THE POWER OF THE TEACHER

Readings for Sunday, January 28, 2024

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time  
Lectionary: 71

Ir-Raba' Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading 1                DEUTERONOMY 18:15-20

Moses spoke to all the people, saying: "A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin; to him you shall listen. This is exactly what you requested of the LORD, your God, at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, 'Let us not again hear the voice of the LORD, our God, nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.' And the LORD said to me, 'This was well said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it. But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.'" 

QARI 1                 mill-Ktieb tad-Dewteronomju 18:15-20

Mosè kellem lill-poplu u qal: “Il-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, iqajjimlek profeta bħali minn ġensek, minn fost ħutek; lilu għandkom tisimgħu. Dan kollu skont ma tlabt inti stess lill-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, fil-Ħoreb f’jum il-laqgħa, meta għedt: ‘Jalla ma nismax aktar leħen il-Mulej, Alla tiegħi, u ma narax aktar dan in-nar iħeġġeġ, ħalli ma mmutx’. U l-Mulej qalli: ‘Sewwa għamlu li tkellmu. Jiena nqajmilhom profeta bħalek, minn fost ħuthom; inqiegħed kliemi fuq fommu, u jħabbrilhom kulma nordnalu. Min ma jagħtix widen għal kliemi li huwa jħabbar f’ismi, jiena nitolbu kont talli jkun naqas. U jekk xi profeta jfettillu jgħid f’ismi ħwejjeġ li ma nkunx qabbadtu jgħid, jew inkella jħabbar f’isem allat oħra, dan il-profeta jkun ħaqqu l-mewt’”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                 PSALM 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;

let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                Salm 94(95):1-2,6-7,8-9

R/. (8): Mhux li kontu llum tisimgħu leħen il-Mulej,

la twebbsux qalbkom.
Ejjew, ħa nfaħħru bl-hena l-Mulej,
ħa ngħajtu bil-ferħ lill-blata tas-salvazzjoni tagħna!
Nersqu quddiemu b’għana ta’ radd il-ħajr,
ngħannulu b’għajat ta’ ferħ. R/.

Ejjew inqimuh u ninxteħtu quddiemu,
għarkupptejna quddiem il-Mulej li ħalaqna!
Għaliex hu Alla tagħna,
u aħna l-poplu tal-mergħa tiegħu u n-nagħaġ tiegħu. R/.

Mhux li kontu llum tisimgħu leħnu!
“La twebbsux qalbkom bħal f’Meriba,
bħal dakinhar f’Massa, fid-deżert,
meta ġarrbuni u ttantawni missirijietkom,
għalkemm raw dak li jien għamilt”. R/.

Reading 2                1 CORINTHIANS 7:32-35

Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction. 

QARI 2                  mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 7:32-35

Ħuti, iva, jiena rridkom bla ħsibijiet. Ir-raġel mhux miżżewweġ, ħsiebu fil-ħwejjeġ tal-Mulej, jiġifieri, kif jogħġob lill-Mulej. Min hu miżżewweġ, ħsiebu fil-ħwejjeġ tad-dinja, jiġifieri, kif jogħġob lil martu, u hu mifrud fih innifsu!  Hekk ukoll il-mara mhix miżżewġa u x-xebba ħsiebhom fil-ħwejjeġ tal-Mulej, jiġifieri, biex ikunu qaddisa f’ġisimhom u f’ruħhom. Iżda l-mara miżżewġa ħsiebha fil-ħwejjeġ tad-dinja, jiġifieri, kif togħġob lil żewġha. Dan qiegħed ngħidhulkom għall-ġid tagħkom, mhux biex inxekkilkom, iżda għall-ġid tagħkom u biex tgħixu marbutin mal-Mulej bla tixrid ta’ moħħ. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                 MARK 1:21-28

Then they came to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!" Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!" The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, "What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him." His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

