Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 70

Reading 1

Zep 2:3; 3:12-13

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth,
who have observed his law;
seek justice, seek humility;
perhaps you may be sheltered
on the day of the LORD's anger.

But I will leave as a remnant in your midst
a people humble and lowly,
who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD:
the remnant of Israel.
They shall do no wrong
and speak no lies;
nor shall there be found in their mouths
a deceitful tongue;
they shall pasture and couch their flocks
with none to disturb them.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

R. (Mt 5:3) Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow the LORD sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2

1 Cor 1:26-31

Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.
Not many of you were wise by human standards,
not many were powerful,
not many were of noble birth.
Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,
and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,
and God chose the lowly and despised of the world,
those who count for nothing,
to reduce to nothing those who are something,
so that no human being might boast before God.
It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus,
who became for us wisdom from God,
as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,
so that, as it is written,
"Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord."

Alleluia

Mt 5:12a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad;
your reward will be great in heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mt 5:1-12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

 

Humbling ourselves enables us to achieve great things in our lives. It is through pride and arrogance that we encounter sin, which then leads to our destruction. Being humble allows us to be open to what God wants us to do. We are more apt to hear His voice and respond to what He is saying. Accepting a lowly status in this world is the key to greatness in the eyes of God. Jesus spoke of this when He instructed us not to accept a position of honor when being invited to a wedding feast, but instead take the lowest position, thus earning the esteem of all at the table. There is no need to be boastful, nor to focus on things that, in the end, are of no consequence. The important things are the things that reveal the Kingdom of God: feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, comforting the sick, visiting the incarcerated, and burying the dead. All these are done in a quiet, discreet manner. It is through our actions that we set the example for everyone to follow. These are considered works of mercy, for we all are providing each other with comfort and sustenance. Doing these things while maintaining our spiritual health through correction, instruction, counseling, comforting, forgiving, and suffering leads us on the path to perfection. We are also more apt to see the face of Jesus in all those whom we serve.

 

Jesus’ instructions today takes the wisdom of this world and turns it upside down. Strength is found in weakness, greatness is discovered in meekness, glory is seen when there is none. We are elevated when we lower ourselves. As the Apostle Paul said,

 

“God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,

and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,

and God chose the lowly and despised of the world,

those who count for nothing,

to reduce to nothing those who are something,”

 

While there are those who pursue earthly things, we are invited into something more worthwhile that has at its roots a spiritual essence that brings us into constant contact with God. It is here where we can find true joy. God blesses those who are without power and influence. Pursuing the virtues he listed and keeping these things close to our hearts while doing good works enables us to live our lives with Him at its center. The Beatitudes can be understood as a framework for Christian living. Our vocation as Christians is not to be first in this world, but rather to be first in the eyes of God. It is through acting out our faith that this happens.

 

Deacon Tom

 

 

 

 

 

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 67

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. (1a) 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.

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

 

“The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light.” We know that light to be Jesus Christ. It is through Christ that we are bathed in His light and are then able to live a joyous life with Him as our guiding force. This light is at once inside of us and all around us. Jesus Christ is everywhere, and He is everything. It is good to keep this in mind, especially at this time of year when daylight is scarce, and the air is cold. The appearance of lifelessness can easily lead to seasonal depression and loneliness. Reminding ourselves that Jesus is with us can combat these feelings and offer a counterbalance to all the bad things that are happening in this world.

 

I cannot help but feel spiritually uplifted when I participate in any type of religious gathering. This can be corporal worship, religious activities, or acts of charity. In all these instances there is a spirituality that cannot be ignored. When these things happen, the presence of Jesus is truly recognized. I know that all those who participate in these things feel the same way. As Jesus Himself said, “When two or three are gathered in My name, I am in your midst.” He was emphasizing the importance of community and acting out a rich spiritual life with Him at its center. This is the key to real joy and the solution to most challenges in a world that is under the constant threat of evil. Imagine how many billions of people participate in some sort of religious community or religious acts that lead to the revelation of Jesus to the world. His light shines brightly. It is the bulwark against the threats of those who oppose all that is good. Taking these things into account, there should be a realization of the strength that the revelation of Jesus Christ brings to the faithful and those who live throughout the world.

