Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, 22nd January, 2023

Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23
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

Donal Neary SJ:  
Gospel Reflections for Sundays of Year A: Matthew
www.messenger.ie/bookshop/

Love and call

We notice a big change of Life for the disciples – they leave the past to follow the Lord, leaving behind their old jobs and roles but also what might block them from living fully. To follow the Lord joyfully we need to believe in ourselves as valued in the sight of God. We pick up messages about ourselves from significant people and we have to let them go.

A child whose parents separate often feels unloved and needs the care and love that shows they are okay, Many addicted people have, deep down, a sense of not being loved. Every child coming into the world deserves to know that he or she is loved. We believe that the first gift of our faith is the love of God, the humble God who became one of us in love. In religion we need to touch into the love and the call of God, by gradually letting go of the things in the world that prevent from knowing God’s love. The first of the apostles had something new. Each of us, week by week can get this new thing, the love of God.

Everything else flows from that. To know the love of God is a huge gift, and to know the love and acceptance of another or a few others in life is also a huge gift. Both are one, in every love and friendship we have.

Is there anything keeping you from living in God’s love?
Ask his help in this.
Lord, Let me know your love day by day and share with all I meet.

Gospel and Gosple Reflection are taken from  Mass Readings and Sunday Homily - Catholicireland.net