EVANĠELJU                Qari skont San Mark 1:21-28

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù u d-dixxipli tiegħu daħlu Kafarnahum. Malajr, f’jum is-Sibt, daħal fis-sinagoga u qagħad jgħallem. In-nies baqgħu mistagħġbin bil-mod tat-tagħlim tiegħu, għax beda jgħallimhom bħal wieħed li għandu s-setgħa, u mhux bħall-kittieba. Mela jkun hemm fis-sinagoga tagħhom raġel bi spirtu ħażin u qabad jgħajjat u jgħid: “Aħna x’għandna x’naqsmu, Ġesù ta’ Nazaret? Ġejt biex teqridna? Jien naf min int: il-Qaddis ta’ Alla!”. Imma Ġesù kkmandah: “Iskot! Oħroġ minnu!”. Imbagħad l-ispirtu ħażin lir-raġel beda jħabbtu ħafna, għajjat għajta kbira u ħareġ minnu.  U lkoll stagħġbu, u bdew jistaqsu lil xulxin u jgħidu: “Dan x’inhu? X’tagħlim ġdid mogħti bis-setgħa! Sa lill-ispirti ħżiena jikkmanda, u huma joqogħdu għalih!”. U l-fama tiegħu malajr xterdet mal-inħawi kollha tal-Galilija. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Eight-minute Homily by Fr Tony Kadavil   

A LISTENING HEART   

Introduction: 

The common theme of Sunday’s readings is Divine authority, as exercised in this world by the prophets of the Old Testament in their messages, by the apostles (including St. Paul), in their writings and teaching in the New Testament, and by Jesus in his teaching and healing ministry. The readings remind us that we should have a “listening heart” (Gospel), instead of a “hardened heart” (Responsorial Psalm) or “divided heart” (Second reading) to welcome the authoritative word of God.

Scripture lessons summarized: 

Sunday’s first reading tells us that a true prophet like Moses speaks with authority because it is God Who speaks through him. After the Babylonian exile, the Jewish priests began to interpret the words of Moses given in the first reading, namely, “a prophet like me,” as referring to one individual, the expected Messiah. This passage is chosen for today’s first reading because it refers to Jesus, the “preacher with authority,” mentioned in today’s Gospel. 

The response for today’s Responsorial Psalm, (Ps 95), speaks of not hardening our hearts when we hear God’s authoritative voice through the Scripture and the Church’s teaching authority. In the second reading, St. Paul exercises his God-given authority as the Apostle to the Gentiles to teach people in Corinth that marriage is a holy state ordained by God and that it is a life-long partnership according to the teaching of the Lord. But he opts for, and recommends, celibacy, so that one may serve the Lord without the distractions of married life. 

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Mark describes one sample Sabbath day of Jesus’ public life. Jesus joins in public worship in the synagogue as a practicing Jew, heals the sick, drives out evil spirits and prays privately. People immediately notice that Jesus teaches with authority and heals with Divine power. Jesus explains the Scriptures with complete confidence, and when questioned by people, he answers with authority. Jesus is using his real (authentic) Divine authority to teach, empower, liberate, and heal others. In today’s Gospel, the evil spirit recognizes and loudly declares Jesus as the Messiah. By his simple, if harsh, command, “Be quiet! Come out of him,” Jesus exorcises the demon who departs, obedient to His Divine authority.

Life Messages: 

1) We need to approach Jesus for liberation: Jesus did not use his authority and Divine power to rule and control people, but to set them free. Hence, let us approach Jesus with trusting Faith so that he may free us from the evil spirits that keep us from praying and that prevent us from loving others and sharing our blessings with them. Jesus also frees us from all the “evil spirits” of fear, jealousy, anger, envy, addictions, compulsions, selfishness, resentment, and hostility. May God free us from all those spirits which make us deaf, dumb, blind, lame, and paralyzed, physically and spiritually.

2) We need to use our God-given authority to build up lives. So many people with authority have made a lasting impression on our lives either for good or ill. Perhaps it was a grandparent, an uncle, or a parent, who loved us and cared for us. Perhaps it was a Sunday school teacher who encouraged us in our Faith and exerted a positive impact on our lives. Perhaps we remember the kindness as well as the firm discipline that a schoolteacher gave us. Teachers are powerful because they change and mould lives. Hence, let us all become good teachers like Jesus and use our authority to mould young lives in the right way.

