Jesus Christ the Light of the World
The Scripture readings of this weekend shed light on our personal theme for 2020, which is to “look for the light” in our life and to better focus the light of Christ for others to see. Christ as the light of the world coming to us as he is calling for the repentance.
The first reading contains the prophetic reference to Christ as the Light that dispels darkness. Matthew wanted his readers to recognize that the Light Isaiah spoke of had finally appeared with the coming of Jesus.
In the second reading, Paul advises the Corinthians to live as children of the Light, avoiding divisions and rivalries, because several factions had arisen among the Corinthians, each claiming allegiance to its first Christian teacher or to a particular Apostle, which threatened to splinter the Community.
The Gospel message this weekend makes us realize that what had been prophesied by Isaiah was fulfilled through Jesus. In his ministry of calling the disciples and reforming lives, Jesus also brought Light to peoples in darkness, restoring and fulfilling God’s original promise. In addition, the Gospel describes the call of the first disciples and Jesus' teaching and healing ministry, which invited people to repent of their sins and accept the Good News of God’s Kingdom, changing their lives to match their Faith. Thus, the Gospel describes the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.
On this weekend we celebrate Australia Day. We are proud of our country. Let us have in our mind this prayer which is the collect of Australia day mass. “Grant, we pray, O Lord our God, that as the Cross shines in our southern skies, so may Christ bring light to our nation, to its people old and new, and by saving grace, transform our lives.”
I WISH YOU ALL HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY
Fr. Joseph Kanatt MCBS
Parish Priest.
First Reading (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 have 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, these you break as on the day of Midian.
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 have 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.
The Scripture readings of this weekend shed light on our personal theme for 2020, which is to “look for the light” in our life and to better focus the light of Christ for others to see. Christ as the light of the world coming to us as he is calling for the repentance.
The first reading contains the prophetic reference to Christ as the Light that dispels darkness. Matthew wanted his readers to recognize that the Light Isaiah spoke of had finally appeared with the coming of Jesus.
In the second reading, Paul advises the Corinthians to live as children of the Light, avoiding divisions and rivalries, because several factions had arisen among the Corinthians, each claiming allegiance to its first Christian teacher or to a particular Apostle, which threatened to splinter the Community.
The Gospel message this weekend makes us realize that what had been prophesied by Isaiah was fulfilled through Jesus. In his ministry of calling the disciples and reforming lives, Jesus also brought Light to peoples in darkness, restoring and fulfilling God’s original promise. In addition, the Gospel describes the call of the first disciples and Jesus' teaching and healing ministry, which invited people to repent of their sins and accept the Good News of God’s Kingdom, changing their lives to match their Faith. Thus, the Gospel describes the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.
On this weekend we celebrate Australia Day. We are proud of our country. Let us have in our mind this prayer which is the collect of Australia day mass. “Grant, we pray, O Lord our God, that as the Cross shines in our southern skies, so may Christ bring light to our nation, to its people old and new, and by saving grace, transform our lives.”
I WISH YOU ALL HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY
Fr. Joseph Kanatt MCBS
Parish Priest.
First Reading (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 have 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, these you break as on the day of Midian.
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 have 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.