Hearing The Word

A weekly newsletter delivering context and insight into the Sunday Gospels.

6

January 25, 2026

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 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 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 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 you 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.

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The Kingdom Made Visible and the Call to Follow

~Rev. Patrick J. Brady. S.T.D., S.S.L., M.DIV.

Vice Rector, Director of Admissions

Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary + Ambler, Pa.

Jesus’ proclamation of the “kingdom of heaven” reflects Matthew’s conviction that Jesus stands within the continuous arc of God’s redemptive plan—from the promise to Abraham, through the preparatory ministry of John, to its realization in the Messiah. The expression is not simply a circumlocution for the divine name; it marks the arrival of God’s sovereign action in history. In Matthew’s Gospel, this reign becomes visible in Jesus’ teaching, in his works of mercy, and in the restoration of the marginalized.

The kingdom is characterized not by political force or revolutionary violence but by the transformative presence of God at work among his people. 

Matthew situates this revelation within a significant geographical frame. Zebulun and Naphtali, the first territories to fall under Assyrian domination in the eighth century B.C., become the first to experience the dawning of the messianic light. This revelation in Jesus brings the fullest realization (πληρόω, plēroō), to the promises of Isaiah, underscoring the pattern of divine renewal beginning precisely where historical loss had been most acute. 

Matthew deliberately highlights the calling of disciples prior to expanded accounts of Jesus’ teachings and miracles, signaling its foundational importance for the mission that follows. Jesus forms a community that will accompany him and later continue his work. The response of Simon, Andrew, James, and John—leaving nets, boats, and father—illustrates the comprehensive reorientation that participation in the kingdom entails. Their shift in allegiance reflects the fundamental nature of discipleship in Matthew’s Gospel. 

 Matthew’s Gospel sketches the trajectory of the messianic mission: the kingdom enters places of darkness, calls persons into reordered relationship with Jesus, and charges those followers with the ongoing witness to that kingdom. 

The Lord Equips Us for Discipleship

~Michael Clymer

Cathedral Basilica Saints Peter & Paul + Philadelphia, Pa.

The Lord calls all of us to be disciples and to proclaim His Gospel in our lives. When talking about this important truth of our faith, I find that people experience the temptation to think: How can I make Jesus known to others? Am I worthy or equipped? Am I holy enough? Sometimes this temptation brings about a hesitation to share one’s faith or even live it.

When I hear this in others and, yes, when I experience it in myself, I am drawn to this Gospel. When Jesus is walking by the Sea of Galilee, He sees Peter and the others fishing, and He invites them to follow him. He meets them right where they are. They are not perfect (thinking especially about Peter’s faith journey), and they are probably not too educated, but what matters is that they are who God created them to be and they respond to the call.

A call from God is never accidental; it is always part of His plan. They are the right persons for the mission not because of their education or holiness, but simply because of who they are. In fact, God created them for their mission. The same is true for us.

There are no set qualifications or training to be a follower of Christ and to proclaim his Gospel. Jesus knows everything about us, and He still calls. It is important for us to trust the call, realizing that everything God asks of us is part of His plan for us. He has placed us right where we are for a reason, so that He can use us to lead ourselves others into relationship with Him.

In addition, He has given us all the skills that we need to witness to Him in whatever He has called us to do. And, more importantly, God is constantly sustaining us with his grace. The question I need to ask myself is: When God calls, am I willing to follow Him with the same trust as Peter and the other Apostles? Am I willing to let God use me to make Himself known?