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Jesus Calls Us

Readings for Sunday, January 21, 2024

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 68

It-Tielet Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading 1                 JONAH 3:1-5, 10

The word of the LORD came to Jonah, saying: "Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you." So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD'S bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day's walk announcing, "Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed, " when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.

QARI 1                 mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Ġona 3:1-5,10

Il-kelma tal-Mulej waslet lil Ġona u qallu: “Qum, mur f’Ninwè, il-belt il-kbira, u xandrilha li ngħidlek jien”. U Ġona qam u mar f’Ninwè kif qallu l-Mulej. Issa Ninwè kienet belt kbira għall-aħħar, trid tlitt ijiem biex timxiha. Ġona, kif daħal il-belt, beda ġurnata mixi, ixandar u jgħid: “Erbgħin jum ieħor, u Ninwè ssir ħerba!”. In-nies ta’ Ninwè emmnu f’Alla, nedew sawma u libsu l-ixkejjer, mill-kbir saż-żgħir. U Alla ra x’għamlu, kif reġgħu lura minn triqthom il-ħażina. U Alla raġa’ bdielu mid-deni li qal li kien se jagħmlilhom, u ma għamlux. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                 PSALM 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.

Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.

Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice
and teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                Salm 24(25):4bċ-5ab,6-7bċ,8-9

R/. (4a): Triqatek, Mulej, għarrafni.

Triqatek, Mulej, għarrafni,
il-mogħdijiet tiegħek għallimni.
Mexxini fis-sewwa tiegħek u għallimni,
għax int Alla tas-salvazzjoni tiegħi. R/.

Ftakar fil-ħniena u t-tjieba tiegħek,
għax huma minn dejjem, Mulej.
Inti tajjeb, Mulej;
ftakar fija skont it-tjieba tiegħek. R/.

Tajjeb u sewwa l-Mulej;
għalhekk juri triqtu lill-ħatja.
Imexxi l-imsejkna fis-sewwa,
jgħallem lill-fqajrin it-triq tiegħu. R/.

Reading 2                 1 CORINTHIANS  7:29-31

I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them, those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning, those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away.

QARI 2                  mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 7:29-31

Dan ngħidilkom, ħuti: iż-żmien qsar. Ħa jkunu, mela, dawk li għandhom mara, bħallikieku ma għandhomx; dawk li jibku, bħallikieku ma jibkux; dawk li jifirħu, bħallikieku ma jifirħux; dawk li jixtru, bħallikieku ma għandhom xejn; dawk li jgawdu d-dinja, bħallikieku ma jgawduhiex; għax is-sura ta’ din id-dinja għad tgħaddi! Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                 MARK 1:14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets.Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

EVANĠELJU                Qari skont San Mark 1:14-20

Wara li arrestaw lil Ġwanni, Ġesù mar il-Galilija jxandar l-Evanġelju ta’ Alla u jgħid: “Iż-żmien huwa mitmum, u s-Saltna ta’ Alla waslet; indmu u emmnu fl-Evanġelju”. Waqt li kien għaddej ma’ xatt il-baħar tal-Galilija, lemaħ lil Xmun u ’l ħuh Indrì qegħdin ikalaw ix-xbiek fil-baħar, għax kienu sajjieda. U Ġesù qalilhom: “Ejjew warajja, u nagħmel minnkom sajjieda tal-bnedmin”. U minnufih telqu x-xbiek, u marru warajh. Wara li mexa ftit ieħor ra lil Ġakbu ta’ Żebedew u lil ħuh Ġwanni fid-dgħajsa qegħdin isewwu x-xbiek, u minnufih sejħilhom. U huma telqu lil missierhom Żebedew fid-dgħajsa mal-lavranti, u marru warajh. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej. 

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Eight-minute Homily by Fr Tony Kadavil                                      

The need for repentance

Introduction: 

The three readings next Sunday underline our absolute need of repentance and our immediate need for a prompt response to God’s call.

