3rd Week in Ordinary Time

by Dcn. Gary Johnson  |  01/24/2026  |  Gospel Reflections

In Matthew’s Gospel today, we hear the first words spoken by our Lord as He begins His public ministry: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Up until this point, Matthew’s Gospel presented us with Jesus’ genealogy, His birth, the story of the Magi, the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt, the slaughter of the Holy Innocents, Jesus’ baptism, the preaching of Saint John the Baptist, and Jesus’ forty days in the desert.

Now, after these introductory stories to Jesus’ life, we enter into His public ministry. The time for the preaching and ministry of the Son of God had arrived.  Jesus continues the theme of repentance started by John, but Jesus takes John’s words further. Jesus adds something that John could not: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Since we are still at the beginning of the season of Ordinary Time, it’s important to understand this transition from the Old Testament prophets, of which John was the last, to the New Testament preaching of our Lord. The difference is that all that had been prophesied  in the Old Testament had now arrived.

Reflect today upon the newness of the ministry of Jesus, and the newness of the first proclamation of the Gospel. Try to imagine the curiosity that many would have had as they first listened to Jesus preach. Soon He would follow up His preaching with many signs and wonders that would confirm His message. But at first Jesus simply instilled a hope in His hearers. As you ponder this think about those in your life who also need this initial sense of hope and curiosity about the Gospel and pray that God will inspire you and use you to be an instrument of His message of mercy.