Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 8:23 – 9:3 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Isaiah

In the Galilean country, the people have seen a great light.

In days past the Lord humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in days to come he will confer glory on the Way of the Sea on the far side of Jordan, province of the nations.

The people that walked in darkness

has seen a great light;

on those who live in a land of deep shadow

a light has shone.

You have made their gladness greater,

you have made their joy increase;

they rejoice in your presence

as men rejoice at harvest time,

as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.

For the yoke that was weighing on him,

the bar across his shoulders,

the rod of his oppressor,

these you break as on the day of Midian.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Isaiah 8:23 – 9:3 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah

The Lord spoke to me and said:

“There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish.

In the former time the Lord brought into contempt

the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

but in the latter time he will make glorious

the way of the sea,

the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness-

on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest,

as people exult when dividing plunder.

“For the yoke of their burden,

and the bar across their shoulders.

the rod of their oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 26:1, 4, 13-14 (JB)

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

The Lord is my light and my help;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

before whom shall I shrink? R.

There is one thing I ask of the Lord,

for this I long,

to live in the house of the Lord,

all the days of my life,

to savour the sweetness of the Lord,

to behold his temple. R.

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness

in the land of the living.

Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.

Hope in the Lord! R.

1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians

I appeal to you, my brothers and sisters, make up the differences between you.

I appeal to you, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to make up the differences between you, and instead of disagreeing among yourselves, to be united again in your belief and practice. From what Chloe’s people have been telling me, my dear brothers, it is clear that there are serious differences among you. What I mean are all these slogans that you have, like: ‘I am for Paul’, ‘I am for Apollo’, ‘I am for Cephas’, ‘I am for Christ’. Has Christ been parcelled out? Was it Paul that was crucified for you? Were you baptised in the name of Paul?

For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the Good News, and not to preach that in the terms of philosophy in which the crucifixion of Christ cannot be expressed.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,

by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that all of you be in agreement

and that there be no divisions among you,

but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.

For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people

that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.

What I mean is that each of you says,

I belong to Paul,

or “I belong to Apollos,”

or “I belong to Cephas,”

or “I belong to Christ.”

Has Christ been 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 proclaim the gospel,

and not with eloquent wisdom

so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Matthew 4:23 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus preached the Good News of the kingdom

and healed all who were sick.

Alleluia!

Matthew 4:23 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom

and healed all who were sick.

Alleluia!

Matthew 4:12-17 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

He went to Capernaum, that the prophecy of Isaiah be fulfilled.

Hearing that John had been arrested Jesus went back to Galilee, and leaving Nazareth he went and settled in Capernaum, a lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali. In this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled:

Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali!

Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan,

Galilee of the nations!

The people that lived in darkness

has seen a great light;

on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death

a light has dawned.

From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand’.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 4:12-23 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

He went to Capernaum, that the prophecy of Isaiah be fulfilled.

Hearing that John had been arrested Jesus went back to Galilee, and leaving Nazareth he went and settled in Capernaum, a lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali. In this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled:

Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali!

Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan,

Galilee of the nations!

The people that lived in darkness

has seen a great light;

on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death

a light has dawned.

From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand’.

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ And they left their nets at once and followed him.

Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. At once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed him.

He went round the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness among the people.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 4:12-17 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,

he withdrew to Galilee.

He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea,

in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,

so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah

might be fulfilled:

“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,

on the road by the sea, across the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles-

the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,

and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death

light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to proclaim,

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 4:12-23 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,

he withdrew to Galilee.

He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea,

in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,

so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah

might be fulfilled:

“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,

on the road by the sea, across the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles-

the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,

and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death

light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to proclaim,

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers.

Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother,

casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

And he said to them,

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.”

Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

As he went from there, he saw two other brothers

James son of Zebedee and his brother John,

in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets,

and he called them.

Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Jesus went throughout Galilee,

teaching in their synagogues

and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom

and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.