Scripture lessons: 

The first reading tells us how God had to deal with the disobedient, fleeing prophet Jonah to turn him around (convert him), so that, repenting, he would go to Nineveh to preach repentance there. The wicked people of Nineveh, however, accepted Jonah as God’s prophet at once, and promptly responded to God’s call for repentance as Jonah preached it. 

In the second reading, Paul urges the Christian community in Corinth to lose no time in accepting the message of the Gospel and in renewing their lives with repentance because Jesus’ second coming may occur at any moment. Sunday’s Gospel describes how Jesus came to Galilee and began preaching, challenging people to “repent and believe in the Gospel.” 

Just as John did, Jesus also called for repentance, meaning a change in one’s mind or in the direction of one’s life and setting new priorities. Repentance also means hating sin itself, not just being sorry for the consequences of one’s sins. Believing in the Gospel demands from the hearers a resolution to take Jesus’ words seriously, to translate them into action, and to put trust in Jesus’ authority. 

Jesus preached the Gospel, or Good News, that God is a loving, forgiving, caring and merciful Father Who wants to liberate us and save us from our sins through His son Jesus. By describing the call of Jesus’ first disciples, Andrew, Peter, James, and John, today’s Gospel also emphasizes how we, sinners, are to respond to God’s call with total commitment by abandoning our accustomed style of sinful life. 

Jesus started his public ministry immediately after John the Baptist was arrested. According to Mark, Jesus selected four fishermen, Andrew and his brother Peter with James and his brother John, right from their fishing boats. Jesus wanted these ordinary, hard-working people as assistants for his ministry because they would be very responsive and generous instruments in the hands of God.

Life messages:

1) We need to appreciate our call to become Christ’s disciples: Every one of us is called by God, both individually, and collectively as a parish community, to continue Jesus’ mission of preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom and healing the sick. 

2) We are called individually to a way of life or vocation: – a religious commitment (priest, deacon, missionary, religious Sister or Brother, marriage partner, or single person), plus a particular occupation rising from our talents (medicine, law, teaching, healing, writing, art, music, building and carpentry, homemaking, child-rearing ….). Our own unique vocation should enable us to become what God wants us to be. As St. Francis Sales puts it, we are expected to bloom where we are planted. 

3) Our call, of course, begins with our Baptism and the other Sacraments of Initiation. It is strengthened through the years with the Eucharist and Reconciliation, healed and consoled by Anointing and, for those so called, made manifest in the sacraments of Matrimony or Holy Orders. The amazing truth is that God is relentless in calling us back to Himself even when we stray away from Him. 

4) Let us be thankful to God for His Divine grace of calling us to be members of the true Church. Let us remember that it is our vocation in life as Christians to transmit Christ’s Light through our living, radiating Jesus’ unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness, and humble service to all in our society.

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WE ARE CALLED TO BE A WITNESS FOR CHRIST

Readings for Sunday, January 14, 2024

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 65

Qari tat-Tieni Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading 1                  1 SAMUEL 3:3b-10, 19

Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD  where the ark of God was. The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, "Here I am." Samuel ran to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me." "I did not call you, " Eli said. "Go back to sleep." So he went back to sleep. Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. "Here I am, " he said. "You called me." But Eli answered, "I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep." At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet. The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, "Here I am. You called me." Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. So he said to Samuel, "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening." When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening." Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.

