By Fr. Marcel Uzoigwe, CSSp
(Isaiah 8: 23-9:3; 1Corinthians 1:10-13, 17; Matthew 4:12-23)
The readings of today remind us that we are children of the Light. In the light of this theme, I wish to highlight three important points that form the liturgy of this third Sunday in the ordinary time.
The first point is that Pope Francis has declared the third Sunday in Ordinary Time a special day for the Word of God. This is simply to emphasize the importance of focusing on the Word of God as a guide for Christian life. The Psalmist says “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). Part of the Pope’s declaration reads, “Consequently, I hereby declare that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the word of God”. He noted that the word of God brings us close tot he Jewish people and calls for unity and world peace.
The reading of the Scripture used to be a regular event in families. Children were taught to lead in prayers and reflections at home. So it was in my family. We had to read the assigned portion and give reflection. In that way we grew in the appreciation of the Word of God. Today, the center of preoccupation is the smartphone and television. Children and adults spend time navigating channels, apps and social media. There is even little time to communicate among partners and with children. Two people sitting in the same room, each busy with someone far away on the social media and nothing happening among them. If we don’t have time for one another, how can we have time for the word of God? Thus, the Pope wishes to draw our attention back to the very Word that is Life and Light.
The second point is the very fact that we are called to be the Light wherever we are. In the first reading of this Sunday, the prophet Isaiah recalls an historical event recorded in 2Kings 15:27-27, where in the past, the Lord afflicted the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, the Northern Kingdom of Israel around 732 BC owing to the people’s gross disobedience and worship of foreign gods. The Lord allowed their enemies, the Assyrians to destroy everything and carried the inhabitants into exile and the pagan nations then settled in the conquered territories. That was a moment of darkness for them.
In today’s Gospel reading, therefore, St Matthew the evangelist makes a link tot his event, seeing in it the fulfillment of God’s plan to liberate his people through the coming of Jesus. After after his baptism and his forty days in the desert, Jesus began is ministry. Seeing that John the Baptist, his forerunner, was arrested and put into prison, He went and settled in Capernaum, a lakeside town bordering Zebulun and Naphtali. The gospel refers to this action as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali! Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan, Galilee of the nations! The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light; on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death a light has dawned.’ Indeed, Jesus’ mission is to bring a total liberation to all who live in the of darkness of error and sin.
Both readings (the first reading and the gospel) of today talk about those who walked in darkness seeing a great light. Darkness brings fear, uncertainty, confusion, failure, doubts, worry, etc. Darkness is related to shadow and valley. Shadow and valley are related to depression, despair, death, chains, bondage, pit, forsaken, gloom, decay, etc. When light comes, these negative forces are driven away. Light brings celebration, joy, energy, life, optimism, certainty, enthusiasm, growth, progress and confidence.
During the baptism of Collin, we gave a lighted candle to the Godparents as a symbol of the light of Jesus that must be guarded for him. Parents and Godparents were told to ensure that he grows up in a positive environment with love and respect for people around him. He has to grow in this light and be a light to his generation. In the same way we are called to be the light of Christ to our generation – people around us. We are invited to bring something positive and liberate to those undergoing difficult situations, friends in the dark moments or situations of their lives. Our presence should offer solutions and show a way out, at least to some extend; and not complicate their situation.
As we grow in faith we develop stronger inner light, the light that is the presence of Christ in us, in such a way that it becomes the source of our inner strength and the compass that directs our thoughts, words and actions.. This light determines almost everything about us; it determines our level of joy and happiness, our ability to survive crises, disappointment, losses, heart breaks, sickness, bad news, anxieties, etc. We all need this inner light, inner power, positive energy, tough optimism.
The third point can be found in the second part of the gospel reading where Jesus calls the disciples. It is the call to collaborative ministry. The very first thing that Jesus did before beginning his ministry was to call those who were to be with him (John 1: 35-40). We often think that we know it all and can do it alone. Jesus did not do the work alone. He got collaborators. And those called left everything to follow him: commitment. Peter and Andrew, James and John were all called and they dropped everything and followed Jesus. They weren’t extra-ordinary class of people but rather, common everyday people, fishermen. Nevertheless, they were prettily extra-ordinary in their attitude and their willingness to leave everything to follow Jesus.
A true follower of Jesus, would always willingly set aside his/her plans and respond to God’s plan for him/her. We might not necessarily leave fishing boats, torn nets and even parents as the apostles did in their days, but we are called to leave behind those part of ourselves which hinder us from answering the call that God makes to us; those things that keep us away from making our gifts and talents available to serve our community. Reflect today, and ask yourself what you have to drop in your life in order to follow the Lord more lovingly and faithfully. Give God the first place in your life and allow his principles to determine your decisions and life choices.