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Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A, January 27, 2008

First reading, Isaiah 8:23-9:3

The Liturgical Setting: Over the Sundays of ordinary time this year, we'll read consecutive passages from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew has many quotes and allusions from the Old Testament, because he wrote for Jewish converts to Christianity, who would understand and appreciate them. Notice the extended quote from Isaiah in today's gospel. This Sunday's first reading includes the verses quoted, loosely, in today's gospel. As always, good preparation for proclaiming the first reading is to read the day's gospel, Matthew 4:12-23.

The Historical Background: At the time Isaiah prophesied, God's people were split into a northern kingdom called Israel, and a southern kingdom known as Judah (where Jerusalem was). Pagan Assyria was the dominant power in the region, and its boot stood heavily on the neck of Israel. The degrading of Zebulun and Naphtali in verse 8:23 refers to Assyria's annexing of those provinces of Israel, circa 733 B.C.E.

Isaiah changes his mood radically in the next verse. He speaks as if a great reversal of fortune has already occurred: light dispelling darkness, great rejoicing, and liberation from the slave-driver. The "day of Midian" refers to a historic battle when the Lord empowered a few Israelite soldiers to conquer a huge enemy army (see Judges, chapter 7). Just a few verses beyond today's passage, Isaiah says why he's so confident: a new king assumes power in Judah (David's throne, verse 9:6), who is to re-unite Israel and Judah.

Proclaiming It: Of course the lector will want to proclaim this passage with the same tone of voice Isaiah used in delivering it, trying to inspire confidence in a dejected people. The lector has the advantage of knowing the gospel, and of having read today's gospel passage in particular. So you know that the last new king, bringer of light, rejoicing and liberation, has begun by revisiting the once devastated lands and gathering his first followers.

Second Reading, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17

The Historical Background: We saw last Sunday that Corinth was wild and woolly place and that Saint Paul needed to wield his authority there quite severely. Throughout this letter, he's very concerned with preserving the unity of the Christians there. In particular today, you can give your congregation some help in understanding that need by making this announcement before beginning the second reading:

Among the Christians at Corinth were several factions, each claiming allegiance to its first Christian teacher, or to a particular apostle. Paul wants them to rise above these immature rivalries.

The Theological Background: The last sentence of today's passage is expanded in next Sunday's selection. Paul insists that the Corinthians owe their faith not to Paul's own preaching ("not with the wisdom of human eloquence"), nor to their own status (in next week's selection: "not powerful, ... not wise, ... not of noble birth, ... those who count for nothing"). Paul's point is that if humans are already in some way full (spiritually fulfilled, righteous before God), then the self-emptying of Jesus on the cross is emptied of its meaning, because we didn't really need him.

Proclaiming It: Express in your voice Paul's exasperation with the factiousness of the Corinthians. Sound sarcastic when you repeat Paul's rendition of the Corinthians' statements of misplaced loyalty ("I belong to ..."). Use your voice to express Paul's indignation when he asks "Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? In whose name were you baptized, after all?"

Several other commentaries on these passages. All are thoughtful, all quite readable, from the scholarly to the popular.
Links may be incomplete more than a few weeks before the "due date."
Lutheran pastor and college teacher Dan Nelson's notes for a study group (Heading might say January 27, 2002, but Dan covers Isaiah 9:1-4 as first reading, plus the second reading and gospel used in the Roman Catholic lectionary.) Father Roger Karban's 2002 reflections on these readings

and his 1999 column on the same readings
The Text This Week; links to homilies, art works, movies and other resources on the week's scripture themes Saint Louis University's excellent Sunday liturgy-preparation site

The Lectionary selections in the frame at the left, if any, are there for your convenience. The publishers of the page in that frame have no connection, except for membership in the one Body of Christ, with the publisher of this page. Likewise the publishers of the pages on the links above.

* The first Lector's Notes appeared on the Web January 23, 1999, for this Sunday of the liturgical year; these are a substantial revision. Since then, Notes have appeared covering 180 of the Sundays and feasts in the three-year liturgical cycle.
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Last modified: Sat Jan 1 15:33:35 CST 2005