QARI 1                 mill-Ewwel Ktieb ta’ Samwel 3:3b-10,19

F’dak iż-żmien, Samwel kien mimdud fit-tempju tal-Mulej, fejn kien hemm l-arka ta’ Alla. Il-Mulej sejjaħ: “Samwel!”. U dan wieġeb: “Hawn jien!”. U mar jiġri għand Għeli. “Hawn jien”, qallu, “għalfejn sejjaħtli?”. “Ma sejjaħtlekx”, wieġeb, “erġa’ mur imtedd”. U raġa’ mar jorqod. U ssokta l-Mulej isejjaħ: “Samwel!”. U Samwel qam u mar għand Għeli u qallu: “Hawn jien! Għalfejn sejjaħtli?”. “Ma sejjaħtlekx, ibni”, wieġeb, “erġa’ mur orqod”. Samwel kien għadu ma għarafx il-Mulej, u anqas kienet għadha ma ttgħarrfitlu l-kelma tal-Mulej. U ssokta l-Mulej isejjaħ: “Samwel!” għat-tielet darba. U dan qam, u mar għand Għeli, u qallu: “Hawn jien! Għalfejn sejjaħtli?”. U Għeli fehem li l-Mulej kien qiegħed isejjaħ iż-żagħżugħ. U qal lil Samwel: “Mur orqod. Jekk jerġa’ jsejjaħlek, wieġeb: ‘Tkellem, Mulej, għax il-qaddej tiegħek qiegħed jisma’’”. U Samwel mar jorqod f’postu. U l-Mulej ġie, waqaf ħdejh, u sejjaħ bħal drabi oħra: “Samwel! Samwel!”. U Samwel wieġeb: “Tkellem, għax il-qaddej tiegħek qiegħed jisma’”. Samwel kiber, u l-Mulej kien miegħu, u ma ħalla ebda kelma milli qal tmur fix-xejn.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                 PSALM 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10

I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                 Salm 39(40):2,4ab,7-8a,8b-9,10

R/. (8a.9a): Hawn jien, Mulej, ġej nagħmel ir-rieda tiegħek.

Ittamajt b’tama qawwija fil-Mulej;
hu niżel ħdejja u sama’ l-għajta tiegħi.
Qegħedli fuq fommi għanja ġdida,
għanja ta’ tifħir lil Alla tagħna. R/.

Int ma titgħaxxaqx b’sagrifiċċji u offerti;
imma widnejja inti ftaħtli;
ma tlabtnix vittmi tal-ħruq u tat-tpattija.
Imbagħad jien għedt: “Hawn jien, ġej”. R/.

“Fil-bidu tal-ktieb hemm miktub fuqi
li nagħmel ir-rieda tiegħek.
Alla tiegħi, dan jogħġobni;
il-liġi tiegħek ġewwa qalbi”. R/.

Xandart il-ġustizzja f’ġemgħa kbira;
xufftejja ma żammejthomx magħluqa.
Mulej, dan inti tafu. R/.

Reading 2                 1 CORINTHIANS 6:13c-15a, 17-20

Brothers and sisters: The body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body; God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him. Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body. 

QARI 2                 mill-1 Ittra lill-Korintin 6:13c-15a,17-20

Ħuti, il-ġisem mhuwiex għaż-żína iżda għall-Mulej, u l-Mulej huwa għall-ġisem. U Alla qajjem il-Mulej u jqajjem lilna wkoll bil-qawwa tiegħu. Ma tafux li l-iġsma tagħkom huma membri ta’ Kristu? Min jingħaqad mal-Mulej hu ruħ waħda miegħu. Aħarbu ż-żína! Kull dnub li wieħed jagħmel hu ’l barra minn ġismu, iżda min jagħmel iż-żína jkun qiegħed jidneb kontra ġismu stess. Jew ma tafux li ġisimkom hu tempju tal-Ispirtu s-Santu, li jinsab jgħammar fikom, li għandkom minn Alla? Ma tafux li intom m’intomx tagħkom infuskom? Bil-għoli kontu mixtrija! Mela agħtu ġieħ lil Alla permezz ta’ ġisimkom. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                 JOHN 1:35-42 

John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" — which translated means Teacher —, "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come, and you will see." So they went and saw where Jesus was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah" — which is translated Christ —. Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas" — which is translated Peter.

