Jesus brings light and healing into dark and broken places. We should come to Him, focus on Him, and not be distracted by fear or divisions (Readings for Jan. 26, 2020, Lectionary 67)

Key:

What these readings tell us about God

What these readings tell us to do

What these readings tell us not to do

Hyperlinks to additional resources

Reading 1: Isaiah 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: Psalm 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 Corinthians 1:10-13

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: Matthew 4:23  

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23  

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.

What these readings tell us about God:

Anguish has taken wing

dispelled is darkness 

he has glorified

no gloom where ... there was distress

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

For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed

The Lord is my light and my salvation
The LORD is my light and my salvation
The LORD is my life’s refuge
The Lord is my light and my salvation
The Lord is my light and my salvation
the bounty of the LORD

The Lord is my light and my salvation

Jesus proclaimed the Gospel

cured every disease

among the people

a great light

light has arisen.

the kingdom of heaven is at hand

Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men

He called them

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

What these readings tell us to do:

ask of the LORD 

Seek

dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life

gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate

believe
Wait for the LORD with courage

be stouthearted

wait for the LORD

agree in what you say

there be no divisions among you
be united in the same mind and in the same purpose

Repent

Come after me

At once they left ... and followed him

immediately they left ...and followed him

What these readings tell us not to do:

fear
be afraid

rivalries