TERCER DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO 2026

Queridos hermanos y hermanas:

La Palabra de Dios de este domingo nos habla de luz, conversión, de llamado y de la superación de las divisiones en la comunidad. En la primera lectura, el profeta Isaías anuncia que el pueblo que caminaba en tinieblas ha visto una gran luz. Con esta imagen el profeta vislumbra la experiencia de un pueblo cansado, herido por la opresión y la injusticia, querecibe una promesa: Dios hará brillar en ellos su luz, describiendo de esta manera un verdadque debía motivarlos a continuar esperando en el Señor porque Dios no abandona a los queviven en la oscuridad, sino que por el contr ar io busca caminos para hacer br illar en ellosla luz de su amor y su misericordia. Esa luz no es una idea ni una doctrina, es una persona: Jesucristo.

El Evangelio nos muestra que Jesús inicia su misión precisamente en Galilea, una region despreciada, mezcla de pueblos y culturas. Jesús no comenzó su misión en Jerusalén, en el entro del poder religioso, sino en la periferia. Allí resuena por primera vez su anuncio que es un llamado a la conversión porque el reino de Dios se ha acercado a la humanidad.

Para Jesús este llamado a la conversión no significa solo dejar el pecado; si no que conlleva el cambiar de mentalidad, de rumbo, de corazón. Es decir aprender a mir ar la vida como Dios la mira y vivir guiados por sus enseñanzas y conducidos por el Espíritu Santo. El Reino no es algo lejano ni futuro: está cerca, está presente allí donde hay amor, justicia, perdón y misericordia y la superación de las dificultades y los egoísmos humanos.

Luego Jesús llama a los primeros discípulos. Los cuales eran pescadores comunes, personas sencillas, ocupadas en su trabajo diario. No eran expertos en religión ni en teología Y, sin embargo, ante la voz de Jesús, lo dejan todo y lo siguen. No porque lo entendieran todo, sino porque confiaron en aquel que los llamó para estar con El y continuar su misión cuando el ya no estuviera en la tierra. La llamada comienza con un acto de fe que implica dejarse enseñar por el maestro y estar dispuesto a compartir su mismo destino.

À la luz de este llamado podríamos hacernos tres preguntas, ¿hay alguna red que deba dejar en mi vida? ¿Me está llamando Jesús a seguirlo? ¿Qué seguridades me atan y me impiden seguir a Cristo con libertad?

San Pablo, en la segunda lectura, nos advierte sobre las divisiones en la comunidad. Cuando ponemos a las personas, ideologías o intereses por encima de Cristo, la Iglesia se fractura. Cristo no está dividido. Seguir lo implica caminar juntos, en unidad, con un mismo corazón, superando las dificultades y los egoísmos humanos para reconcomer que todos colaboramos con el mismo fin que es la construcción del reino desde aquí de la tierra. La invitación que nos hace el apóstol es a evitar todo tipo de divisiones y sectarismos en la comunidad y trabajar siempre por la unidad de la misma. ¿Creas tu comunión y unidad en tu iglesia o por el contrario eres signo de división y conflictos?

Hoy Jesús sigue pasando por nuestra vida y sigue llamándonos. Tal vez no nos pida dejar una barca, pero sí dejar el egoísmo, la indiferencia, la comodidad espiritual y todo aquello que nos impida ver a los demás como hijos de Dios. El nos llama a ser pescadores de personas, es decir, testigos de su amor en medio este mundo en el que nos ha tocado vivir.

