January 25, 2026・3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time・The Word of God Sunday (A)

Isaiah 8.23b – 9.3・Psalm 27.1,4,13+14・1 Cor. 1.10-13,17・Matthew 4.12-23

From several years ago we have been observing the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time as The Word of God Sunday. This yearly observance of The Word of God Sunday aims at encouraging each one of us to read the Bible, helping each one to focus more on listening to the readings of the sacred scriptures during mass. The liturgy of the Word has been an important part of Mass.  

Today we ought to emphasize about “God – speaking to us through the Sacred Scriptures. We are also encouraged to spend time for further reflection outside mass times using the sacred scriptures, realizing what it (the sacred scriptures) tells us in our life, and share with others our “sacred scripture experiences.”

For today`s important points from our readings today, we together deepen our understanding that Jesus is the light of all nations. Following the reading from the book of prophet Isaiah (first reading), we understand that the transformation of the fortunes of Zebulun and Naphtali, a light being brought to their darkness, and the experience of liberation, joy and abundance like a bountiful harvest, are prophecies about Jesus starting His mission in Galilee, preaching repentance and calling His first disciples, and starting his ministry of teaching, proclaiming, and healing with the gathered first disciples.

Therefore in today`s Gospel reading, we will come to understand about the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy through Jesus. For each one there is a call to daily conversion and there is a call to live in the light (Jesus, the light of all nations). With various human experiences in the modern world we have, we can follow the lines from early responses of Jesus` first disciples Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.

Going back to the yearly observance of the Word of God, we are reminded to focus more on Jesus, the light of all nations. As we live and deepen our faith daily while loving our church from where God`s grace overflows, may we always find unity and allegiance in Jesus. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians urges the same unity and allegiance in which Jesus alone should be the focus. No divisions and factions. We are “here” to listen to the Word of God, and courageously live, share & proclaim what we have heard.