The Word, The Light, and the Trouble With Corinth

First readingIsaiah 8:23—9:3In Galilee of the Gentiles, the people have seen a great light.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 until now there was distress.The people who walked in darknesshave seen a great light;upon those who dwelt in the land of glooma light has shone.You have brought them abundant joyand 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 taskmasteryou have smashed, as on the day of Midian.________Responsorial PsalmPsalm 27:1, 4, 13–14The 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?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 LORDall the days of my life,that I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORDand contemplate his temple.The Lord is my light and my salvation.I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORDin the land of the living.Wait for the LORD with courage;be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.The Lord is my light and my salvation.________Second reading1 Corinthians 1:10–13, 17That all of you may agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you.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 Acclamationsee Matthew 4:23Alleluia, alleluia.Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdomand cured every disease among the people.Alleluia, alleluia.________GospelMatthew 4:12–17Jesus went to Capernaum, so that what had been said through Isaiah might be fulfilled.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 deathlight has arisen.From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aarona851065.substack.com