From Darkness and Death to Light and Life
Introduction: May
you continue to be enlightened by the Lord Jesus and may you respond to the
Master- Teacher’s calling you to share what you have received with those around
you!
On the Feast
of the Epiphany, the analogy of phosphors, phosphors are objects that absorb
the energy from a light source. The electrons in the outer shell of the
phosphorus elements become excited by the light source and then glow even when
they are removed from the source of their excitement (light). Thus, they
capture the original light energy and are able to give off light-energy even in
the dark.
That is what
all of us are called to do. We are called to receive the energy from the Light
of the World (Jesus) and then glow with the energy we have received from the
Light and reflect that Light in the darkness in which we are placed. The more
we are bathed with the Light, the more we can share the Light in the darkness.
The title “phosphors” comes from two Greek words meaning “Light carrier.” We
are not the Light, but we are able to “carry the Light” to others by our
serving them and helping them experience the original energy of the Light.
Our readings
speak about a light shining upon those in darkness. The light brings hope of
better days, of the fulfillment of the Reign of God. The light empowers the
people to do whatever God is asking them to do. In the First Reading the people
of the North sense a light that scatters the gloom in which they were living.
The Responsorial Psalm reminds us that the LORD is our Light. In the Second
Reading, St. Paul reminds the faithful of Corinth that they should not be
separating themselves into groups that claim allegiance to the human instrument
who helped to bring about their enlightenment, but that they should realize
that all the human agents are acting on behalf of God, Who is the One Who has
called them into the Light – a new and closer relationship with God. In the
Gospel, Jesus fulfills the prophecy in the First Reading by being the Light
that shines on the people of the North.
First Reading: Isaiah 9:1b-4: In Galilee of the nations
the people have seen a great light.
Commentary: Isaiah
celebrates a joyful reversal after the threats of the Assyrian invasion of
Jerusalem in 732BC. The devastating Assyrian armies had plundered the northern
kingdom of Israel and seemed certain to repeat this exploit on Judah and
Jerusalem in the south. Amazingly, they turned away.
This passage is about to unfold into the famous prophecy of
the son of the royal line of David who will bring peace with justice and
righteousness. But today the reading stops short of that point, so that we can
see this not specifically as a Christmas message but as referring to every time
that God intervenes to bring a desperate situation to joyful resolution –
in history and in our own lives.
Responsorial Psalm 27:1. 4. 13-14: The LORD is my light and my salvation.
Psalm 27 expresses deep trust in God as light, salvation,
and refuge, dispelling all fear. The psalmist longs above all to dwell in God’s
presence and gaze upon His beauty. It ends with a call to patient hope,
encouraging the believer to wait for the Lord with courage and confidence.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17: ‘I appeal to
you that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you.’
Commentary: It is
hardly surprising that the Christians at Corinth were a divided community;
there were so many different levels of employment and wealth, financiers,
dockers, tent-makers, administrators and many others in that town with its
double port, its booming trade, its biennial games and supporting trades. Paul
shows us that there were also cliques claiming different personal loyalties.
Some claimed to be Paul’s own followers. Apollos was a Jew from Alexandria and
a notable orator; perhaps he had the intellectual following. Cephas is the
Aramaic name for Peter; his following may have been Christians sprung from
Judaism who wanted to keep their Jewish practices in food, circumcision and
Sabbath-observance. Paul will have none of this party politics, one group hurling
slogans at another. They would not even come together as a genuine community at
the eucharist. Paul had baptised people to be not his own followers but
followers of Christ. Later in the letter he will explain that Christians must
form a single organic body, all working together in harmony, each with a
special task and special gifts, but all contributing to the well-being of the
whole. This is his basic vision of the Christian body, all living with the one
life of Christ.
Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23: ‘Jesus went to Capernaum so that
what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled.’
Commentary: This
is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Matthew first introduces us to Galilee,
characteristically quoting the scriptures to show that they are being
fulfilled, and in what way. Galilee is called ‘Galilee of the gentiles’ only in
this passage, and it was not a particularly notable feature of Galilee.
Archaeology shows that Jewish observance was strong in the region. Contemporary
literature shows that there was a lively tradition of prayerful charismatic
rabbis with a warm devotion to the Lord. Jesus begins his ministry by
proclaiming the imminence of the Kingdom of God, which will be the subject of
all his activity. Then he begins to form the new Israel by calling his team
together. The Christian imagination tends to combine this scene with the scene
with the Baptist in the Jordan Valley in the gospel of John, which gives at
least Peter and Andrew some knowledge of Jesus. But today’s narrative must be
heard on its own, and the staggering factor is that this is the first time at
any rate the sons of Zebedee have set eyes on Jesus. As he passes by he calls
them, and such is the electrifying power of his charismatic personality that
they simply drop everything and follow this total stranger – immediately,
as the evangelist stresses each time.
