Saints + Scripture: III Sunday in Tempus per annum

Better Late than Never, Simplex Complex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

9 Days for Life: Day 6
May expectant mothers choosing adoption receive grace & support in embracing this loving option.

'Tis the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

As such, 'tis the inaugural Sunday of the Word of God: Apostolic Letter Aperuit Illis-link.

Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Book of Isaiah, chapter eight, verse twenty-three thru chapter nine, verse three;
Psalm Twenty-seven (R/. one[a]), verses one, four, & thirteen & fourteen;
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter one, verses ten thru thirteen & seventeen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter four, verses twelve thru twenty-three
(or, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter four, verses twelve thru seventeen).

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus begins his public ministry and calls his first disciples.

When Jesus emerged publicly and began preaching the kingdom of God, he was taken to mean something very specific—namely, that the tribes of Israel, scattered by sin, were being gathered. The Israelite hope was that, in the Messianic era, Israel would become a godly nation gathered around the common worship of the true God at the temple on Mount Zion, and that this united Israel would become, in turn, a beacon to the other nations of the world. Jesus’ entire preaching and ministry should be read under this rubric of the great gathering.

Jesus gathered around himself a band of Apostles whom he shaped according to his own mind and heart and whom he subsequently sent on mission. Priests down through the centuries—from Augustine and Aquinas, to Francis Xavier and John Henry Newman, to John Paul II—are the descendants of those first friends and apprentices of the Lord.

They have been needed in every age, and they are needed today, for the kingdom of heaven must be proclaimed, the poor must be served, God must be worshiped, and the sacraments must be administered.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M. (U.S. Con. of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Video reflection by Father Claude Burns (uCatholic): Weekend Reflection with Father Pontifex.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 14
The Book of Exodus, chapter six, verses thirteen thru twenty-seven.

Commentary: God Promises Deliverance (Exodus, 6:13) & the Genealogy of Moses & Aaron (Exodus, 6:14-27).

†

Otherwise, 26 January would be the festival of Saints Timothy & Titus, Bishops (circa 17-97 & died circa 96), first (I) Bishop of Ephesus & first (I) Bishop of Crete, eponymous receipts of three epistles from Saint Paul the Apostle: Saints-link ūnus &Saints-link duo, Saint-link Timothy & Wikipedia-link Timothy, & Saint-link Titus & Wikipedia-link Titus; Diocese-link Ephesus & Wikipedia-link Ephesus, & Wikipedia-link Crete; Wikipedia-link 1 Timothy, Wikipedia-link 2 Timothy, & Wikipedia-link Titus.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth Minute Meditations from the Popes:

O Lord, Ss. Timothy & Titus taught the early Churches about the sanctity of family life. May they intercede for the members of my family to make them holy & filled with your peace.

.'Twould also be the festival of Saint Paula of Rome, Abbess (circa 347-404, A.K.A. the Widow), one of the Desert Mothers: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Desert Mothers.

Commentary: Mother of Ss. Eustochium [28 September] & Blaesilla [22 January].

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Alberic of Cîteaux, Abbot, O.Cist. (died 1109, A.K.A. Aubrey), prior of the second (II) Abbey of Molesme & the second (II) Abbey of Cîteaux, one of the founders of the Order of Cistercians (O.Cist.): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Molesme, Wikipedia-link Cîteaux, Order-link O.Cist., & Wikipedia-link O.Cist.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Eysteinn Erlendsson, Bishop (died 1188, A.K.A. Augustine), Archbishop of Nidaros (1161-1188): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Nidaros.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero, Priest, T.O.S.D. (1840-1914, the "Gaucho Priest"): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Michał Kozal, Bishop & Martyr (1893-1943, also spelt Michaël), Auxiliary Bishop of Włocławek, martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Włocławek.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"God's Word has the power to open our eyes & to embark on a new path of sharing & solidarity."
—Pope Francis (b. 1936, r. 2013-present)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997, feast day: 5 September)

Commentary: *cough* Michelle Williams! *cough*

Catholic Quote o' the Day

"Either Jesus is who He says He is, or He’s a bad man. What’s ruled out is the middle ground (that a lot of people take today), which is, ‘I don't think he’s God, but he’s a very interesting, inspiring religious teacher.’ Actually, He’s a dangerous, strange figure. We must either be with Him or against Him. He compels a choice the way no other religious founder does."
—Bishop Robert Barron (b. 1959)