EVANĠELJU                 Qari skont San Ġwann 1:35-42

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġwanni kien hemm ma’ tnejn mid-dixxipli tiegħu. Ħares lejn Ġesù li kien għaddej minn hemm, u qal: “Araw il-Ħaruf ta’ Alla”. Iż-żewġ dixxipli semgħuh jgħid dan, u marru wara Ġesù. Ġesù dar u rahom mexjin warajh, u qalilhom: “Xi tridu?”. Iżda huma staqsewh: “Rabbi” – li tfisser, Mgħallem – “fejn toqgħod?”. Hu weġibhom: “Ejjew u taraw”. U marru miegħu u raw fejn kien joqgħod, u dakinhar baqgħu miegħu. Kien ħabta tal-erbgħa ta’ waranofsinhar. Wieħed mit-tnejn li semgħu x’kien qal Ġwanni u marru wara Ġesù kien Indrì, ħu Xmun Pietru. L-ewwel ma għamel mar isib lil ħuh Xmun, u qallu: “Sibna l-Messija” – li tfisser Kristu. U ħadu għand Ġesù. Ġesù ħares lejh u qallu: “Inti Xmun, bin Ġwanni. Inti tissejjaħ Kefa” – jew Pietru. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Eight-minute Homily by Fr Tony Kadavil         

OUR DIVINE VOCATION

Introduction: 

The main theme of Sunday’s Scripture readings is Divine vocation – that everyone is called by God to be a witness for Christ by doing something for others with his or her life, using his or her unique gifts and blessings. Hence, today’s readings remind us of our personal and corporate call to become witnesses for Jesus, the Lamb of God, by leading lives of holiness and purity.

Scripture lessons summarized: 

The first reading describes how Yahweh called Samuel to His service and how the boy Samuel responded to Him, saying, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.” Hence, God blessed him in the mission entrusted to him, and Samuel became an illustrious figure, ranking with Moses and David as a man of God. 

The Refrain for today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 40), has us sing, “Here am I Lord! I come to do Your Will!” indicating that our vocation is to obey, to do what God commands us to do. In the second reading, St. Paul explains to the Corinthians that their Divine call is a call to holiness. Hence, they need to keep their bodies pure and their souls holy, because by Baptism they have become parts of Christ’s Body and the temples of the Holy Spirit. 

In the Gospel, John the Baptist claims that his vocation is to introduce Jesus to two of his own disciples as the “Lamb of God,” suggesting Jesus’ vocation to become a sacrificial lamb to atone for our sins. The disciples followed Jesus to his residence, accepting his invitation to “come and see.” They stayed with him that day. Then Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus, presenting him to Jesus as the Messiah. 

Thus, today’s Gospel also describes the call or vocation of the first apostles and challenges us to invite others to Christ by our Christian witnessing.

Life messages: 

1) Our Christian vocation is to live and die like the Lamb of God. We live like the Lamb of God: a) by leading pure, innocent, humble, selfless lives, obeying Christ’s commandment of love; b) by appreciating the loving providence and protecting care of the Good Shepherd for his Church; c) by partaking of the Body and Blood of the Good Shepherd in the Holy Eucharist and deriving spiritual strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the Sacraments. 

2) We are called to die like the Lamb of God: 

a) by sharing sacrificially our blessings of health, wealth, and talents with others in the family, parish, and community; 

b) by bearing witness to Christ in our illness, pain, and suffering through our graceful acceptance of all of it; 

c) by offering our sufferings for God’s glory, as penance for our sins, and for the conversion of sinners.

3) Our call is to bear witness to the Lamb of God. Doing this requires a personal experience of Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. 

a) We get this personal experience of Jesus in our daily lives through the meditative reading and study of the Bible, through personal and family prayers, and through our active participation in the Eucharistic celebration. 

b) Once we have experienced the personal presence of Jesus in our daily lives, we will start sharing with others the Good News of love, peace, justice, tolerance, mercy, and forgiveness preached and lived by Jesus.

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WHAT GIFT CAN WE OFFER JESUS?

Readings for Sunday, January 7, 2024

The Epiphany of the Lord
Lectionary: 20

L-Epifanija tal-Mulej. Solennità.