 

How strong are we as the Christian Faithful? We have God on our side. So, obviously, there really shouldn’t be anything to worry about. In our humanness, this fact is easily overlooked. We are inclined to think that we can be masters of our own destiny. It is true that we have certain freedoms that can lead to positive or negative outcomes based on our choices, but it is when our decisions are aligned to God’s will that things fall into place. Keeping God first is key to true joy and positive outcomes. Without God and not listening to God, things eventually go awry. Unfortunately, there are many times when we forget our own strengthens and are beaten down by earthly powers who seek to supersede the will of God for their own selfish reasons grounded in selfish gain, material wealth, and power. We must be reminded that these powers do not have our best interests at heart and are seeking to minimize the influence of God, removing as much of His influence as possible over His creation.

 

Today, in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, there is a parallel drawn between what was happening in that religious community to the status of the Church today. Rivalries have sprung up. There are divisions, factions, and conflict, many which have led to much violence and death throughout the centuries. All of these have their beginnings in the Human Condition and are rooted in selfish inclinations instead of the will of God. The Church is made up of people and, because of that, something that was perfect has become imperfect. To overcome this, there must be a constant renewal of the mind and an intense effort on spiritual renewal. The only people who want the Church divided are those who wish to destroy it. As Paul said,

 

“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.”

The Church is stronger than any one person and the focus should be on Jesus Christ who founded the Church here on this earth. When we unite, we become a massive force of pure good that can never be overcome. When we focus on the true meaning of the Crucified Christ, then nothing can overcome the Church and that which is God’s in the first place.

 

Anything that is happening now and will happen in the future will ultimately lead to better things when the Light of Christ is realized. Living within the Light of Christ offers us a better way and better things. We walk together in a community of righteousness, billions strong, journeying together towards something greater than anything else in this universe.

 

Deacon Tom

 

 

 

 

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 64

Reading 1

Is 49:3, 5-6

The LORD said to me: You are my servant,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.
Now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, the LORD says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10

R. (8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Reading 2

1 Cor 1:1-3

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Sosthenes our brother,
to the church of God that is in Corinth,
to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy,
with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Alleluia

Jn 1:14a, 12a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted him,
he gave power to become children of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Jn 1:29-34

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.'
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel."
John testified further, saying,
"I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."

 

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

 

We have all been called to holiness by Jesus Christ. It is through this calling that the greatness of Jesus Christ can be witnessed by the entire world if we choose to respond to this call, letting it dictate our thoughts and actions throughout our lives. The words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians come to mind as he writes:

 

“For the world in its present form is passing away.”

 

This serves as a reminder to us that there is something greater than anything that originated in this world and that it is that which we should be focusing our time and energy on: God. It is natural to focus on the things that are directly in front of us, thus physical things can easily take precedence over that which is spiritual, but it is in the spiritual where we can find true joy.

 

God offers encouragement through Isaiah, that whatever our present situation is, his greatness will shine through and there will be salvation. He is always a light shining through the darkness and the light cannot be ignored. This vision of glory and victory through responding to God’s call is present in all three readings today. The Apostle Paul starts his letter by reminding them the Corinthians are part of something far greater than they could possibly imagine, a call to holiness which unites them to a universal community and fellowship. John the Baptist testifies to the divinity of Jesus Christ and that it was through Him that we all of received the Gift of the Holy Spirit present in our baptism.

 

Now that the Christmas Season is behind us and we are now in Ordinary Time, we cannot forget what the Incarnation meant for us and all of God’s creation. The Word became flesh for the salvation of the world. It is through responding to Jesus’ call to holiness that that salvation is received. God tells us so tenderly through the prophet Ezekiel,

 

“I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees.”

 

This type of renewal and transformative experience does not just occur once. It is continuous. It is a way of life, a guiding force. Relying or focusing on physical things alone cannot bring this about. There will only be disappointment. Why limit us to that which by its very nature is limited. Saint Ignatius of Antioch reminds us that we should conform ourselves to the mind of God, so that His will replaces our will. When this occurs, we can be more able to hear the call to holiness and will be more apt to respond.

 

Asking God what He wants us to do and keeping focused on Him insures us that we are on the road to holiness. This includes recognizing when we are not doing His will and then making the adjustments necessary. We have been gifted with an intellect and are encouraged to use it in our relationship with God. We know when we are doing what is right. We know when we are doing wrong. These things are not a mystery. The challenge is to gain enough fortitude and temperance to act accordingly based on our knowledge. There should be a genuine willingness to do what is necessary if we have conformed our will to God’s and are journeying to holiness. We will also be able to feel His love and presence more because we are getting closer to Him. The more intimate we get, the more we feel, then the more we will want to continue.

 

Deacon Tom