3rd Sunday of O.T. (A)
JESUS CHRIST, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The Lord is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
(Psalm 26)
Dear brethren in Christ, today’s Sunday readings center itself on the theme of JESUS AS THE LIGHT AND SALVATION of the world on whom we should place all our trust.
- In the 1st reading (Is 8:23–9:3), Isaiah prophesies that the coming of the Messiah will bring light and joy to the world.
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils.”
- The above prophesy is fulfilled in Our Lord Jesus Christ as recounted by the Gospel of St. Matthew. In today’s Gospel text presents us to Jesus
“went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be 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 (see 1st reading).”
- Christ irradiates the world with His Light with his MESSAGE and PREACHING: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
- Jesus emits His light THROUGH HIS APOSTLES whom he called to be “fishers of men” and who left everything behind in order to follow Him and be His light-bearers in the future, under the Church founded by our Lord Jesus Christ.
- He emanates His light by BRINGING HOPE TO MAN with which he healed the diseases and illnesses of the people, not only physical sickness but above all, healing the spiritual sickness which is far worse than the former.
- As Christians, faithful followers of Our Lord, WE ARE CALLED AS WELL TO BE HIS LIGHT-BEARERS to radiate Christ’s light to others through our ACTIONS and LIFE COHERENT TO OUR FAITH.
- We must try to be UNITED among us under the One God, One Faith, One Church, One Baptism which we have received from Our Lord Jesus Christ in order to spread the Good News among all nations.
- This we see in today’s 2nd reading from 1 Cor 1:10–13,17
“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.”
- Christian life is a struggle to destroy the empire of evil, first in our life, and then where God has placed us. We will encounter difficulties, but let us not forget that:
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The Lord is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
(Psalm 26)
Almighty ever-living God, direct our actions according to your good pleasure, that in the name of your beloved Son we may abound in good works.
(Opening prayer).
Cordially inviting you to like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/CatholicsstrivingforHoliness so we could have a greater apostolic reach and thus help more people in their Christian life. Thanks and God bless! Fr. Rolly A.
PHOTO CREDIT & SOURCES:
- H. HUNT, “Light of the world” in http://www.theroadtofaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/light-of-the-world1.jpg; faces in http://new.rejesus.co.uk/images/area_uploads/faces/faces_holman_hunt.jpg;