January 23, 2011
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Like, a director of a play, Matthew, our evangelist, sets the scene for the words of Jesus. Time: after the arrest of the John the Baptist. Place: Galilee of the Gentiles. St. Matthew recalls the prophesy of Isaiah: God's light will shine in a place that has experienced degradation, to a people walking in darkness. Here Jesus begins his public ministry by announcing: "Repent -- the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!" God's light in Jesus kindles hope, honesty and healing. Can we identify places of darkness in our world? Sadly, this week, investigators have expose an abortion clinic, a mill, in Philadelphia that has been a house of horrors, a place of desecration and destruction of human life. Darkness touches the believing community. St. Paul is deeply concerned about division, bickering and pettiness in the church at Corinth that is tearing the body of Christ apart. Today, the Catholic Church, is praying for the light of hope, honesty and healing to address clergy abuse of children. We pray for God's light to enable us to look within ourselves. There is a play, and now a movie, entitled: The Rabbit Hole -- the story of a couple coming to grips with the tragic, accidental death of their son. We all need God's light to examine/explore hidden chambers of the heart where regrets, loneliness, grief, shame and sadness are locked up. When we burrow into a dark hole within, we must pray for the light of God's grace in order to emerge into a new day. With Simon and Andrew, with James and John, we are called by Jesus to be bearers of light.
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2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
