A CALL TO BE LIGHT TO ALL THE PEOPLE LIVING IN DARKNESS
We all as Christians have a vocational call to be light of truth and goodness to all people living in the shadow of darkness. This is the starting point of Jesus’ message: “repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This was the very message of John the Baptist. “Turn from your sins, and back turn to God, because the kingdom of heaven is near.”
OUR THEME
In this week of praying for Christian unity in a world divided by interests, hatred, conflicts, culture, politics and even religion and faith. The readings of today challenge our sense of witnessing and following the call, life and mission of our Christian living. Namely, we are called to be the light of Christ in a world filled with the darkness of sins.
Today’s Scripture readings tell us that Christ has brought us into the Light from darkness by calling us to repentance. That is, to radically change our lives
Our vocational calling has a price tag attached to it. It is never enough to discover and respond to it. It involves giving up something precious and it also comes with a high risk of rejection and persecution.
FIRST READING: ISAIAH 8:23–9:3
The first reading from the Prophet Isaiah 8:23–9:3 assures us of the Great Light: Christ, whose presence dispels the darkness of our lives and shines on all shadiness of darkness in the world.
Indeed, this prophecy of Isaiah reminds us of our duty, mission and invitation to be light to the darkness of the world and people who live in the shadow of death, sin and darkness of all kinds.
SECOND READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-13, 17
In the second reading 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17, St. Paul encourages the Christians of Corinth as children of the light to put aside all division, rivalries, conflicts and shadowy lifestyle that is not in conformity with the Gospel of Christ.
St. Paul in the second reading questions our ways of bearing witnesses in the Christian community as well as in the world as light and instrument of peace, justice and unity.
This is because several factions had arisen among the Corinthian Christians, each claiming allegiance to its first Christian teacher or a particular Apostle.
THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE SECOND READING OF TODAY
Notably, the pope, bishops, priests, pastors or Christian leaders are not Christ and should not be a cause of our strife and division in the Christian community or Church.
This is a hard truth, anyone who follows a human being instead of Christ is not a Christian. Any religious leader who leads or directs people to himself and not Christ is not a priest or pastor of souls.
Any form of Christian teaching, preaching and practising that diminishes the centrality of Christ to the Christian faith is erroneous and un-Christian in nature.
The unity of the Christian community is none negotiable because it is paramount for the survival of the Christian Church.
THE GOSPEL: MATTHEW 4:12-23
The Gospel of Matthew 4:12-23 is a fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading. However, it presents us with the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry and the call of his early apostles as collaborators of Kingdom advancement through: preaching the Good news, teaching the truth and healing all pains.
The gospel is not only a fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading. We also witness the invitation to be collaborators with Christ-like Peter, Andrew, James and John in preaching, healing and restoring the Kingdom of Heaven among all. Mt. 4: 12-23
The Gospel call to the presence of God and His kingdom, and the need for repentance is a universal call to all to bring the light of Christ to the darkness of the world. Christ is the Light and the kingdom he invites us to embrace is of life, light, truth, love, peace, justice, and goodness. Hence, he addresses us as the light of the world.
THE GREAT LIGHT: JESUS CHRIST
The Prophet Isaiah declares that God’s power is greater than the powers of darkness and assures the exiled Jewish people that “a great light” will lead them into “abundant joy.” Jesus is “the great light” who leads us all out of the land of gloom.
By His death and Resurrection, He has assured us that darkness can never have the last word. In his prophetic mind, Isaiah sees this as if it has already happened: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light…”
The Light he is talking about is the Light of God, which scatters the darkness of ignorance, arrogance, pride, and sin.
CHRIST OUR LIGHT OF HOPE
Jesus in the gospel of today shows that he is the “light” of hope, evident to all through his deeds of power (healing), preaching the Good News (about the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven), and calling his first disciples (the apostles).
His message is very clear and has two main elements: Repent, because the kingdom is at hand, and Follow Me, to learn how to spread the Good News and live this new life of love and service.
The message is the same for us today, a timeless message that calls for immediate action from each of us.
Jesus came preaching that he might defeat all ignorance. He came teaching that he might defeat all misunderstandings. He came healing that he might defeat all pain. We, too, must proclaim our certainties; we, too, must be ready to explain our faith; we, too, must turn the ideal into action and deeds.
OUR CHRISTIAN CALLING
How amazing the faith, belief and commitment of your first apostles with the discipline to renounce all, career, family, community, comfort zones, and security and to donate self willingly, freely and generously. The grace of God made them authentic witnesses among men and women to the vocation of Christian unity, justice and peace. Therefore, let us pray that we respond to our Christian calling by collaborating with the grace of God.
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, like the psalmist of today, we proclaim and affirm, Lord, you are our light and our salvation. Help us advance your kingdom of love, light, peace, justice and truth in our hearts and in the hearts of men and women to overcome the darkness of sin, hatred, division, pain and evil in our midst and in the world. Amen
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