Reading 1                 ISAIAH 60:1-6

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem!  Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining  radiance. Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

QARI 1                  mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Isaija  60, 1-6

Qum! Ħa jiddi wiċċek! Id-dawl tiegħek wasal! Jiddi fuqek sebħ il-Mulej!  Ara d-dlamijiet jiksu l-art, u sħab iswed il-popli: iżda fuqek jiddi l-Mulej, u s-sebħ tiegħu jfiġġ fuqek. Il-ġnus għad jimxu fid-dawl tiegħek, u s-slaten fid-dija tas-sebħ tiegħek. Għolli u dawwar għajnejk madwarek u ara: ilkoll miġbura ġejjin għandek. Uliedek ġejjin mill-bogħod, u bnietek iġorruhom fuq id-dirgħajn.  Imbagħad tħares u wiċċek jiddi, u tħabbat u timtela qalbek, għax fuqek taqa’ l-kotra tal-ġid tal-ibħra, u l-għana tal-ġnus jiġi għandek. Imrieħel ta’ iġmla għad jgħattuk, l-iġmla żgħar ta’ Midjan u Għefa; ilkoll minn Seba jiġu, mgħobbija bid-deheb u l-inċens, u jxandru t-tifħir tal-Mulej. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                 PSALM 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13.

O God, with your judgment endow the king, 

and with your justice, the king’s son; 
He shall govern your people with justice and y
our afflicted ones with judgment. 
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                Salm 71 (72), 1-2.7-8.10-11,12-13

R/. (ara 11): Il-ġnus kollha tal-art jagħtuk qima, Mulej

O Alla, agħti lis-sultan il-ħaqq tiegħek,
il-ġustizzja tiegħek lil bin is-sultan,
biex jiġġudika l-poplu tiegħek bil-ġustizzja,
u bil-ħaqq l-imsejknin tiegħek. R/.

Tħaddar f’jiemu l-ġustizzja,
u sliem kotran sa ma jintemm il-qamar.
Isaltan minn baħar sa baħar,
u mix-xmara sa truf l-art. R/.

Is-slaten ta’ Tarsis u tal-gżejjer jagħtuh ir-rigali,
is-slaten ta’ Seba u ta’ Saba għotjiet iġibulu.
Iqimuh is-slaten kollha,
il-ġnus kollha lilu jaqdu. R/.

Għax hu jeħles lill-fqir li jsejjaħlu,
u lill-imsejken li m’għandux min jgħinu.
Iħenn għad-dgħajjef u għall-fqajjar;
il-ħajja tal-fqajrin isalva. R/.

Reading 2                 EPHESIANS 3:2-3a, 5-6

Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation. It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

QARI 2                 mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl Appostlu lill-Efesin 3, 2-3a. 5-6

Ħuti, intom smajtu bil-pjan tal-grazzja li Alla tani għall-ġid tagħkom, jiġifieri, li permezz ta’ rivelazzjoni għarrafni l-misteru. Dan hu l-misteru li fil-ġenerazzjonijiet l-imgħoddija ma kienx mgħarraf lill-bnedmin bħalma issa ġie rrivelat lill-appostli qaddisa tiegħu u lill-profeti fl-Ispirtu, jiġifieri, li l-pagani huma msejħa biex ikollhom sehem mill-istess wirt, ikunu membri tal-istess ġisem, ikollhom sehem mill-istess wegħda, fi Kristu Ġesù permezz tal-Evanġelju. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel                MATTHEW 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod,  behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled,  and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,  He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures  and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Evanġelju                 Qari skond San Mattew 2, 1-12

Meta twieled Ġesù f’Betlehem tal-Lhudija, fi żmien is-sultan Erodi, xi maġi mil-Lvant ġew Ġerusalemm jistaqsu: “Fejn hu dak li twieled sultan tal-Lhud? Għax rajna l-kewkba tiegħu tielgħa, u ġejna nqimuh”. Is-sultan Erodi sama’ bihom, u tħawwad hu u Ġerusalemm kollha miegħu. Ġabar flimkien il-qassisin il-kbar u l-kittieba kollha tal-poplu, u ried jaf mingħandhom fejn kellu jitwieled il-Messija. U huma qalulu: “F’Betlehem tal-Lhudija, għax hekk inkiteb mill-profeta: “U int, Betlehem, art ta’ Ġuda, le, m’intix l-iżgħar fost il-bliet il-kbar ta’ Ġuda, għax minnek joħroġ mexxej li jirgħa l-poplu tiegħi Iżrael”. Erodi mbagħad sejjaħ lill-maġi bil-moħbi, u tkixxef bir-reqqa kollha mingħandhom iż-żmien li fih dehritilhom il-kewkba; bagħathom Betlehem u qalilhom: “Morru, staqsu sewwa għat-tifel, u meta ssibuh ejjew għiduli, ħalli jien ukoll niġi nqimu”. Dawk, wara li semgħu lis-sultan, telqu, u ara, il-kewkba li kienu raw tielgħa bdiet miexja quddiemhom sakemm waslet u waqfet fuq il-post fejn kien hemm it-tifel. Kif raw il-kewkba mtlew b’ferħ kbir tassew. Meta mbagħad daħlu d-dar u raw lit-tifel ma’ ommu Marija, inxteħtu fl-art iqimuh; fetħu t-teżori tagħhom u offrewlu rigali deheb, inċens u mirra. Imbagħad, billi kienu mwissijin f’ħolma biex ma jerġgħux imorru għand Erodi, telqu lura lejn arthom minn triq oħra. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Eight-minute Homily by Fr Tommy Lane                                           

