January 22 - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time : Light shines in darkness

 

First Reading  Isaiah 8:23-9:3 
The people in darkness have seen a great light.

Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 27:1,4,13-14 
The Lord is our refuge, our light, our salvation.

Second Reading  1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17 
Paul urges the community at Corinth to be united as people baptized in Christ's name.

Gospel Reading
Matthew 4:12-23

 Jesus begins his ministry not from the Holy city of Jerusalem but from Galilee, the land of Herod Antipas, the ruler who had just arrested John the Baptist. Matthew saw this as a fulfillment of ancient prophecy (Is 9:1-2). Light has come into a land of darkness (Jn 8:12). Christ’s work goes on wherever even one true follower of his is found for there still many who live in darkness and in the shadow of death. Each of us has areas of darkness in our lives. Darkness can stand for many things: fear, illness, pain, sin, error, loneliness, despair, oppression etc. As followers of Christ we are called to be bearers of His light