Time for Transformation

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine the “isms” that separate us from being workers in the field of Christ where all people are loved.

Transformation Time

The Reading from the Prophet Isaiah proclaims the Day of Midian: when God used the judge Gideon to deliver the northern territories from Midianite oppression.

 

* [8:23–9:6] The meaning of 8:23 is somewhat uncertain, for example, whether the expressions translated “once” and “now” refer to times or to individuals, and also whether the verbs speak of degrading and glorifying the territories. If this traditional translation is correct, the passage would seem to promise the former Northern Kingdom of Israel deliverance from the Assyrians and might relate to Hezekiah’s program of trying to reincorporate the northern territories into the kingdom of Judah and thus restore the boundaries of the country as it was under David.

* [8:23] The territories mentioned in this verse are those which the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III took from Israel and incorporated into the Assyrian provincial system as a result of the Syro-Ephraimite War of 735–732 B.C. (2 Kgs 15:29). Zebulun…Naphtali: regions of the former Northern Kingdom of Israel. The way of the Sea: the area along the Mediterranean coast south of Mount Carmel which became the Assyrian province of Dor. Land across the Jordan: the province of Gilead east of the Jordan. Galilee of the Nations: the territory north of Mount Carmel which was incorporated in the Assyrian province of Megiddo. Galilee apparently had a large non-Israelite population. Mt 4:15–16 cites this verse in the context of the beginning of Jesus’ public mission in Galilee. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

* [9:3] Day of Midian: when God used the judge Gideon to deliver these northern territories from Midianite oppression (Jgs 6–7). (Isaiah, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 27 asserts boundless hope that God will bring rescue and the climax of the poem comes with “I believe”.

* [Psalm 27] Tradition has handed down the two sections of the Psalm (Ps 27:1–6; 7–14) as one Psalm, though each part could be understood as complete in itself. Asserting boundless hope that God will bring rescue (Ps 27:1–3), the psalmist longs for the presence of God in the Temple, protection from all enemies (Ps 27:4–6). In part B there is a clear shift in tone (Ps 27:7–12); the climax of the poem comes with “I believe” (Ps 27:13), echoing “I trust” (Ps 27:3). (Psalms, PSALM 27, n.d.)

In the Reading from the First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul warns of the division caused by Groups and Slogans. 

* [1:10–4:21] The first problem Paul addresses is that of divisions within the community. Although we are unable to reconstruct the situation in Corinth completely, Paul clearly traces the divisions back to a false self-image on the part of the Corinthians, coupled with a false understanding of the apostles who preached to them (cf. 1 Cor 4:6, 9; 9:1–5) and of the Christian message itself. In these chapters he attempts to deal with those underlying factors and to bring the Corinthians back to a more correct perspective.

* [1:12] I belong to: the activities of Paul and Apollos in Corinth are described in Acts 18. Cephas (i.e., “the Rock,” a name by which Paul designates Peter also in 1 Cor 3:22; 9:5; 15:5 and in Gal 1:18; 2:9, 11, 14) may well have passed through Corinth; he could have baptized some members of the community either there or elsewhere. The reference to Christ may be intended ironically here.

* [1:13–17] The reference to baptism and the contrast with preaching the gospel in v. 17a suggest that some Corinthians were paying special allegiance to the individuals who initiated them into the community. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew presents the Beginning of the Galilean Ministry and The Call of the First Disciples leading to Jesus Ministering to a Great Multitude.

* [4:12–17] Isaiah’s prophecy of the light rising upon Zebulun and Naphtali (Is 8:22–9:1) is fulfilled in Jesus’ residence at Capernaum. The territory of these two tribes was the first to be devastated (733–32 B.C.) at the time of the Assyrian invasion. In order to accommodate Jesus’ move to Capernaum to the prophecy, Matthew speaks of that town as being “in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali” (Mt 4:13), whereas it was only in the territory of the latter, and he understands the sea of the prophecy, the Mediterranean, as the sea of Galilee.

* [4:17] At the beginning of his preaching Jesus takes up the words of John the Baptist (Mt 3:2) although with a different meaning; in his ministry the kingdom of heaven has already begun to be present (Mt 12:28).

