Bulletin Greeting: January 25, 2026

Bulletin Greeting: January 25, 2026

As we enter the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Church invites us to reflect on the powerful theme of being called; the moment when God steps into ordinary human lives and invites them into something greater. The readings this weekend remind us that God’s call often comes unexpectedly, yet it always carries with it the promise of light, purpose, and transformation.

In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, we hear of a people who once walked in darkness now seeing a great light. Isaiah speaks to a land weighed down by oppression and uncertainty, yet God’s response is not abandonment but illumination. The light that dawns is not merely comfort for the moment; it is the beginning of a new reality shaped by hope and freedom. This prophecy finds its fulfillment in today’s Gospel as Jesus begins His public ministry in Galilee, precisely in the region Isaiah foretold would see the light first.

Saint Matthew tells us that Jesus proclaims a simple but demanding message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repentance is not simply about turning away from sin; it is about turning our whole lives toward God and allowing Him to reshape our priorities, our relationships, and our hearts. Immediately after this proclamation, Jesus calls His first disciples. Peter, Andrew, James, and John are not scholars or religious elites. They are fishermen, busy with nets and boats, immersed in the routines of daily life. Yet when Jesus calls, they leave everything and follow Him.

Saint Paul, writing to the Corinthians, reminds us that this call to follow Christ also demands unity. Divisions weaken our witness, but when we are united in Christ, His light shines more clearly through us. The Church, like the first disciples, is strongest when it listens together to the voice of the Lord and walks together in faith.

This Sunday invites each of us to ask: where is Christ calling me today? What nets might I need to leave behind? What habits, distractions, or fears keep me from fully following Him? As we gather for the Eucharist, may we open our hearts to the light of Christ, hear His call anew, and respond with generous faith, trusting that He leads us from darkness into the fullness of life.