HOMILY 3RD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR A 2026
WHERE’S THE GOOD NEWS TODAY?
HEARING THE CALL AND GETTING ON WITH THE JOB
Mt 4.12-23 Is 8.23-9.3 1Cor 1.10-13,17
When I was young and idealistic, I used to think that the world had to become a better place, as we learned from our mistakes, and on a broader scale, that people in general would know not to repeat the wrongs of the past, as we are meant to be intelligent beings who should realize that our welfare could only be enhanced by looking beyond our own selfish needs to contribute to the well-being of others as well.
Yet, as we look around today, we could question such thoughts, given the unstable state of the world in which we live, including our own society, with talk of division, misunderstanding, lack of good will, and focus on self-interest, and a refusal to listen to each other, respecting diversity of opinions and beliefs.
So, I reckon we need some words of hope in difficult and challenging times, in our own society and our world, where so much has gone, and continues to go wrong at present.
I went searching, and found some good thoughts, starting with Pope Leo’s recent words to the media: ”I encourage you to be sowers of good words, amplifiers of voices that courageously seek reconciliation but disarming hearts of hatred and fanaticism… In a fragmented and polarized world, be the antennae that pick up and relay what the weak marginalized, lonely, and those who need to know the joy of feeling loved, are experiencing.”
And then, I found a very thoughtful and insightful article, by author and journalist Julia Baird, focussing on good news in our times, with the heading: “Positive news: altruism good for you”:
“Every time something horrific happens, watching those who race to help, run to danger, dive into flames, speed through streets with medical supplies, labour in shattered hospitals as bombs burn overhead, line up for hours to donate blood, place their bodies over others as bullets fly, or jump into bloodied water to drag out a mate who has been savaged by a bull shark. The helpers remind us who we are and why we go on. They are the best of us… Overall, their core characteristic is lack of selfishness… I love that… altruists are complicated, quirky, and flawed, but that they also tend to be happy. In all the swirl of wellness advice, we rarely point out an obvious truth: helping other people, even strangers, can actually bring real joy. Altruism is good for well-being… In this world, where we see so much negativity and gracelessness, lack of trust on others and the continual lie upheld that a good life is about accumulation of wealth, not care and community, these are the people we should applaud and these are the stories we should tell.” Surely this is contemporary Gospel stuff, applying in practice, the principles enunciated by Jesus throughout his ministry?
In today’s Gospel, we’re up and running with Jesus’ public ministry taking off. We get into the action here, with the dark background of John the Baptist’s disappearance from the scene, followed directly by Jesus who continues his call to repentance and lived faith. It’s not just the Kingdom of Heaven Jesus proclaims, but a kingdom of love, life and healing here and now.
For security reasons, Jesus heads for, and settles in, the northern region of Israel, away from the more threatening south, nearer the political and religious centres of power and Jewish culture. From the beginning, it is clear that Jesus has a broader vision of humanity, and that the Gentiles or pagans should be able to hear his message, and respond to him and his message, with good will and openness. He doesn’t heal everyone, and he can’t beat mortality, which, ultimately, we all have to face.
While he writes for communities of largely traditional Jewish background, unlike Luke, who writes for a more diverse group, many of Greek background, At the same time, Matthew remains open to all being welcomed into this new kingdom announced by Jesus, not just a kingdom of heaven, but a kingdom of justice, love and peace here and now.
Jesus’ early ministry is characterised by preaching, healing and outreach to those in need. The images of him bringing light into the darkness, bring hope to a people searching for meaning in a world of uncertainty.
It doesn’t take long before he surrounds himself with an inner group of followers and friends, which appears to happen rather suddenly, with the 2 sets of brothers, Simon and Andrew, James and John, just dropping their nets and leaving their boats behind, as in the song!
Meanwhile, the show gets on track, with the first apostles responding to Jesus’ call to follow, and learning from his words, deeds and outreach, that their future mission will be to continue to spread the good news of the kingdom, and evolving phenomenon, never fully realized in human history throughout time, including yours and my lifetimes!
I often say at funerals, I can’t separate the sacred from the secular, the spiritual from the physical, psychological and emotional beings that we all are. And that’s, to me, where Jesus connects a kingdom of our present situation, with the spiritual dimension of the Kingdom of God. They’re not mutually exclusive, but inextricably linked. Our role as disciples is to respond practically to his call to be people of service and mission, contributing to making a better world, despite the obstacles and difficulties.
One of the negative elements at present is the false thought that empathy and compassion are signs of weakness, and yet, these are qualities or values at the heart of Jesus’s ministry, as he reaches out to all who will listen and who seek his reassuring and healing presence in their lives, and he challenges us to do too.
john hannon 25th January 2026