Jesus Begins His Ministry At Galilee

JANUARY 03, 2022, MONDAY
MONDAY AFTER EPIPHANY (White)
Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus (White)
CYCLE C- YEAR II
Lectionary: 212

Reading I
1 Jn 3:22–4:6

Beloved:

We receive from him whatever we ask,

because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

And his commandment is this:

we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,

and love one another just as he commanded us.

Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,

and the way we know that he remains in us

is from the Spirit whom he gave us.

Beloved, do not trust every spirit

but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God,

because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

This is how you can know the Spirit of God:

every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh

belongs to God,

and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus

does not belong to God.

This is the spirit of the antichrist

who, as you heard, is to come,

but in fact is already in the world.

You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them,

for the one who is in you

is greater than the one who is in the world.

They belong to the world;

accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world,

and the world listens to them.

We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us,

while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us.

This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.

Responsorial Psalm
2:7bc-8, 10-12a

R.        (8ab)  I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;

            this day I have begotten you.

Ask of me and I will give you

            the nations for an inheritance

            and the ends of the earth for your possession.”

R.        I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

And now, O kings, give heed;

            take warning, you rulers of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;

            with trembling rejoice.

R.        I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

Alleluia
See Mt 4:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom

and cured every disease among the people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mt 4:12-17, 23-25

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,

he withdrew to Galilee. 

He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,

in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,

that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet 

might be fulfilled:

Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,

the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles,

the people who sit in darkness

have seen a great light,

on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death

light has arisen.

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,

“Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

He went around all of Galilee,

teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,

and curing every disease and illness among the people. 

His fame spread to all of Syria,

and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases

and racked with pain,

those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics,

and he cured them. 

And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea,

and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

When Jesus hears that John the Baptist has been arrested, he thinks that he might suffer the same fate so he leaves Nazareth and goes to Galilee, seeking greater security. He makes his home in Capernaum a lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, old tribal names for parts of Palestine. In those days Galilee was at least half Gentile in population, half pagan in cult, and bilingual - the people spoke Greek as well as Aramaic. According to Matthew, when Jesus settles in Galilee he becomes a ‘light' for the people of those regions through his teaching and healing.

PRAYER:

Lord, you call on me to reform my life and place my faith in this good news. Deepen my belief. May I take you at your word and trust in the God of love you came to reveal.

The Magi Visit The Messiah (EPIPHANY C)

JANUARY 02, 2022, SUNDAY
SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD (White)
CYCLE C - YEAR II
Lectionary: 20

Reading I
Is 60:1-6

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem!  Your light has come,

the glory of the Lord shines upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth,

and thick clouds cover the peoples;

but upon you the LORD shines,

and over you appears his glory.

Nations shall walk by your light,

and kings by your shining radiance.

Raise your eyes and look about;

they all gather and come to you:

your sons come from afar,

and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

Then you shall be radiant at what you see,

your heart shall throb and overflow,

for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,

the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.

Caravans of camels shall fill you,

dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;

all from Sheba shall come

bearing gold and frankincense,

and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13.

R. (cf. 11)  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

O God, with your judgment endow the king,

and with your justice, the king’s son;

He shall govern your people with justice

and your afflicted ones with judgment.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Justice shall flower in his days,

and profound peace, till the moon be no more.

May he rule from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;

the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.

All kings shall pay him homage,

all nations shall serve him.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,

and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.

He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;

the lives of the poor he shall save.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Reading II
Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6

Brothers and sisters:

You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace 

that was given to me for your benefit, 

namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.

It was not made known to people in other generations 

as it has now been revealed

to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 

that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,

and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Alleluia
Mt 2:2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

We saw his star at its rising

and have come to do him homage.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mt 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,

in the days of King Herod, 

behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 

“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?

We saw his star at its rising

and have come to do him homage.”

When King Herod heard this,

he was greatly troubled, 

and all Jerusalem with him.

Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, 

He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, 

for thus it has been written through the prophet:

And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

since from you shall come a ruler,

who is to shepherd my people Israel.”

Then Herod called the magi secretly 

and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.

He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 

“Go and search diligently for the child.

When you have found him, bring me word, 

that I too may go and do him homage.”

After their audience with the king they set out.

And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, 

until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.

They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 

and on entering the house

they saw the child with Mary his mother.

They prostrated themselves and did him homage.

Then they opened their treasures 

and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, 

they departed for their country by another way.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

The Magi, three pilgrim astrologers of the East, follow a star in search of the divine. God chooses to reveal himself to outsiders, strangers, and foreigners. I learn that in the kingdom of God there are no outsiders, nor any discrimination. The Magi are filled with immense joy by finding Jesus.

PRAYER:

The wise men saw the star and steadily followed it. The people in Jerusalem did not. What star am I being called to follow this year? What gifts from my treasure chest will I offer him in service of his mission? Lord, send me out each day to be a bearer of your love to all whom I encounter. 

Mary Kept These Things In Her Heart (SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD/NEW YEARS DAY - YEAR C)

JANUARY 01, 2022, SATURDAY
THE OCTAVE DAY OF CHRISTMAS 
SOLEMNITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF GOD (White)
(NEW YEAR'S DAY)
CYCLE C- YEAR II
Lectionary: 18

Reading I
Nm 6:22-27

The LORD said to Moses:  

“Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:  

This is how you shall bless the Israelites.

Say to them:  

The LORD bless you and keep you!  

The LORD let his face shine upon      

you, and be gracious to you!  

The LORD look upon you kindly and      

give you peace!

So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites,  

and I will bless them.”

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

R. (2a) May God bless us in his mercy.

May God have pity on us and bless us;

may he let his face shine upon us.

So may your way be known upon earth;

among all nations, your salvation.

R. May God bless us in his mercy.

May the nations be glad and exult

because you rule the peoples in equity;

the nations on the earth you guide.

R. May God bless us in his mercy.

May the peoples praise you, O God;

may all the peoples praise you!

May God bless us,

and may all the ends of the earth fear him!

R. May God bless us in his mercy.

Reading II
Gal 4:4-7

Brothers and sisters:

When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,  

born of a woman, born under the law,  

to ransom those under the law,  

so that we might receive adoption as sons.

As proof that you are sons,  

God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,  

crying out, “Abba, Father!”

So you are no longer a slave but a son,  

and if a son then also an heir, through God.

Alleluia
Heb 1:1-2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets;

in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Lk 2:16-21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,  

and the infant lying in the manger.

When they saw this,  

they made known the message  

that had been told them about this child.

All who heard it were amazed  

by what had been told them by the shepherds.

And Mary kept all these things,  

reflecting on them in her heart.

Then the shepherds returned,  

glorifying and praising God  

for all they had heard and seen,  

just as it had been told to them.  

When eight days were completed for his circumcision,  

he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel  

before he was conceived in the womb.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

This is the octave day of Christmas, dedicated as a solemnity to Mary, The Holy Mother of God. The gospel invites us to join the shepherds as they visit the new-born child in Bethlehem, and to share in their wonder and joy. Have our celebrations over the Christmas Season brought us closer to Jesus and his mother? Or have we found it difficult to find oases of quiet time in which to enter deeply into the mystery of it all?

We cannot but be aware that this is also New Year’s Day. How do we feel about entering a new phase of our journey through life? Are we in an expectant and hopeful mood, or are we apathetic or despondent? Whatever our feelings may be, it would be good to share them with God and ask his blessing on the days and months ahead.

PRAYER:

Lord, like Mary may I find room in my cluttered life simply to rest and be quiet in your presence. Mary’s heart was a sacred space, and mine is also. Fill it with the joy of your presence.