--- title: Daily Readings Reflection for 1/23/11 description: Daily Readings Reflection for 1/23/11 --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2011/01/23/daily-readings-reflection-for-12311#) # Daily Readings Reflection for 1/23/11 Jan 23, 2011 9:00:06 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) Scripture: Lectionary 68. 3rd Sun. Ord. Time. Isaiah 8:23-9:3. Psalm 27:1.4.13-14. I Cor.1:10-13.17. Matthew 4:12-23 [Today's Readings](http://www.usccb.org/nab) Matthew is the Gospel for the year 2011. It will be featured from now on with the exception of the special liturgical seasons of Lent and Advent and Dominical feasts of Our Lord and Blessed Mother whenever they fall on a Sunday. We look then to the careful and orderly presentation of St. Matthew's Gospel as well as the emphasis on Jesus as a Teacher and New Moses. We will see how closely Matthew is related to the Old Testament and how his is the most Hebraic in presentation. He has fourteen principal texts of the Hebrew Scriptures in his Gospel; we remember from the genealogy that fourteen is the symbolic number for King David and that Matthew's liking for the number five is symbolic of the Torah's five books. In addition many of our ethical principles and our virtues as Christians stem from this Gospel. These themes and ideas will help motivate us and inspire us in our Sunday liturgical experience of the readings. In our selection for this Sunday, we realize once again that John the Baptist's role has come to an end. He is in prison. Jesus now takes up and goes further in his demands of the disciples and his followers at large. The Holy Spirit is at work and the baptism they now undergo is a work emanating from Jesus and the Holy Spirit. As in Mark, Jesus' proclamation is about change or renewal. The retreat movements of students and parishes often stresses this dimension through the word METANOIA which is the word Jesus uses for our reforming of our life in the perspective of becoming disciples of Jesus and participators in bringing about the kingdom. This is the beginning of the Good News of Jesus: "From that time on Jesus began to proclaim this theme: "Reform your lives! The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17). We are able to recall how each Gospel has a very important beginning. While pondering over the text on Metanoia, we remember Matthew starts his Gospel with "A family record of Jesus Christ, Son of David, son of Abraham." (Matthew 1:1). Our first reading is always a great help to discover what is found in the Gospel passage. Matthew actually cites our passage from Isaiah and applies it to Jesus who is the light for all nations and peoples. Matthew will stress the universal message of salvation at the end of his Gospel but he already he has prefigured it through the mention of David and Abraham. Isaiah is one of the Jewish prophets who stresses universalism and God is presented as concerned about the nations as well as God's chosen elect Israel. All peoples come under God's light and Jesus is that light as we learn from John as well as from the Synoptic Gospels. Our own response to the Gospel is the willingness to reform our lives by believing in the Gospel. Our change of habits and our getting rid of our sins is an ongoing process in this daily growth and change in ourselves. This will be the theme of our whole life and of our being one with Christ Jesus. Father Roland Faley gives us some practical advice about this metanoia or change: "Our life in Christ needs regular assessment, periods of reflection and prayer, retreats and days of recollection not in the interest of measuring growth but simply to be certain we have not settled on a plateau." (R.Faley, T.O.R, Footprints on the Mountain, p. 112). Amen. ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F01%2F23%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-12311%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F01%2F23%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-12311%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F01%2F23%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-12311%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Readings%20Reflection%20for%201%2F23%2F11) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F01%2F23%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-12311%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F01%2F23%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-12311%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. Please support our guest writers by visiting their sites, purchasing their work, and leaving comments to thank them for sharing their gifts here on CatholicMom.com. To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com. ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Readings Reflection for 11/12.10 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/11/12/daily-readings-reflection-for-1112-10) [ Daily Readings Reflection for 1/13/10 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/01/13/daily-readings-reflection-for-11310) [ Daily Readings Reflection for 1/14/11 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2011/01/14/daily-readings-reflection-for-11411) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.