Isaiah 8:23-9:3/ Psalm 27 /1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17/ Matthew 4:12-23
Theme: The Light of Christ Gives Hope to our Imperfections.
No matter how dark a place is, a little bit of light will dispel that darkness. Light reveals, attracts and leads one to the winding road of hope. We are invited in the readings of today to reflect on our own calling. What is our motivation to follow Jesus who is the light? How realistic are they? Are they time tested? Jesus is that light who has come to dispel the darkness of sin and evil; of division and factionalism.
The Gospel reading for today’s Mass, therefore, describes the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. It begins in the region around the Sea of Galilee, the location of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali in the ancient kingdom of Israel. It was here that Jesus began to proclaim “Reform your lives! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). It was this same place that Jesus called his first four disciples namely Peter and Andrews, James and John.
Yet, centuries before, as Isaiah prophesied in the first reading, Zebulun and Naphtali were the first of the tribes to be invaded by the Assyrians and carried off into exile. But in the midst of this seemingly hopeless situation, God, through Isaiah speaks of a glorious future for these tribes when He says “… For there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shined” (Isaiah 8:23; 9:1). For Matthew, that future that Isaiah prophesied about was fulfilled on the day when Christ began to preach the kingdom of God in that very territory, Zebulun and Naphtali.
What really attracted the first four disciples to Jesus? Maybe Jesus was especially charismatic, the type that people are attracted to. Maybe he was someone you and I would automatically want to follow. Unlike a room lighted by a fluorescent light where everything is visible, now think of a room lit by several candles. Somehow the better parts of each face are brought out and the flaws are left kindly in the background. Such light pardons our imperfections and gives us a holy glow. He came as a regular person, a forgiver of souls and a quiet observer of human faces. Not as a gigantic searchlight from which no sinful, human thing can escape.
Christianity is about light. Just as Jesus is the light to the world, so his Church is to be that light in a world of darkness. Light enables the beauty of things to be seen, and we are called to make the beauty of the world shine. But we are not to call attention to ourselves. If one observes light in a room, it is too bright for one alone. One’s vocation is for others, not oneself.
Surrounded by discrimination, oppression and war, Christians are challenged to be united in mind and judgment, and they are directed by God’s love to bring mankind to unity and peace. The light we bring to the world should lead to an end of all the world’s darkness: the alienation and oppression of peoples, the attacks on human life and dignity, and disrespect for God’s creation.
Too often, though, as we learn in the second reading, our light is diminished by factions or infighting among ourselves. Paul begs the Corinthians, in the name of Jesus, that there are no factions among them. It is evident that the reported “quarreling” in the church at Corinth was based upon divergent commitments to someone or something other than Jesus. For some say “I belong to Paul or I belong to Apollos or I belong to Cephas or I belong to Christ. Has Christ been divided” (1 Corinthians 1:12-13)?
The factionalist, whether of Paul’s time or our own, “belongs” to someone other than Jesus. Some think that Paul has the truth. Others cling to Apollos. Others pledge their allegiance to Peter. Yet Paul will have no truck with this line of thought. Any time there is division in our community, you will notice that it is because Christ has been relegated to the background.
“Has Christ, then, been divided into parts? Was it Paul who was crucified for you” (1 Corinthians 1:13)? Our baptism, through the gifts of tradition and law, ritual and order, is the sign of our salvation; but salvation is found in Jesus Christ–no one else, nothing else. It grieves me to watch the divisions being caused in our churches today often based on trivial issues. Can we not realize that the light of Christ is so much more than one or two issues that may need clarification or even debate about, and that the message of Christ is so much more than these one or two little things? If we are to be the light of the world, we need to put aside minor issues and look to the major Christian teachings – love for each other, justice, helping others, so that through us what Isaiah proclaims today – that those who dwell in the land of gloom, a great light has shone ( Isaiah 9:2b) may be fulfilled.
We are called to bring abundant joy and rejoicing to the world. This is because the yoke that burdened humanity has been smashed by Christ who forgives. This is the Good News. When we sing the final song today – Christ Be Our Light – make note of what we are asking in that song – that WE – all of us – be bread broken for others, be a building sheltering others, and be servants to one another. If we can be these things – Christ’s light truly shines and we can change the world for the better.
In sum, living in community is an art and so it must be practiced and learned, at times with great sacrifice. This kind of Christian community is the beginning of the ‘great light’ Isaiah foresaw; it is the beginning of the kingdom of heaven that Christ preached in the Gospel reading; it is the community at Corinth that Paul was in anguish to form; it is the community we should be striving for as we live and worship together in our own parish community.
Today let us all sing this song with devotion and in a prayerful mood:
CHRIST BE OUR LIGHT
Refrain: Christ is our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ be our light! Shine in your Church gathered today
Longing for light, we wait in darkness
Longing for truth, we turn to you
Make us your own; your holy people
Light for the world to see
Longing for peace, our world is troubled
Longing for hope, many despair
Your word alone has power to save us
Make us your living voice
Longing for food, many are hungry
Longing for water, many still thirst
Make us your bread broken for others
Shared until we are fed
Many the gifts, many the people
Many the hearts that yearn to belong
Let us be servants to one another
Making your kingdom come