Homily 25.1.2026 / 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
A reading from the Book of Isaiah (8:23b–9:3): In the past, the Lord humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he has honored the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, on them has light dawned. You have increased their joy and given them great gladness; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the plunder. For you have broken the yoke of the oppressor, the staff on their shoulders, as on the day of Midian. The word of the Lord. Psalm Psalm 26:1, 4, 13-14 R/. The Lord is my light and my salvation. V/. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? R/. V/. One thing I ask of the Lord, this I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, to inquire in his temple. R/. V/. I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, take heart, wait for the Lord. R/. Second Reading A reading from the first letter of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians (1:10-13, 17): I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. Brothers and sisters, I have been informed by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you. I say this because one of you is saying, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; still another, “I follow Cephas”; yet another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ would not be emptied of its power. The Word of the Lord Gospel A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (4:12-23): When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he settled in Capernaum, by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who dwelt in darkness have seen a great light; for those who dwelt in the land and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. The Word of the Lord