Reflection: Do you know the joy and freedom of the good news
(Gospel) of the kingdom of God? John the Baptist's enemies had sought to
silence him, but the good news of God's kingdom of salvation cannot be
silenced. As soon as John had finished his testimony Jesus began his in
Galilee. Galilee was at the crossroads of the world and much traffic passed
through this little region. It had been assigned to the tribes of Asher,
Naptali and Zebulum when the Israelites first came into the land (see Joshua
9). For a long time it had been under Gentile occupation (non-Jewish nations).
Jesus brings the light and
truth of salvation to the world: The prophet Isaiah foretold that
the good news of salvation would reach Jews and Gentiles in the "land
beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations" (Isaiah 9:1). Jesus begins the
proclamation of the Gospel here to fulfill the word of God. The Old Testament
prophets spoke of God's promise to send a Redeemer who would establish God's
rule. That time is now fulfilled in Jesus who brings the light and truth of the
Gospel to the world.
The "good news"
brings peace, hope, truth, promise, immortality, and salvation: Jesus
takes up John's message of repentance and calls his hearers to believe in the
good news he has come to deliver. What is the good news which Jesus brings? It
is the good news of peace - the Lord comes to reconcile and restore us to
friendship with God. The good news of hope - the Lord comes to dwell with us
and to give us a home with him in his heavenly kingdom. The good news of truth
- the Lord Jesus sets us free from the lies and deception of Satan and opens
our mind to understand the truth and revelation of God's word (John 8:32). The
good news of promise - Jesus fulfills the promise of God to reward those who
seek him with the treasure of heaven. The good news of immortality - Jesus
overcomes sin and death for us in order to raise our lowly bodies to be like
his glorious body which will never die again. And the good news of salvation -
the Lord Jesus delivers us from every fear, every sin, and every obstacle that
would keep us from entering his everlasting kingdom of righteousness, peace,
and joy.
The Gospel is the power and the wisdom of God - both power
to change and transform our lives and wisdom to show us how to live as sons and
daughters of our Father in heaven. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit the Lord
makes it possible for us to receive his word with faith and to act upon it with
trust and obedience.
The Gospel demands a response
of faith and obedience to God's gift of salvation: In announcing the
good news, Jesus makes two demands: repent and believe! Repentance requires a
change of course - a turning away from sin and disobedience and a turning
towards the Lord with faith and submission to his word of truth and
righteousness (right living according to God's truth and moral goodness). The
Holy Spirit gives us a repentant heart, a true sorrow and hatred for sin and
its bad consequences (the wages of sin is death - Romans 6:23), and a firm
resolution to avoid whatever would lead us into sin. The Holy Spirit gives us
grace to see our sin for what it is - rebellion and a rejection of the love of
God. God's grace helps us to turn away from all that would keep us from his
love.
We believe, hope, and love
Him because He loved us first and drew us to Himself: Faith or
belief is an entirely free gift which God makes to us. Believing is only
possible by grace and the help of the Holy Spirit who moves the heart and
converts it to God. The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the mind and makes it
possible for us to accept and to grow in our understanding of the truth.
Through the gift of the Holy Spirit we can know God personally and the truth he
reveals to us through his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. To believe
that Jesus is Lord and Savior is to accept God's revelation of his Son as the
eternal Word of God and the Redeemer who delivers us from the tyranny of sin,
Satan, and death. Out of his great love for us God the Father made the supreme
sacrifice of his Son on the cross to atone for our sins and to bring us back to
himself.
Do you want to grow in the knowledge of God's love and
truth? Ask the Holy Spirit to renew in you the gift of faith, the love of
wisdom, and the heart of a disciple who desires to follow the Lord Jesus and
his will for your life.
Lord Jesus, your ways are life and light! Let your word
penetrate my heart and transform my mind that I may see your power and glory.
Help me to choose your ways and to do what is pleasing to you.
Daily Quote from the Early
Church Fathers: The true light of
revelation to the Gentiles, by Chromatius (died 406 AD)
"The Evangelist commemorated in this passage the
prophet's words: 'Beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: the people who
sat in darkness have seen a great light' (Matthew 4:15-16) In what darkness?
Certainly in the profound error of ignorance. What great light did they see?
The light concerning which it is written: 'He was the true light that illumines
everyone who comes into this world' (John 1:9) This was the light about which
the just man Simeon in the Gospel declared, 'A light of revelation to the Gentiles
and a glory for your people Israel' (Luke 2:32). That light had arisen
according to what David had announced, saying, 'A light has arisen in the
darkness to the upright of heart' (Psalm 112:4).
