Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 22, 2023
First Reading: Isaiah 9.1-4
1In the earlier time, the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali were lifted up. But in the later time, the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, the Galilee of the Gentiles, was weighed down2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. A light has risen for the inhabitants of the region of the shadow of death3You have increased the nation, but you have not increased the rejoicing. They will rejoice before you, like those who rejoice at the harvest, like the victorious exulting after capturing the prey, when they divide the spoils4For you have prevailed over the yoke of their burden, and over the rod of their shoulder, and over the scepter of their oppressor, as in the day of Midian
Psalm 27
1A Psalm of David, before he was sealed. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid2Meanwhile, the guilty draw near to me, so as to eat my flesh. Those who trouble me, my enemies, have themselves been weakened and have fallen3If entrenched armies were to stand together against me, my heart would not fear. If a battle were to rise up against me, I would have hope in this4One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, so that I may behold the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple5For he has hidden me in his tabernacle. In the day of evils, he has protected me in the hidden place of his tabernacle6He has exalted me upon the rock, and now he has exalted my head above my enemies. I have circled around and offered a sacrifice of loud exclamation in his tabernacle. I will sing, and I will compose a psalm, to the Lord7Hear my voice, O Lord, with which I have cried out to you. Have mercy on me, and hear me8My heart has spoken to you; my face has sought you. I yearn for your face, O Lord9Do not turn your face away from me. In your wrath, do not turn aside from your servant. Be my helper. Do not abandon me, and do not despise me, O God, my Saviour10For my father and my mother have left me behind, but the Lord has taken me up11O Lord, establish a law for me in your way, and direct me in the right path, because of my enemies12Do not surrender me to the souls of those who trouble me. For unjust witnesses have risen up against me, and iniquity has lied to itself13I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living14Wait for the Lord, act manfully; and let your heart be strengthened, and remain with the Lord
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1.10-13, 17-18
10And so, I beg you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that every one of you speak in the same way, and that there be no schisms among you. So may you become perfect, with the same mind and with the same judgment11For it has been indicated to me, about you, my brothers, by those who are with Chloes, that there are contentions among you12Now I say this because each of you is saying: "Certainly, I am of Paul;" "But I am of Apollo;" "Truly, I am of Cephas;" as well as: "I am of Christ.13Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize: not through the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ become empty18For the Word of the Cross is certainly foolishness to those who are perishing. But to those who have been saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God
Gospel: Matthew 4.12-17
12And when Jesus had heard that John had been handed over, he withdrew into Galilee13And leaving behind the city of Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, near the sea, at the borders of Zebulun and of Naphtali14in order to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah15"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way of the sea across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles16A people who were sitting in darkness have seen a great light. And unto those sitting in the region of the shadow of death, a light has risen.17From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say: "Repent. For the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter a powerful narrative of light overcoming darkness, unity amidst division, and the call to embody this light in our lives. The prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a people emerging from the shadows into the radiance of God's promise, a beacon of hope in desperate times. This prophecy finds its fulfillment in Matthew's Gospel, where Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee, illuminating the lives of those who dwelled in darkness. Here, Jesus not only embodies the light but also calls us to a life of repentance and readiness for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Yet, as we bask in the light of Christ, we are reminded by St. Paul in Corinthians of the importance of unity. The early Christian community, much like our own, faced the temptation of division—whether through factions or personal pride. Paul urges us to transcend these divisions, to find our common ground in Christ. The Cross of Christ, he reminds us, is both foolishness to those who perish and the power of God to those who believe. It is through this power that we are called to unity, not in our own strength, but in the grace of God.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we might be the light in our own darkened world. In a time where division and discord often dominate, we are called to be agents of unity and hope. Let us embrace the call to repentance, turning away from the shadows of our own making and towards the light of Christ. May we, as children of light, reflect God's love in all we do, bringing hope to those around us and living as one in Christ.