General. The Collect prayer beseeches God to conduct our doings according to His will so that in the name of His Son Jesus we may further accomplish better deeds. The Mass consists of two main parts, being the liturgy of the Word and that of the Eucharist. The importance of the Word is highlighted today in the readings from Nehemiah and St Luke, so that we learn that in following God’s biddings as given us in Scripture, we would be able to conduct our doings according to divine will.

Isaiah. The prophet speaks of tables turned in the eyes of God. The coming of the Saviour is here represented as a great light which brings along with it great joy. The reason for this mirth is that the Saviour will usher in freedom from servitude and bestow lightness of spirit on all those who accept him.

First Epistle to the Corinthians. St Paul urges love among christian brethren in one sole Saviour, Jesus Christ. In identifying different bearers of the Good News, the early christians were departing from the uniqueness of Jesus who brought about salvation singlehandedly as willed by his Father. This was much like failing to distinguish who was the true Messiah between John the Baptist and Jesus at the time of the beginning of Jesus’ mission. His apostles are portenders of the Good News and Paul rightly points out that sophistry and high-faluting speech only serve to outdo the true meaning of the Cross in our individual lives and of our faith in God.

St Matthew. Following John’s arrest, Jesus withdrew to Galilee. Yet his words were similar to those of his Precursor, inviting repentance because the kingdom of heaven was at hand. Jesus then called the first disciples, who left family and possessions to follow him. To them he also gave the power to heal all kinds of physical and mental illnesses, which mostly developed as a consequence of spiritual and moral laxness. A vocation is a calling coming direct from God which is worth pursuing even in present times when the world has lost its sense of good values.

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