"Also, Isaiah demonstrated that light about to come for
the enlightenment of the church when he said, 'Arise, shine; for your light has
come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you' (Isaiah 60:1). Concerning
that light also Daniel noted, 'It reveals the profound and hidden things,
knowing those things which are in darkness and the light is with it' (Daniel
2:22), that is, the Son with the Father, for even as the Father is light, so
too is the Son light. And David also speaks in the psalm: 'In your light shall
we see light' (Psalm 36:9), for the Father is seen in the Son, as the Lord
tells us in the Gospel: 'Who sees me, sees the Father' (John 14:9) From the
true light, indeed, the true light proceeded, and from the invisible the
visible. "He is the image of the invisible God," as the apostle notes
(Colossians 1:15)." (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 15.1) [Note:
Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was
a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome. He died in 406 AD. Jerome
described him as a "most learned and most holy man."]
Let the word shine: “Preach
the gospel — not with wordy “wisdom,” however, lest the cross of Christ be
rendered void of its meaning!” —1 Corinthians 1:17
Jesus chose the uneducated, those who did not speak well (1
Cor 1:27-28). The Lord called St. Paul, who admitted he did not speak well (2
Cor 11:6) and was unimpressive in person (2 Cor 10:10). God called Moses, who
was “slow of speech and tongue” (Ex 4:10) and a “poor speaker” (Ex 6:12).
However, God told Moses that He Himself would assist him in speaking (Ex 4:12).
Apollos was an eloquent speaker (Acts 18:24). We do want to
present the Gospel as skillfully as we can. But we don’t want to obscure the
cross and its power by our human wisdom (1 Cor 1:17; 2:1). We want people to
follow the crucified Jesus rather than a particular person, however dynamic
they might be. People follow a charismatic personality, but when that person
dies, the followers tend to disappear (see Acts 5:36-37).
No wonder that St. Paul, a few verses after warning about
preaching with “wordy” wisdom (1 Cor 1:17), said that he would speak of nothing
but Jesus and Him crucified (1 Cor 2:2). That is the power of God leading to
salvation (Rm 1:16).
It’s a balancing act that only the Holy Spirit can bring to
perfection. We want “to do well” in skillfully presenting the Gospel (1 Tm
5:17), but we don’t want to obscure the
message and power of the cross. Lift high the cross. Come, Holy Spirit!
Prayer: Father, give me the grace to serve Your Word
skillfully while also letting Your Word speak powerfully through my life. “A
people living in darkness has seen a great light.” —Mt 4:16. Praise the risen
Jesus, the incarnate and eternal Word!
The personal action for
today: When I think of vocation,
what comes to my mind? Do I sense that I am called to share in the ministry of
Jesus, the Light of the World? How can I better reflect the Light of Christ to
others through my service of them? Who is most in need of my ministry of
service today? This week?
*Conversion of Saint Paul: Saint Paul’s entire life can be explained in
terms of one experience—his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus. In an
instant, he saw that all the zeal of his dynamic personality was being wasted,
like the strength of a boxer swinging wildly. Perhaps he had never seen Jesus,
who was only a few years older. But he had acquired a zealot’s hatred of all
Jesus stood for, as he began to harass the Church: “…entering house after house
and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment” (Acts
8:3b).
Now he himself was “entered,” possessed, all his energy
harnessed to one goal—being a slave of Christ in the ministry of
reconciliation, an instrument to help others experience the one Savior.
One sentence determined his theology: “I am Jesus, whom you
are persecuting” (Acts 9:5b). Jesus was mysteriously identified with people—the
loving group of people Saul had been running down like criminals. Jesus, he
saw, was the mysterious fulfillment of all he had been blindly pursuing.
From then on, his only work was to “present everyone perfect
in Christ. For this I labor and struggle, in accord with the exercise of his
power working within me” (Colossians 1:28b-29). “For our gospel did not come to
you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and [with] much
conviction” (1 Thessalonians 1:5a).
Saint Paul’s life became a tireless proclaiming and living
out of the message of the cross: Christians die baptismally to sin and are
buried with Christ; they are dead to all that is sinful and unredeemed in the
world. They are made into a new creation, already sharing Christ’s victory and
someday to rise from the dead like him. Through this risen Christ the Father
pours out the Spirit on them, making them completely new.
So Saint Paul’s great message to the world was: You are
saved entirely by God, not by anything you can do. Saving faith is the gift of
total, free, personal and loving commitment to Christ, a commitment that then
bears fruit in more “works” than the Law could ever contemplate. The conversion
of Saint Paul shows that God is always willing to find us.
Paul is undoubtedly hard to understand. His style often
reflects the rabbinical style of argument of his day, and often his thought
skips on mountaintops while we plod below. But perhaps our problems are
accentuated by the fact that so many beautiful jewels have become part of the
everyday coin in our Christian language.