the kingdom of heaven which Jesus refers to is not a place beyond this world. It is the world we live in; though it is not the world as it is, but the world as it could be, if we find the patience to see God in our neighbor and reconcile ourselves with the divine.

 Know this.

 The hell which the gospels refer to is not a place beyond this world, it is not the diametric opposite of heaven, it is the realm of the dead, it is the place where we are, for as long as we cling to our sins.

 We have a choice, one we can exercise right now; we may choose follow the way, to live in a community of peace and love, or to live in a world conditioned by fear and greed, strife and pain.

 If we chose the way, no matter how much we may desire it, we cannot have it, or share it with others, if we are not reconciled to the community we live in. if we hold a grudge, if there is enmity; we must address these first and come to a place of healing.

 Every action we take matters, but in the way, our intentions matter as much…and more.

 A person may not be a thief, but if they covet their neighbor’s possessions there is no peace between them. What we hold in our heart determines the nature of our relationships with each other. To forgive and be forgiven, is not a transaction, it is a simple injunction. Let go of the hardness and covetousness in your heart, accept the mercy that is offered to you. Be loved, and love in return.

 

First Reading – Ecclesiasticus 15:16-21 ©

God Predestined Wisdom to Be for Our Glory Before the Ages Began

If you wish, you can keep the commandments, to behave faithfully is within your power.

He has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer.

Man has life and death before him; whichever a man likes better will be given him.

For vast is the wisdom of the Lord; he is almighty and all-seeing.

His eyes are on those who fear him, he notes every action of man.

He never commanded anyone to be godless, he has given no one permission to sin.

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 118(119):1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 ©

They are happy who follow God’s law!

They are happy whose life is blameless,

  who follow God’s law!

They are happy who do his will,

  seeking him with all their hearts.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

You have laid down your precepts

  to be obeyed with care.

May my footsteps be firm

  to obey your statutes.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

Bless your servant and I shall live

  and obey your word.

Open my eyes that I may see

  the wonders of your law.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

Teach me the demands of your statutes

  and I will keep them to the end.

Train me to observe your law,

  to keep it with my heart.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

 

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 ©

God Predestined Wisdom to Be for Our glory Before the Ages Began

We have a wisdom to offer those who have reached maturity: not a philosophy of our age, it is true, still less of the masters of our age, which are coming to their end. The hidden wisdom of God which we teach in our mysteries is the wisdom that God predestined to be for our glory before the ages began. It is a wisdom that none of the masters of this age have ever known, or they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory; we teach what scripture calls: the things that no eye has seen and no ear has heard, things beyond the mind of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him.

  These are the very things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God.

 

Gospel Acclamation – 1 Samuel 3:9, John 6:68

Alleluia, alleluia!

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life.

Alleluia!

 

Alternative Acclamation – Matthew 11 :25

 

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father,  Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom

to mere children.

Alleluia!

 

The Gospel According to Matthew – 5: 17 - 37 ©

You Have Learnt How it was Said to Our Ancestors; but I Say this to You

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.

‘For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.

‘You have learnt how it was said: You must not commit adultery. But I say this to you: if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye should cause you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand should cause you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body go to hell.

‘It has also been said: Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a writ of dismissal. But I say this to you: everyone who divorces his wife, except for the case of fornication, makes her an adulteress; and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

‘Again, you have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not break your oath, but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord. But I say this to you: do not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God’s throne; or by the earth, since that is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the great king. Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black. All you need say is “Yes” if you mean yes, “No” if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one.’

 The Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)      

                                                                

A Homily – The Third Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

 A Homily – The Third Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

  

First Reading – Isaiah 8:23-9:3 ©

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 26(27):1, 4, 13-14 ©

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 ©

Gospel Acclamation – Matthew 4:23

The Gospel of Matthew 4:12 - 23 ©

 

(NJB)

  

Listen!

 It is an error to ascribe divine motive or action to any event that transpires here on Earth. God, the creator of the universe, God made us in freedom and the whole of creation as well.

 Be mindful.

 God does not confer glory on anyone, on any tribe or any nation, and God does not seek glory for God’s own self. The prophet was wrong to use this language, his error being the error of human ambition, representing the limits of the human imagination, it is a reflection of our sinful nature and our own obsession with personal pride.

 Glorification is not God’s concern, neither should it be ours. The prophet was write however, to speak of this: to speak of hope like a light shining in the darkness, which once perceived, gladdens the heart and brings joy.

 God’s light shines on us from beyond this world; we cannot always see it, but we will when we have left the world behind.

 Listen!

 It is wise to trust in God; it is less than wise to hold yourself in high esteem.

 Embrace God’s judgment!

 This should be easy for a person of faith who knows that God’s judgment never appears without God’s mercy, and that God’s wrath never appears without God’s love.