* [4:18–22] The call of the first disciples promises them a share in Jesus’ work and entails abandonment of family and former way of life. Three of the four, Simon, James, and John, are distinguished among the disciples by a closer relation with Jesus (Mt 17:1; 26:37).

* [4:20] Here and in Mt 4:22, as in Mark (Mk 1:16–20) and unlike the Lucan account (Lk 5:1–11), the disciples’ response is motivated only by Jesus’ invitation, an element that emphasizes his mysterious power.

* [4:23–25] This summary of Jesus’ ministry concludes the narrative part of the first book of Matthew’s gospel (Mt 3–4). The activities of his ministry are teaching, proclaiming the gospel, and healing; cf. Mt 9:35.

* [4:23] Their synagogues: Matthew usually designates the Jewish synagogues as their synagogue(s) (Mt 9:35; 10:17; 12:9; 13:54) or, in address to Jews, your synagogues (Mt 23:34), an indication that he wrote after the break between church and synagogue. (Matthew, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

 

Rev. Kent Beausoleil, SJ, comments that even though we may think we don’t or refuse to recognize them we all have our filters, our biases, our ‘isms’.   ‘Isms’ are dangerous because they filter certain things out that lead us to make certain people somebodies and others nobodies, certain factions within Christianity holier than others, and that is exactly what Paul’s warning to those darn Corinthians is all about. 

The evangelist Matthew, thank God, is a filter remover. In our gospel for the day, Matthew takes the lowly of the Galilean society, the gruff fishermen, and places Christ, in all his glorious light and sound before them. Jesus calls them and asks them to follow. And they left everything, their profession, their boats, and their fathers to follow. (Beausoleil, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes “The true light of revelation to the Gentiles,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).

"The Evangelist commemorated in this passage the prophet's words: 'Beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light' (Matthew 4:15-16) In what darkness? Certainly in the profound error of ignorance. What great light did they see? The light concerning which it is written: 'He was the true light that illumines everyone who comes into this world' (John 1:9) This was the light about which the just man Simeon in the Gospel declared, 'A light of revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel' (Luke 2:32). That light had arisen according to what David had announced, saying, 'A light has arisen in the darkness to the upright of heart' (Psalm 112:4).

"Also, Isaiah demonstrated that light about to come for the enlightenment of the church when he said, 'Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you' (Isaiah 60:1). Concerning that light also Daniel noted, 'It reveals the profound and hidden things, knowing those things which are in darkness and the light is with it' (Daniel 2:22), that is, the Son with the Father, for even as the Father is light, so too is the Son light. And David also speaks in the psalm: 'In your light shall we see light' (Psalm 36:9), for the Father is seen in the Son, as the Lord tells us in the Gospel: 'Who sees me, sees the Father' (John 14:9) From the true light, indeed, the true light proceeded, and from the invisible the visible. "He is the image of the invisible God," as the apostle notes (Colossians 1:15)." (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 15.1)

 

[Note: Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome. He died in 406 AD. Jerome described him as a "most learned and most holy man."] (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 comments that Paul understood that divisions happen when we focus too much on our own opinions and selfish desires and not enough on Jesus. We might favor one church leader over another (1 Corinthians 1:12). We might prefer our wealthy brothers and sisters over those who are struggling (11:18-22). Or we might be more impressed with those who seem spiritually gifted and less so with the ones who seem “ordinary” (12:4-7). But in each case, one crucial truth gets obscured: “In one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,” the body of Christ (12:13).

Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, former preacher to the papal household, once said, “If we will turn to Christ and go forward together toward him, we Christians will draw closer to each other” (Sermon, March 18, 2016). The closer we get to Jesus, the more he heals our wounds and leads us to repentance. And the more we are healed and forgiven, the easier it becomes to love and reconcile with each other.

No, Christ is not divided. So let’s all draw closer to him and ask him to make us one!

“Jesus, heal every division! Lord, bring us together!” (Meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17, n.d.)