Pidámosle al Señor la gracia de dejarnos iluminar por su luz, de convertirnos cada día y de responder con generosidad a su llamado. Porque cuando escuchamos su voz y lo seguimos de corazón nuestra vida nunca vuelve a ser la misma. Amén

P. Luis Segura M.S.C.

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THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 2026

Dear brothers and sisters:

The Word of God this Sunday speaks to us of light, conversion, calling, and overcoming divisions in the community. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah announces that the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. With this image, the prophet foreshadows the experience of a weary people, wounded by oppression and injustice, who receive a promise: God will make his light shine upon them, thus describing a truth that should motivate them to continue hoping in the Lord, because God does not abandon those who live in darkness, but on the contrary, seeks ways to make the light of his love and mercy shine upon them. That light is not an idea or a doctrine; it is a person: Jesus Christ.

The Gospel shows us that Jesus begins his mission precisely in Galilee, a despised region, a mixture of peoples and cultures. Jesus did not begin his mission in Jerusalem, in the center of religious power, but on the periphery. There, his message resonates for the first time, a call to conversion because the kingdom of God has drawn near to humanity.

For Jesus, this call to conversion doesn't just mean abandoning sin; it involves a change of mindset, direction, and heart. It means learning to see life as God sees it and living guided by his teachings and led by the Holy Spirit. The Kingdom is not something distant or in the future: it is near, it is present wherever there is love, justice, forgiveness, and mercy, and where human difficulties and selfishness are overcome.

Then Jesus calls his first disciples. They were ordinary fishermen, simple people, busy with their daily work. They were not experts in religion or theology. And yet, at Jesus's call, they leave everything and follow him. Not because they understood everything, but because they trusted the one who called them to be with him and to continue his mission when he was no longer on earth. The call begins with an act of faith that involves allowing oneself to be taught by the master and being willing to share his same destiny.

In light of this call, we could ask ourselves three questions: Is there any network I need to leave behind in my life? Is Jesus calling me to follow him? What securities are binding me and preventing me from following Christ freely?

In the second reading, Saint Paul warns us about divisions in the community. When we place people, ideologies, or interests above Christ, the Church is fractured. Christ is not divided. Following him means walking together, in unity, with one heart, overcoming difficulties and human selfishness to recognize that we all collaborate toward the same goal: the building of the kingdom of God here on earth. The apostle's invitation is to avoid all kinds of divisions and sectarianism in the community and to always work for its unity. Do you foster communion and unity in your church, or are you, on the contrary, a source of division and conflict?

Today, Jesus continues to pass through our lives and continues to call us. Perhaps he doesn't ask us to leave a boat, but he does ask us to leave behind selfishness, indifference, spiritual complacency, and everything that prevents us from seeing others as children of God. He calls us to be fishers of people, that is, witnesses of his love in the midst of this world in which we live.

Let us ask the Lord for the grace to allow ourselves to be enlightened by his light, to be converted each day, and to respond generously to his call. For when we listen to his voice and follow him with all our hearts, our lives are never the same again. Amen. 

Fr. Luis Segura M.S.C.

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A Call to Discipleship…

The Gospel from today’s liturgy (Mt 4:12-23) narrates the call of the first disciples who, along the lake of Galilee, leave everything to follow Jesus. He had already met some of them, thanks to John the Baptist, and God had placed the seed of faith within them (cf. Jn 1:35-39). And this is when Jesus goes back to look for them where they live and work. The Lord always looks for us. The Lord always draws near to us, always. This time, he extends a direct call to them: “Follow me!” (Mt 4:19). And “immediately they left their nets and followed him” (v. 20). Let us take a moment to reflect on this scene: it is the moment of the decisive encounter with Jesus, one they would remember their entire lives and that would be included in the Gospel. From then on, they follow Jesus. And in order to follow him, they leave.

To leave so as to follow. It is always like this with Jesus. One can begin in some way to feel his appeal, perhaps because of others. Then the awareness can become more personal and can kindle a light in the heart. It becomes something beautiful to share: “You know, that passage from the Gospel struck me... That experience of service touched me...” — something that touches your heart. And this is what the first disciples might have done (cf. Jn 1:40-42). But sooner or later, the moment comes in which it is necessary to leave so as to follow (cf. Lk 11:27-28). And this is when a decision has to be made: Do I leave behind some certainties and embark on a new adventure, or do I remain where and as I am? This is a decisive moment for every Christian because the meaning of everything else is at stake here. If one does not find the courage to set out on the journey, the risk is to remain a spectator of one’s own existence and to live the faith halfway.