 Do not boast about standing upright. No one is innocent, and God already knows you, better than you know yourself.

 Do not shun your neighbors, even if you perceive them to be frivolous, even if they do not share your values or believe things contrary to your own beliefs; do not be quick to call them evil.

 Sit where you are invited, open your door to everyone; then will you be in the service of God.

 Be mindful of this, at all times be mindful:

 A house divided against itself cannot stand, and if it cannot stand, it cannot be used for any good, it will shelter no one, harbor no one, people cannot gather there, talk together, share a meal together or lift up their voices in song.

 Do not look to the pulpit or the person preaching there as the final word on the way.

 Look to the teaching of Christ, of Jesus who says this: no greater love can a person show than that they give their life for their sister or brother, which is exactly what Jesus did when the time came, when he was arrested at Gethsemane, put on trial and killed.

 Follow the way: love God with all your strength and all your heart and all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, this is the whole of the law, and the wisdom of the prophets…this is the way.

 Be mindful, and be wary of the Scriptures, especially when the authors of the text are attempting to fit their narrative of Jesus’ life into a picture that makes it look as if he is fulfilling a prediction made by a prophet from past ages.

 In these cases the literal story is always false, it cannot be relied on for anything, even as a metaphor. Stories that rest on a false foundation are suspect and should be treated guardedly.

 Know this:

 Even if a prediction was made, and even if Jesus did the thing that was predicted, it is false to suggest that Jesus’ actions were in fulfillment of it…such a thing would be merely a happy coincidence.

 This truth is bedrock, we know it because the future is not predetermined, it never has been and it never will be. God and creation free.

 A prophet only speak of the future for two reasons; to engender hope and to warn of danger. There is no other purpose and there is no predictive power in it. A prophet, even when talking of the future, is always addressing a matter before the people in their own time and their own place. Prophecy is never meant to guide the lives of future generations, except in cases when the prophet is addressing an issue of universal truth, such as the nature of justice and mercy, which is itself timeless and unchanging.

 Listen!

 The Gospel writers were propagandists. They fabricated many of the details of Jesus’ life. They fabricated those details to suit their narrative about who Jesus was, why his mission was necessary, and what his life and death meant for the early church.

 In this narrative the Gospel writers place Jesus directly in the tradition of John the Baptist, they do it with the words “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” This is a continuation of that narrative, meant to harness the energy of John’s movement, after his arrest and murder. The narrative in the Gospel for today informs the reader of this, and that is its main intention.

 

First Reading – Isaiah 8:23-9:3 ©

In Galilee of the Nations the People has Seen a Great Light

In days past the Lord humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in days to come he will confer glory on the Way of the Sea on the far side of Jordan, province of the nations.

The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone.

You have made their gladness greater, you have made their joy increase; they rejoice in your presence as men rejoice at harvest time, as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.

For the yoke that was weighing on him, the bar across his shoulders, the rod of his oppressor – these you break as on the day of Midian.

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 26(27):1, 4, 13-14 ©

The Lord is my light and my help.

The Lord is my light and my help;

  whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

  before whom shall I shrink?

The Lord is my light and my help.

There is one thing I ask of the Lord,

  for this I long,

to live in the house of the Lord,

  all the days of my life,

to savour the sweetness of the Lord,

  to behold his temple.

The Lord is my light and my help.

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness

  in the land of the living.

Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.

  Hope in the Lord!

The Lord is my light and my help.

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 ©

Make Up the Differences Between You Instead of Disagreeing Among Yourselves

I appeal to you, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to make up the differences between you, and instead of disagreeing among yourselves, to be united again in your belief and practice. From what Chloe’s people have been telling me, my dear brothers, it is clear that there are serious differences among you. What I mean are all these slogans that you have, like: ‘I am for Paul’, ‘I am for Apollos’, ‘I am for Cephas’, ‘I am for Christ.’ Has Christ been parcelled out? Was it Paul that was crucified for you? Were you baptised in the name of Paul?

For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the Good News, and not to preach that in the terms of philosophy in which the crucifixion of Christ cannot be expressed.

  

Gospel Acclamation – Matthew 4:23

 Alleluia, alleluia!

 Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom and cured all kinds of sickness among the people.

 Alleluia!

  

Gospel According to Matthew 4:12-23 ©

 He Went and Settled in Capernaum: in This Way the Prophecy of Isaiah Was Fulfilled

 Hearing that John had been arrested, Jesus went back to Galilee, and leaving Nazareth he went and settled in Capernaum, a lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali. In this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled:

 ‘Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali!

Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan, Galilee of the nations!

The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light; on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death a light has dawned.’

 From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’

 As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ And they left their nets at once and followed him. Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. At once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed him.

 He went round the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness among the people.

 

The Third Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)