Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 67
22 JAN 2023 A.D.


Reading 1
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.


Reading 2
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 or 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.”

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.


Overview of the Gospel:

• This Sunday’s Gospel reading takes place after Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness (Matthew
4:1-11) and after John the Baptist had been arrested by King Herod (Matthew 14:1-12).

• Jesus travels from the Jordan where John had been baptizing (Matthew 3:13), stops by his
hometown of Nazareth, and goes to live in the fishing village of Capernaum, on the western
shore of the Sea of Galilee (verse 13). It is from here that his ministry will be based.

• This area was called “Galilee of the Gentiles” (verse 15) because of its mixed Jewish/pagan
population. When ancient Israel was overrun by the Assyrians around 733 B.C., the lands of
Zebulun and Napthali were the first to be devastated, its occupants deported. The prophet
Isaiah foretold they would be the first to be restored when Israel’s glory returned.

• Jesus comes preaching a gospel of repentance, using the same words as John the Baptist
(Matthew 3:2). The word “repent” (Greek: metanoia) literally means to “change (your mind)”
[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

I truly miss the imagery and reading these each SAT to prep for Holy mass.
Happy New year my brothers.
Beyond grateful for you all

You are much too kind, Sister, angelfire! Trust all is well with you.

And a Happy New Year to you and yours as well.

We are so lucky and thankful for your love, fellowship, and friendship.

IMPERISHABLE!

Both Doc Art and myself: our greatest peace, finest love, and overflowing blessings to you!



TRULY!

Thanks!

Yessir! It's always a pleasure, Brother, tortilla-flats!