THIRD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR A
The readings;
1st Reading: (Isaiah 9:1-4) or Is 8:23-9:3
RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Psalm 27: 1.4. I 3-14 (R. 1a)
2nd Reading: (1 Corinthians 1:10- 13. 17)
Gospel Reading: (Matthew 4: 12-23)
My Reflection
This passage reminds us that God is a God of restoration and hope. Lands once treated with contempt are now made glorious, showing that no situation is beyond God’s transforming power. Where there was darkness, God brings light; where there was sorrow, He restores joy.
The breaking of the yoke and the rod of oppression assures us that God does not ignore the suffering of His people. Just as He delivered them in the days of Midian, He continues to free us from every burden that weighs us down.
This reading calls us to trust in God’s light, to rejoice in His saving power, and to live as people who walk no longer in darkness but in hope and freedom.
My Reflection
Saint Paul teaches that unity in the Church is not optional, it is essential to the Gospel. Division tears the Body of Christ and weakens the Church’s witness. Unity does not mean everyone thinking the same, but belonging together in Christ through baptism and the Cross. Pride, factions, and personal loyalties destroy communion. Scripture, Church teaching, and Jesus’ own prayer all show that unity gives life and strength. A divided Church cannot heal the world. Unity requires daily conversion, choosing love, humility, forgiveness, and walking together so Christ may be clearly seen.
Br.Simon-Derah
Reflection of 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Is 9:2).
Isaiah speaks to a people oppressed, confused, and afraid, yet God promises light. This light is not an idea but a Person. The Psalm confirms it: “The Lord is my light and my salvation” (Ps 27:1).
In the Gospel, that prophecy comes alive. Jesus leaves Nazareth and settles in Capernaum the land of Zebulun and Naphtali the very place Isaiah mentioned. He begins with a simple but radical message: “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Then He calls ordinary fishermen into an extraordinary mission: “Follow me.”
What strikes me is that Jesus meets them in the middle of their daily work. No preparation, no seminar, no qualification. Just a response.
*I remember a moment in my own journey when, in the middle of routine community duties, I felt God inviting me not to do more, but to be more available. That quiet call changed how I saw my vocation.*
St. Paul, in the second reading, warns against divisions. When Christ is the light, there is no room for factions.
Light unites;
darkness divides.
For us as Christians, this Gospel is a mirror. We are called from our “boats” comfort zones, personal plans, and preferences to become fishers of men through unity, humility, and availability.
Christ still walks into the “Galilees” of our world: confused youths, broken families, wounded minds. He still says, “Follow me.”
*One striking connection about todays Reading* : is that all the readings reveal Christ as the Light who calls us out of darkness into a united mission with Him.
Let us follow Christ who is a perfect leader and he will not leads us astray. Amen.
Shalom!!!
MY REFLECTION ON THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
The three readings of today is pointing towards; Light, Unity, and God's calling. God brings light where there seems to be darkness, and he calls us to work together in that light.
*In Galilee, the people have seen a great light.*
From the first reading this is not just mere word, rather a declaration of hope and promise from God through Isaiah to the people weighed down by fear, suffering, poverty, depression, sickness etc. This shows that God whom we serve does not abandon his people even in our darkest moment, rather he makes a move to deliver us no matter the situation, but the issue is, do we believe in this declaration?
Most times we see ourselves in a situation that we doubt God still exist especially when we think we have been a faithful servant yet things around us aren't showing it.
In the second reading, “I appeal to you, brethren, that there be no dissension among you.”
Paul shows us exactly what it means to live in that light that Christ has brought. We ought not to allow pride, personal interest, jealousy, rivalry to exist among us, because it weakens the light and dims it, rather we should be united in mind and purpose of the crucified Christ not personality. It's quite unfortunate, the kind of disunity amongst us these days is alarming. Even inside the church we have groups of favorites and frenemies. Today St. Paul is telling me and you that there's no need because it doesn't promote God's light in us, rather it dims and quenches it.
In the gospel of Matthew, we see the fulfillment of Isaiah's message:
*“He went to Capernaum, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled.”*
This is a remote region which might have been looked down upon, but he started there and the light shines on them. This shows that God sees us wherever we are on this planet earth. There he saw two brothers and ordinary fisherman and called on them to follow him. God does not call by profession, irrespective of your profession, age, race, etc Jesus can call you at anytime but there's a striking thing in that calling, immediately the two men were called upon, what happened? They left everything and followed him, showing that responding to God's call requires trust and courage. Are we ready to follow Christ when he calls or do we belong to the group of holy Ghoooooost fayayayaya, it's not my portion.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, these readings calls us to examine our lives and know the areas that needs Christ's light and do everything possible to allow the light shine, those divisions and rivalry that quenches and dims Christ's light, we need to let go off, and ask ourselves if we are ready to follow Christ when he calls?
May God give us the grace to choose repentance, unity and faithful discipleship, so that the light of Christ will shine through us for others to see.
In the First reading Isaiah prophecies about the light of God, that is Jesus Christ. In the psalm, and 2nd reading, we are encouraged to make this light our focus and guide.
In the gospel, the prophecy of Isaiah comes to fulfillment through Jesus, as he relocates to Galilee, preaching and teaching the people of the land, leading them to salvation.
From the above, it is clear that each of us needs to open our hearts to receive this light of Jesus. Only when we have this light can we truly defeat fear, shame, quarrelling, jealousy, dissention and receive true joy and love in our lives.
But to have this, we must be open and ready such that when Jesus comes to us and says - follow me, we will be ready to immediately say yes, abandon the existing darkness and step into the light.
May the light of God, reach deep into the dark areas of our lives, and dispel it forever. Amen
Jesus was preaching the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every infirmity among the people.
Funny how I see people say I have to pray/ I have to preach/ I have to go to the mountain to be with the Lord😊etc,. when a sick brother or sister is in need of our assistance🙂 as if to say the latter isn't as important as the former.
Don't get me wrong please 🙏 To pray is very vital in fact it is to be our nature through constant practice and commitment but we equally need to pay close attention to other ways God is asking us to draw close to Him. It could be through health care services, banking services, political services, Architectural services, IT services, Art works, photography, pastoral work etc. these areas can also be means for us to experience God likewise prayer which was clearly demonstrated by our Lord and Saviour in the Acclamation; Matthew 4:23.
Jesus acted with intention so must we,
Jesus carried out both activity together, he understood that both are of clear importance to the human person thereby giving us an example. We too must do likewise and remove every act of guilt, selfish or irrational thinking that might prevent us from seeing clearly.
Also, let us put in mind the words of St. John Bosco, the Patron Saint for Youths as he helps us further with these words; Run, Jump, shout but do not sin".
Also, the words of Saint Benedict Nursia can equally help us" Ora et Labora" (Pray and work)...
Let us ask God to give us the strength we need always and the grace to act in the right manner.🙏
