First Reading

A reading from the Book of Prophet Isaiah (8:23-9:3)

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. 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.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (27:1, 4, 13-14)

(R) 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)

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)

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)

Second Reading

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1:10-13, 17)

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 Chole'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.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (4:12-23)

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 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 your 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.

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

The apostle Paul is known to have taken three missionary journeys during which he established many Christian communities in different places. The Acts of the Apostles records that the Corinthian community was founded on his second missionary journey. Corinth was one of the important seaports in ancient Greece. Hence, the city was famous for its arts and wealth but infamous for drunkenness, immorality, idol worship, corruption, prostitution and so on. These issues were also threatening the Christian faith. So Paul wrote two letters to the Corinthians addressing these problems and urging them to protect their faith in Jesus Christ.

Today's second reading from the first letter is an appeal to the Corinthians to give up their partisan divisions. What are the circumstances that lead Paul to write these words? The Corinthian community is formed of Jews and Greeks converted by Paul but ministered by other apostles and preachers. While on his third missionary journey and staying at Ephesus, Paul learns from the people, probably Christian slaves belonging to a woman called Chloe, of the dissensions and divisions within the church in Corinth. The problem is that the believers identify themselves with different leaders or preachers.

Some people claim that they belong to Paul. These people are probably the gentiles baptized by the Apostle Paul, who was called Saul before his conversion to the Christian faith. Paul never met Jesus. However, one could say he was the first and most influential missionary to preach the gospel of Jesus to non-Jewish people. Some people claim that they belong to Apollos. Who is Apollos? Apollos is an Alexandrian Jewish traveler who engages in religious teaching as well as in trade. Luke in Acts of the Apostles (18:24) describes Apollos as an "eloquent man and mighty in scriptures". Some other people claim that they belong to Cephas who Jesus named Peter. These people are most likely Jews who insist on the strict observance of the Jewish law. And finally some people claim that they belong to Christ. The real fault with this group of people is not in saying that they belong to Christ, but feeling a bit self-righteous and in acting as if they are the only true Christians in Corinth.

All these people are not necessarily wrong in identifying themselves with different leaders in the community. But Paul sees these divisions as something unnatural and unhealthy for the Christian faith. So he begins his first letter to the church in Corinth addressing not drunkenness, immorality, idol worship, corruption and prostitution but division. Paul sees the division as the most serious issue affecting faith in Jesus Christ. It is important to note how Paul corrects them. He begins the letter by greeting them as brothers and sisters. In other words, he rebukes their behavior but softens it by calling them brothers and sisters and admonishes them with love and kindness. It is a reminder for them to treat one another with brotherly and sisterly love. And then he urges them that, "All of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but be united in the same mind and in the same purpose." In other words, Paul is not opposing diversity in the church but divisiveness that is harmful to true Christian unity and faith.

Instead, Paul encourages them to keep Christ central in their faith. He writes, "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." It is not to be thought that Paul is belittling baptism nor is saying baptism is non-essential. His point is that our baptism is in the name of the Father, the son Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and it is effective only in so far as the preaching is effective. Baptism is not meant to draw people to those who baptize or preach to them but to Christ. Therefore any baptized Christian does not only belong to Christ but also identifies with Christ. And in the end Paul also reminds them that, "The cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning." In other words, he wants them to see the message of the cross rather than to admire the eloquence of the preachers. No matter to which group they belong, they are not to lose the meaning of the cross.

Friends, the message is very obvious. This kind of division exists within our church even today. Why do we have so many Christian groups in the world? This is a common question asked by non-Christians. I would say any division within the church before we were born or now or even in the future is beyond our control for God has given us freedom to choose the path we want to follow. But now, after our baptism, we are part of this great faith; we are baptized into Jesus Christ and therefore there should not be a cause for any further division within any community we belong to or the church at large.

Many people tend to follow the leaders and preachers of our faith rather than Jesus Christ in whose name they preach the gospel and administer sacraments. Some people show their loyalty to only some leaders to their liking. For instance, today some people seem to be drawn toward Pope Francis. Some others still prefer Emeritus Pope Benedict. Some believers have a special love for Mother Mary and some others like Saint Francis of Assisi or other saints. Following certain leaders and personalities has existed since the foundation of the church. As a result our church continues to be divided over doctrines, teachings, worship and religious practices and many believers abandon their faith in Jesus or leave the church because of their disappointment in their leaders. In every community and faith sharing group some people spend so much time fighting and bickering with one another that they have no time or energy left to fight their own enemy, sin. Some groups in the church claim superiority over others. Some groups identify themselves as traditional and spiritual and brand others as liberal and worldly.

Friends, John the Baptist points out Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. Mary, the mother of Jesus says to the servants at the marriage at Cana, "Do what Jesus tells you to do", John (2:5). At the time of the transfiguration of Jesus on the mount a voice from the heavens declares, "This is my beloved Son, listen to Him". And Saint Paul reminds us that we are called and baptized in the name of Christ. Therefore our loyalty must be to only Jesus Christ and not to the preachers of the gospel or the leaders of our faith. It is natural and possible for us to be drawn to the leaders with different personalities and gifts even though all of them preach or talk only about Jesus Christ. And it is quite important that we are guided by right and exemplary people in our faith. However, we should not make a big issue of how and by whom we have been baptized and taught and led but rather focus on the saving work of Christ on the cross which unites us as Christians. John the Baptist, Mother Mary, Saint Paul, all the saints and preachers of the gospel are only witnesses to our faith in Jesus Christ. Sadly some are great and effective witnesses for Jesus Christ while others are not.

Brothers and sisters, if we follow our leaders or rely on them we could end up disappointed and blame God. But if we follow the Lord on the cross we shall surely be blessed forever. We are united here today not because of our culture nor race nor language but Jesus' great sacrifice on the cross. Jesus Christ has paid for all of our sins so that all mankind will have redemption. Let us therefore look to Jesus Christ on the cross and not to each other. Let us focus on the message of the crucifixion rather than the leaders or preachers or other doctrines, however in their own right, they may be. Let us learn from the cross of Christ's patience, compassion, forgiveness, kindness and love so that despite our differences and disagreements we may continue to be loyal to our Lord Jesus Christ and reconcile with each other in his name.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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