DAWN OF A NEW LIGHT.
January 22, 2023.
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – A.
“…The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on
those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen…”Mt 4:16
An Ivorian proverb says: “However long the night, the dawn
will break.” And an Irish proverb adds: “There is light at the end of the
tunnel.”
There are times when life seems to be a succession of
shadows and darkness. Times when we travel in confusion and uncertainties. In
those times, what we need is a new dawn, a new opportunity that can lead us to
a new hope. The Lord Jesus comes to raise in us that hope.
Last Sunday, we spoke about the beginning of Jesus' public
ministry, marking the beginning of his ordinary life and so the Ordinary Time
of the year of the Church. We are today the 3rd Sunday in this Ordinary Time of
the Year A, and the Word of God tells us what this time is made of. It is our
time to shine bright like the Lord and to lead people back to God. A new light
is shining; a new dawn is rising.
The Ordinary Time is also a prophetic time and the time of
fulfillment. All the prophecies and promises of the Lord reach their completion
in this time. The Lord Jesus stands as the one through whom everything is fulfilled.
That is what we read in today's Gospel and the first reading. The Lord, through
the Prophet Isaiah, announced that a new light will shine in the darkness and
take away from the land all the glooms and sorrows. That anguish will take
wings and the obscurity will be dispelled. There will come a time for abundant
joy and great rejoicing.
The Evangelist Matthew tells us that this prophecy is
fulfilled. "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea,
beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have
seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has
arisen..." And Jesus begins fulfilling all the prophecies after the arrest
of the one the Lord named the greatest of all the Prophets, John the Baptist.
The Lord also begins his mission with almost the same words as John: “Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” It is a prophetic call to open ourselves
to the newness that has come, the kingdom of God. The presence of Jesus among us
is the inauguration of the reign of God. He is the great light that has shined
upon those dwelling in the gloom and taken away all darkness and sorrow. The
presence of the Lord Jesus echoes a new dawn, a new beginning, an opportunity
for you and me to live anew and renewed. Thus, the need for repentance, to give
away all the oldness and embrace the newness.
To fulfill this mission and bring the Good News to all the
world, the Lord associates himself with the disciples. We read and hear about
the calling of Peter and Andrew, John and James, and later on all the other
disciples who will follow him. This episode tells us that we too have our part,
our share in the predication of the Gospel. The mission of Christ is a mission
opened to us all. And the beautiful message is that the calling meets each one
of us in what we do and where we are. Peter, Andrew, John, James, and later on
Matthew and others are called from where they spent their ordinary life:
fishermen or tax collectors. It is in our ordinary and daily lives the Lord
calls us to make of us instruments of an extraordinary message and mission, the
Kingdom of God. Like Peter, Andrew, John, and James, we should be prompt to
abandon everything and follow him.
We read that when the disciples heard the Lord's call, “At
once they left their nets and followed him.” Many, regrettably are Christians
who do everything by interest. They live and behave like monkeys. If they leave
one branch, it is because they have the assurance of the following or a second
branch. They follow the Lord for personal interests, miracles, promotions, and
fame... Jesus has not come to promise miracles and promotion. He has rather
come to instore peace and love.
Therefore, the exhortation of Paul in the second reading: “I
urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all
of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but
that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.” As Christians, we
should not be divided nor be instruments of division. Christ is not divided.
What matters are not the denominations but Jesus. He is unique.
We are celebrating today, the closing of the week of prayer for Christian unity. This second reading sounds like a great message for all. The most important is not our so many denominations or sects or churches. It is rather Jesus Christ. Paul says, what is substantial is not the ‘I belong to Paul or Peter or Apollos...’ We must rather fight to belong to Christ. Unity is the cement of the kingdom of God. Your church, your pastor, your priest, your bishop, your prophet will not and cannot save you. It is Jesus alone who saves. Therefore, do not get divided or fight because of your church or your church leaders. Religiosity is not a matter of competition. It is a search for salvation. Left or right, yellow or black, the only thing that matters is Jesus Christ, and Jesus crucified. He alone died on the Cross for all. So, if you have him, follow him, and serve him truly, then you will be saved.
Comments
Post a Comment