20-second Summary
United: This week we think about how our families, parishes, communities, and world would be different if we all lived up to our baptismal vocation. If all of us lived the Gospel and witnessed to Christ crucified, what would change? Would the divisions among us be healed? Would we be more understanding of one another? Would we be able to live a life of virtue more easily?
Catechesis At Home – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A
United
First Reading
First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali;
but in the end he has glorified the seaward road,
the land west of the Jordan,
the District of the Gentiles.
Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness:
for there is no gloom where but now there was distress.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Second Reading
I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree in what you say,
and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters,
by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you.
I mean that each of you is saying,
“I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,”
or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you?
Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,
and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,
so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.
Gospel Reading
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
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.”
As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.
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.
or
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.”
Mass Readings are presented verbatim from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) web site in good faith accordance with its “Web and Other Digital Media Usage” guidelines. All Rights are reserved to the USCCB.
United
REFLECTION – Be United, in Mind and Purpose
This week’s readings speak to us of unity and purpose. Christ came to bring life, salvation, to us. Paul speaks of being united to Christ for a single purpose – to spread the Gospel. When we are baptized, we are given a vocation – to evangelize.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 905 says this about our role:
Lay people also fulfill their prophetic mission by evangelization, “that is, the proclamation of Christ by word and the testimony of life.” For lay people, “this evangelization . . . acquires a specific property and peculiar efficacy because it is accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world.”
This witness of life, however, is not the sole element in the apostolate; the true apostle is on the lookout for occasions of announcing Christ by word, either to unbelievers . . . or to the faithful.
Think about how our families, parishes, communities, and world would be different if we all lived up to our baptismal vocation. If all of us lived the Gospel and witnessed to Christ crucified, what would change? Would the divisions among us be healed? Would we be more understanding of one another? Would we be able to live a life of virtue more easily?
Probably. Which is why St. Paul is so concerned about the Corinthians – he sees the divisions occurring and he calls them back to the Truth. He reminds them of what they believe. And we need that reminder, too. Who is trustworthy? Christ. Who is our light and salvation? Christ. Who heals us? Christ.
Let’s be united in mind and purpose, united in Christ and His mission for us.
DISCUSSION – Apostleship
Christ called us to be apostles, what does that look like in your family? Discuss this week how your family or group of friends can evangelize. In what ways can you help each other to fulfill this vocation? How can you accompany each other on the path of holiness? How can you bring Christ to others and accompany them?
ACTIVITY – United in Christ
Do one evangelizing act this week, either individually or as a group, and then discuss how it went, what next steps you plan to take, and what might you do differently next time. This can be an invitation to dinner where you discuss your family’s Christian lifestyle with another family from your parish. This can be an invitation to Mass or youth group or Bible Study.
Tell the person why you want them to join you – Christ means so much to us, yet, we rarely talk about Him to others. This week, take a step out and tell someone about Christ in your life, and invite them to join you.
DIG DEEPER – Other United resources from Holy Owned and Operated:
Page: Resources
TWMWU: This Great Gift
TWMWU: 3rd Week of Lent – God’s Mercy Brings Life
TWMWU: 2nd Week of Lent – The Lord is My Light
TWMWU: Faith, Works, Light, Darkness, and Eternal Life
Article: Catechesis and Other Funny Words
Video: Encountering Christ in Your Everyday Life
Podcast: The Sacrament of Baptism – Episode 107
Podcast: Is Some Music Bad? – Episode 123
Podcast: The Sacred Role of Women in the Church – Episode 124
How do you stay United in Christ and His Church?
by Beth & Kristofer Cowles
HOO™ Co-Founders
Other Help on HOO
Being On The Road To Perfection – Episode 166
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:32 — 22.6MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Stitcher | Blubrry | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS | More Subscribe Options
We are called to be perfect, as we discussed last week.
So, what does being on the road to perfection look like?
If Jesus was “finished” and his ministry was “completed,” as it means when He said, “It is done,” by saying, “It is perfected” just before He died on the Cross, He must have walked a road to perfection.
And so must we.
In this episode we discuss that concept, in terms of what we are doing and how we respond to the call for our life.
It’s a simple concept, and a difficult task, but we have the example of Our Lord which, from the proper perspective, is not an impossible example to follow and exemplify.
0 Comments