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January 22, 2017

3rd Sunday Ordinary Time

“Light” is so important to our wellbeing and safety that it is a symbol of God’s presence, healing and salvation. “Darkness” is symbolic of death and evil. Light is significant in the Gospel according to St. Matthew. Light of the star leads Magi to Bethlehem. The prophesy of Isaiah is fulfilled at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry when “people who sit darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in darkness in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.” Indeed Jesus is the light of the world!

Jesus announces the Kingdom of Heaven, calls his disciples by the Sea of Galilee and cures disease and illness. We are disciples. We are witnesses of the light. Yet sadly our witness is weak as we get caught up in issues that cause division and create factions. St. Paul, after hearing from emissaries from Chloe, writes to the Church at Corinth about bickering/pettiness that is destroying unity.  It seems members of the community are aligning with Apollos, with Peter and with Paul and forgetting their allegiance is to Jesus Christ! Paul calls Peter by his nickname “Cephas” meaning “rock.” We are not islands unto ourselves but united in Christ.

We are commemorating a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan 18-25). Pope Francis reminds us: â€œIn light of the Word of God which we have been listening to, and which has guided us during this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we can truly affirm that all of us, believers in Christ, have been called to proclaim the mighty works of God. Beyond the differences which still separate us, we recognize with joy that at the origin of our Christian life there is always a call from God Himself. We can make progress on the path to full visible communion between us Christians not only when we come closer to each other, but above all as we convert ourselves to the Lord, who through His grace, chooses and calls us to be His disciples. And converting ourselves means letting the Lord live and work in us.”

With St. Paul we can honestly acknowledge division among Christians but also conflict in our relationships, within our families and in our nation. It is a challenge for us to live and proclaim our faith and at the same time have respect and love for persons who see things differently.   

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4th Sunday Ordinary Time