 

Rev. David Gierlach offers a weekly sermon: “the way of the cross”. Full video:

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the reading from Isaiah speaks about the northern land blessed and living in darkness under threat by the Assyrians. People could be drawn to worship the God of the questionable territory. In 1 Corinthians, Paul speaks about divisions in Corinth and these are slogans and some claim a special knowledge of the Spirit but Paul speaks with the Spirit of God and he especially speaks of the call to the cross, a call to total surrender not superiority. Matthew quotes the Hebrew Testament to show Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets. Galilee is not considered a “good” place by the Jewish authorities. The great light from Galilee had been foretold according to Matthew and Friar Jude reminds us that Jesus asks them to transform from fishers to fishers of men and we are called to transform our existing talents to build up the Kingdom.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, encourages us to read the Bible seeking an inner experience instead of authoritative answers. Outside of our own inner experience of this kind of God, most religions will remain merely ritualistic, moralistic, and doctrinaire.

If we believe in inspiration, and trust that the Spirit was guiding the Bible’s listening and writing—but, like all things human, “through a glass darkly” (1 Corinthians 13:12), we will allow ourselves to be led. We will trust that there is a development of crucial divine wisdom inside this anthology of books we call the Bible. Woven amidst these developing ideas are what I have called the “Great Themes of Scripture.”

Just as the Bible takes us through many stages of consciousness and salvation history, it takes us individually a long time to move beyond our need to be dualistic, judgmental, accusatory, fearful, blaming, egocentric, and earning-oriented. The text in travail mirrors and charts our own human travail and illustrates all these stages from within the Bible. It offers both the mature and immature responses to almost everything—and we have to learn how to recognize the difference.(Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the Spirit to guide us to transformation as we are painfully aware of the divisions in our society that have created violence and hatred that is opposed to the Love that we are called to bring as “fishers of people”.

References

Beausoleil, K. (2026, January 25). Daily Reflection January 25, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-january-25-2026 

Isaiah, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/8?23 

Isaiah, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/9 

Matthew, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/4?12 

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/01/25/1486981/ 

1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/1?10 

Psalms, PSALM 27. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/27?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/reading-for-transformation/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). From Darkness and Death to Light and Life. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Transformation of Talents

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to seek the Way in which we are called to use our gifts to transform our environment to realize the Kingdom of God.

Talents Transformed for Life

The Reading from the First Book of Samuel introduces us to Elkanah and His Family at Shiloh.

* [1:6] Her rival: Hebrew sara, “rival wife, co-wife”; in the Talmud, a technical term for a second or co-wife.

* [1:7] In biblical narrative, the social status gained by producing children, especially males, often set woman against woman; cf. e.g., Gn 16, 21, 30. Peninnah’s provocations may be the arrogant boasting mentioned in 2:3. (1 Samuel, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 116 is a thanksgiving in which the psalmist responds with vows and Temple sacrifices.

* [Psalm 116] A thanksgiving in which the psalmist responds to divine rescue from mortal danger (Ps 116:3–4) and from near despair (Ps 116:10–11) with vows and Temple sacrifices (Ps 116:13–14, 17–19). The Greek and Latin versions divide the Psalm into two parts: Ps 116:1–9 and Ps 116:10–19, corresponding to its two major divisions. (Psalms, PSALM 116 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Mark presents The Call of the First Disciples.

* [1:14–15] After John had been arrested: in the plan of God, Jesus was not to proclaim the good news of salvation prior to the termination of the Baptist’s active mission. Galilee: in the Marcan account, scene of the major part of Jesus’ public ministry before his arrest and condemnation. The gospel of God: not only the good news from God but about God at work in Jesus Christ. This is the time of fulfillment: i.e., of God’s promises. The kingdom of God…Repent: see note on Mt 3:2.

* [1:16–20] These verses narrate the call of the first Disciples. See notes on Mt 4:18–22 and Mt 4:20. (Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Carol Zuegner comments that Jesus walks by men working in their boats in Galilee and calls out to Simon and Andrew, to James and John that it is time to repent and believe in the gospel. 

