FIRST READING
A reading from the prophet Isaiah 8:23-9:3
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,
those you break as on the day of Midian.
This is the word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 26:1. 4. 13-14. R/v.1
R/ The Lord is my light and my help.
1. 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/
2. 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/
3. 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/
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter 1:10-13. 17
of St Paul to the Corinthians
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 Apollos,’ ‘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.
This is the word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
Mt 4:23
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom,
and cured all kinds of sickness among the people.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to 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.*
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.
*This is the Gospel of the Lord.*
(*Shorter Form, verses 12-17. Read between *.)
ENDS