To begin to leave, it is only right that we begin by asking forgiveness — forgiveness for the things that were not beautiful. I leave these things and move forward. But it is also necessary to leave behind what holds us back from living fully, for example, fear, selfish calculations, the guarantees that come from staying safe, just getting by. It also means giving up the time wasted on many useless things. How beautiful it is to leave all this in order to experience, for example, the tiring but rewarding risk of service, or to dedicate time to prayer so as to grow in friendship with the Lord. I am also thinking of a young family who leaves behind a quiet life to open themselves up to the unpredictable and beautiful adventure of motherhood and fatherhood. It is a sacrifice, but just one look at a child is enough to understand that it was the right choice to leave behind certain rhythms and comforts to have this joy.

And with regards to this, I leave you with some questions. First of all: Can I remember a “strong moment” in which I have already encountered Jesus? Each of us can think of their own story — in my life, has there been a significant moment when I encountered Jesus? And, is there something beautiful and significant that happened in my life because I left other less important things? And today, is there something Jesus asks me to give up? What are the material things, ways of thinking, attitudes I need to leave behind so as to truly say “yes”?

May Mary help us to respond with a total “yes” to God, like she did, to know how to leave behind so

as to follow him better. Do not be afraid to leave if it is to follow Jesus. We will always find that we are better. [Synthesized from Pope Francis, Angelus, 22 I 23]

Rev. Jos Rajesh Peter M.S.C.

Third Sunday in Ordinary time 2026 A

My friends, part of today’s Gospel, which is written in Mathew’s typical style is explaining the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.  Today he explains the fulfillment of the Prophet Isaiah in our First Reading:

“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.”

Our Gospel today begins with Jesus hearing that John the Baptist was arrested and imprisoned by Herod Antipas.  We learn more about Herod Antipas in Luke’s gospel when Jesus was arrested and Herod Antipas interrogated Jesus and then sent Him to Pontius Pilate.

On hearing the distressing news about John’s arrest, Jesus left Nazareth and withdrew to Capernaum, which is located on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Tiberias, is a fresh water lake.  The area around the Sea of Galilee was by far the most fertile region of Galilee.  Also, the fishing was indeed phenomenal and proverbial.  This was the perfect, fertile place for Jesus to invite his first disciples:  “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

So, Jesus called his first disciples, Peter, Andrew, James, and John.  These four men, along with eight others, became the 12 Apostles.

As the Evangelist John tells the story, Peter and Andrew were already disciples of John the Baptist (John1:35).  They probably already listened to and talked with Jesus and were so inspired that Jesus called them, they immediately left their fishing nets and followed Jesus.

Likewise, James and John heard the call of Jesus and immediately left their boat – and their father – and followed Jesus.  Can you imagine ?  Just to get up and leave ?  I wonder what Zebedee thought. 

The first four disciples were fishermen:  They were not scholars or orators.   They had no influence, or wealth, or social background.  They were not poor, they were simple working people with no great background.  Certainly, anyone would have said, they had no great future according to earthly standards.

It was these ordinary men whom Jesus chose to be His disciples and would go on to proclaim the Kingdom of God – not by building their own stature but by proclaiming the basic, fundamental message of Jesus to love one another.

And here we are today, my friends, over 2,000 years later and each and every one of us are still being called by Christ Jesus to follow him, and be His disciples and proclaim the Kingdom of God by what we say and by what we do. 

I think that Saint Teresa of Calcutta said it well when she described a disciple of Christ:

“A disciple of Christ is not someone who does extraordinary things, but rather someone who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way, namely loving everyone because you see Jesus in everyone.”