I think the call to repent and believe in the gospel is one we see and hear and feel every day. Every hour. Every minute. We make choices about how we are living our lives. And it’s the small choices, the small actions that establish the pattern of our lives, the way we follow the gospel. I want to repent and believe and live out the gospel. But I have to do the work in my thoughts and in my actions every day. Every hour. Every minute. God is waiting for me. I can stop what I’m doing and follow Jesus. I can do the right thing for myself, for my family and friends, for my community and the world. I can, as a broken and flawed human who is always loved by God, start over when I’ve made mistakes and fallen short. (Zuegner, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Common people on an uncommon mission,” by Eusebius of Caesarea (260/263-340 AD).

"Reflect on the nature and grandeur of the one Almighty God who could associate himself with the poor of the lowly fisherman's class. To use them to carry out God's mission baffles all rationality. For having conceived the intention, which no one ever before had done, of spreading his own commands and teachings to all nations, and of revealing himself as the teacher of the religion of the one Almighty God to all humanity, he thought good to use the most unsophisticated and common people as ministers of his own design. Maybe God just wanted to work in the most unlikely way. For how could inarticulate folk be made able to teach, even if they were appointed teachers to only one person, much less to a multitude? How should those who were themselves without education instruct the nations?... When he had thus called them as his followers, he breathed into them his divine power, and filled them with strength and courage. As God himself he spoke God's true word to them in his own way, enabling them to do great wonders, and made them pursuers of rational and thinking souls, by empowering them to come after him, saying: 'Come, follow me, and I will make you fish for people' (Mark 1:17, Matthew 4:19). With this empowerment God sent them forth to be workers and teachers of holiness to all the nations, declaring them heralds of his own teaching." (excerpt from PROOF OF THE GOSPEL 3.7) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 1:14-20 comments that little by little, Jesus invited his disciples to share in his work: to distribute the loaves and fishes and to go out two by two, healing the sick and casting out demons. By that time, they loved and trusted him enough to want to do whatever he told them. They had been with him long enough for him to capture their hearts. And they were looking more like him!

Your relationship with Jesus progresses in a similar way. He has invited you to come after him and to remain with him. Now, every hour you spend in prayer or with the Scriptures helps you to know him better. Every time you give of yourself for someone in need, his grace flows through you and you reflect his life more fully. As time goes by, your relationship with him—and your likeness to him—grows stronger and stronger.

So imitate those first disciples and come after Jesus. Spend time with him; take on his character. And watch how the Lord transforms you and works through you!

“Jesus, thank you for inviting me to follow you. Make me more like you today.” (Meditation on Mark 1:14-20, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that 1 Samuel sets up the story of Hannah and fact that the other wife has two children whereas she is barren and feels she has not received the blessing of the Lord. As the texts continues she will become the mother of Sampson. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is proclaiming the Kingdom of God when God's love and law is lived to the full. God calls us to use the talents and brokenness already in us. Friar Jude notes we are to surrender to be transformed with our talents to be used for the Kingdom and not for our own gain and grandiosement.

Brian McLaren reflects on the miraculous creation of the cosmos and everything in it. In light of the Genesis story, we would say that the possibility of this universe overflowed into actuality as God, the Creative Spirit, uttered the original joyful invitation: Let it be! And in response, what happened? Light. Time. Space. Matter. Motion. Sea. Stone. Fish. Sparrow. You. Me. Enjoying the unspeakable gift and privilege of being here, being alive….

The best thing in Genesis is not simply human beings, but the whole creation considered and enjoyed together, as a beautiful, integrated whole, and us a part. The poetry of Genesis describes the “very goodness” that comes at the end of a long process of creation … when all the parts, including us, are working together as one whole. That harmonious whole is so good that the Creator takes a day off, as it were, just to enjoy it. That day of restful enjoyment tells us that the purpose of existence isn’t money or power or fame or security or anything less than this: to participate in the goodness and beauty and aliveness of creation…. (McLaren, n.d.)

We invite the Spirit to guide our surrender to the invitation of Jesus to transform our talents to be “fishers of people” in our journey to fullness of life.

References

Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?14 

McLaren, B. (n.d.). An Intimate Origin Story. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-intimate-origin-story/ 

Meditation on Mark 1:14-20. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/01/12/1478663/ 

1 Samuel, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/1?1 

Psalms, PSALM 116 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/116?12 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Kingdom of God Is at Hand. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Zuegner, C. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-january-12-2026