Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday of the Word of God
For the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance: Saints Alberic, Robert, and Stephen, Abbots and Founders of the Cistercian Order
World Leprosy Day
In other years: Saints Timothy and Titus

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 7:5-9
Mass: Is 8:23-9:3; Resp Ps 27; 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17; Mt 4:12-23
For the Cistercian Saints: Sir 44:1, 10-15; Heb 11:1-2, 8-16, Mk 10:24b-30

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, SAYS THE LORD: WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME WILL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS, BUT WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

There is plenty to keep us busy today as shown by the above celebrations and readings. God is praised! Vatican News reported that after Mass today at St Peter's, "those present were given a free copy of the Bible in a symbolic gesture of encouragement to make room, each day, in their lives for the Word of God." Urging all Christians to spend time with the Word of God, Pope Francis said, "Each day, let us read a verse or two of the Bible. Let us begin with the Gospel. Let us keep it open on our table, carry it in our pocket, read it on our cell phones, and allow it to inspire us daily. We will discover how God is close to us, that he dispels our darkness and, with great love, leads our lives into deep waters."

Inspired by those words, we have two Gospels to reflect upon today, to help us, guide us, challenge us, and reveal to us how much God loves us. Like Jesus said to the first disciples, He says to each one of us: Come after me (Mt 4:19). May we be as courageous as Peter, Andrew, James, and John and immediately follow the Lord. Let us not forget, though, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God (Mk 10:24).

And to honor the founders of the Cistercian Order, we have a few words from Michael Casey, OCSO. They can serve as a motivation for all Christians to be faithful to the Gospel. 

The first Cistercians were well known for their distinctiveness of lifestyle and the separateness involved in living far from human habitation. Beneath this surface insistence on particular external forms, however, was a hidden pursuit of radical discipleship of Christ and fidelity to the Gospel.

SAINTS ROBERT, ALBERIC, AND STEPHEN,

PRAY FOR US.

© Gertrude Feick