27 Jan
Sun 		3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Is. 8:23-9:3
Ps. 26:1.4.13-14
1 Cor. 1:10-13, 17
Mt. 4:12-23
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Isaiah in the First Reading today tells us that in Galilee the people has seen a "great light", while in today's Gospel Matthew proclaims that this light is "Jesus Christ" who in Galilee begins preaching His Gospel.

Many years after that beginning, today, we ask ourselves, "How is it possible that there are still many Christian churches when the Gospel is only one?" "Is the Gospel like the ray of light which, passing through a prism of many human situations, is diversified into many interpretations and opinions?" Even St Paul in today's Second Reading laments the division among Christians according to the preacher who explained the Gospel.

The Apostle asks the Corinthians to overcome their differences and to be one in the Lord and appeals for them to be one in Christ, who is the truth made flesh and the source of what is written in the Gospel. Yes, we have four gospels, but they proclaim the same Jesus, the same Truth and invite all of us to the same faith, which is basically "an encounter and communion with Him". This faith should be less attached to the letter and more committed to "the love which has been poured in our hearts by the Spirit who has been given to us".


Let us pray for that faith which helps us to see Christ in our brothers and sisters beyond all differences. Let us pray for the unity of all Christians.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That Christians may intensify their efforts to announce together Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of the world.
Elaboration

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P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H    

INTENTION : That Christians may intensify their efforts to announce together Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of the world.

In the Apostolic Letter At the Beginning of the New Millennium Pope John Paul II looks towards the future and exhorts the members of the Church not to be afraid to leave the coastal waters "where there is nothing to fish" and move into deep waters. If we are prepared to do this, our catch will be abundant. The Pope particularly exhorts Christ's disciples to intensify their efforts to bring greater unity in the Christian Community.

The invocation "Launch out into the deep" is a binding imperative, the strength that sustains us, and a salutary rebuke for our slowness and closed-heartedness. It is on Jesus' prayer and not on our own strength that we base the hope that even within history we shall be able to reach full and visible communion with all Christians.

Our trust that we may succeed in attaining the full and visible communion of all Christians, "rests on Jesus' prayer, not on our own capacity". The Lord calls us to unity and will not fail to pour forth His grace on us. But in this context also, as in all our relations with God's salvific grace, we too must do our share. God does not save us against our will; God does not save us if we do not collaborate towards our salvation.



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