AUGUSTINIAN LECTIO DIVINA

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (22 January 2023)

Theme: RECRUITING WORKERS FOR THE KINGDOM

CALL TO SILENCE
Introduction
The “Kingdom” is God’s initiative. It is the “code name” for His comprehensive “Grand
Plan” which encompasses the whole mankind, and which will be fully accomplished only at the
end of time. The great herald of this Plan and its main “constructor” is Jesus Christ. But he does
not do everything single-handedly. In his wisdom and trust in human beings, he wants all to be
involved in it. He also invites some to be his special assistants in the implementation of the
great Plan.

That invitation resounded for the first time along the shores of the Sea of Galilee 2000 years
ago. It has been echoing ever since in all generations and places, changing the lives of those
who respond to it. It still continues to be addressed even today to as many as God wants.

Let us all stand.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

OPENING SONG:

OPENING PRAYER
Lord, we wander in this world, pre-occupied with our busyness and personal matters. Call
un to yourself, that we may be able to hear your message. May we be attentive to your Word,
and focus on it with all our hearts. You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever
and ever. AMEN.

A. LECTIO
I let his loving gaze fall upon my emptiness, and many wants. I pray that he soaks my
dryness in his Grace. I pray that He open my heart and mind to his plan and message.

The proclamation of the Gospel according to Matthew (4:12-23)

Glory to You, O Lord

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and
went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been
said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:
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.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand.”

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and
his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come
after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. He
walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his
brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called
them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. He went around all
of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing
every disease and illness among the people.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to You, O Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us now be seated and pause for a moment of silence.

(one minute – with accompanying music)
B. MEDITATIO
I deepen my understanding of the Gospel. I give my full attention and reflect on the
lessons the passage is about to give me.

There are moments in life when something unexpected happens which makes all the difference.
It happens to us. It happens in us. These are events which change the course of our life, often
in a radical manner. Such was the case of the four fishermen: Simon and Andrew, James and
John, the borders of whose world coincided with the area of the Lake of Galilee, until the day
they met Jesus. “Come after me!” he said. And immediately they abandoned their boats, their
nets, their crew, their relatives . . . and became his followers – the first recruits of a peaceful
army tasked to conquer the world. An unexpected invitation, a prompt response, an immediate
departure for an unknown destination. Four hearts were set aflame. Four lives would never be
the same again.

Ever since the days of Jesus, the world has become like a vast Sea of Galilee, teeming with
numberless people busy with so many things. You and I are part of the crowd. Jesus passes by,
a man among men, but with a heart trained to love the way God does. He may chance upon you
and me, and pronounce our names the way no mere man can do. He may even make promises
that sound like riddles. When that happens, we should remember the four fishermen from
Galilee and how they answered Jesus’ invitation. This “call” may not necessarily imply an
invitation to forsake one’s profession and become a member of a religious congregation or of
the diocesan clergy. The essential meaning of Jesus’ invitation is to become his “disciples” –
people who ponder on his teaching and become his “followers” by sharing the Master’s
fundamental choices, his values and priorities. The call to active membership and sharing in the
mission of the Church is addressed to all, because all the baptized are members of the mystical
body of Christ. As such they share in the Head’s role as Priest, Prophet and Servant/King.

INPUT by Mr. Panganiban

C. ORATIO
Let us pray in the words of Our Holy Father Augustine:

O Lord my God, most merciful, most secret, most present, most constant, yet changing
all things, never new, and never old, always in action, yet always quiet, creating, upholding, and
perfecting all, who has anything but what you have given? or what can any man say when he
speaks about you? Yet have mercy on us, O Lord, that we may speak to you, and praise your
Name.

D. CONTEMPLATIO
I speak to Jesus about a word or image in the Gospel which has touched me, and
express to him in prayer the thoughts and longings which this word or image evoked in
me.

Let us now get our bibles and open them on the Gospel passage for today. We will spend 5-10
minutes to read the Gospel a second time and ponder more on it.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS TO ALL FACILITATORS:
- Remind your classmates to be sure to have their bibles with them as they do this
activity.
- Do not rush. Spend time in prayer.
- Prepare an accompanying background music as you facilitate this part of the ALD.
this activity.
E. COMMUNICATIO
I ask the Holy Spirit to give me the grace to listen to God’s word and act on it in my
everyday life.

Everyone will answer one or all of the following questions:

1. Is Jesus the light of my life? What can this mean in practice?
2. Do I try my best to let Jesus’ light shine through my thoughts, attitudes, and actions?

Plan of Action (Notebook)

Would I be willing to leave everything and become a “full-time” disciple like Simon and
Andrew, James and John?
CLOSING PRAYER:
Almighty ever-living God, direct our actions according to your good pleasure, that in the name of
your beloved Son we may abound in good works. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

CLOSING SONG

MARY, OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION, pray for us!

ST. AUGUSTINE, pray for us!
ST. JOSEPH, pray for us!

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Head Facilitator: Let us now give each other a SIGN OF PEACE.