The events of the Epiphany played out today

Jesus came for everyone. Next Sunday we celebrate what we call the Epiphany of Jesus, that is, the revelation or manifestation of Jesus for everyone. Jesus was revealed by the Father to the world as its Saviour when the light of a star guided the wise men from the East to worship him, when the Father spoke from heaven at Jesus’ baptism declaring Jesus to be his beloved Son, and when Jesus performed his first miracle at Cana. So, we sometimes speak of three events in the epiphany - or revelation - of Jesus to the world as our Saviour; the visit of the wise men, the baptism of Jesus, and the miracle of Cana.

Today we celebrate the light of a star leading and revealing Jesus as the Saviour of the world to wise men. They were not members of the Chosen Jewish People, so the Epiphany today shows Jesus came for all people. The body language of the wise men before Jesus spoke of their attitude; they prostrated themselves before Jesus. They worshipped him, and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh: gold because Jesus is king, frankincense because Jesus is divine, and myrrh pre-figuring his Passion. 

There is another attitude in Sunday’s Gospel (Matt 2:1-12), the attitude of Herod. He does not have an attitude of reverence and respect for Jesus. Herod pretends that he is just as respectful to Jesus as the wise men. He tells them, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” (Matt 2:8) However his thoughts were not thoughts of homage, he merely wanted to trick the wise men into telling him where Jesus was so that he could have him murdered. Herod did not want to lose power and control to somebody else, so he rejected the baby Jesus even though Jesus would be no threat to his kingly power. Herod’s problem was not Jesus but Herod himself, and some peoples’ problem is not Jesus or the Church.

Herod said to the wise men, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” He was speaking to the wise men with a forked tongue; he was telling lies. The baby Jesus was surrounded in Bethlehem by those who worshipped him but in Jerusalem there was a crowd of liars. They said one thing but meant the opposite; truth was lacking. In our own time we see this being played out in many walks of life, but it is easier to see it in the world of the media and politics. 

The next step after the lies, deception, and double-speak was Herod trying to kill the baby Jesus because Herod completely misunderstood what Jesus meant. In the massacre of the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem, Herod had all boys in Bethlehem under the age of two killed. (Matt 2:16-18). In the case of Herod, it was only one further step from his double-speak to persecution and murder. We might wonder if similar trials may lie ahead of the Church in many parts of the world. 

Today in some places we hear the preaching of Catholic moral norms being described as hate crimes; Catholic moral norms that were taken for granted as normal until just recently are now being labeled as hate crimes by some. It has taken just a small number of years for this development, and we might wonder if we are heading back to a persecution of the Church and martyrdom like the early Church in Rome experienced.

Jesus came for everyone, as Sunday’s feast teaches us. But some have rejected Jesus and his Church. Herod’s problem was not Jesus but Herod himself. He was not truthful, and the truth is compromised in many ways today also. 

On the other hand, the response of the magi to Jesus is a model for our reflection:   "on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." (Matt 2:11)

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Copyright © Fr. Tommy Lane 2013  

(This homily was delivered in a parish in Maryland, USA) 

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