Homily Third
Sunday of Year A: Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo
·
Isaiah 8:23–9:3;· Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14;
· 1 Cor 10:10-13, 17
· Matthew 4:12-23
The Lord is My
Light and My Salvation
The
metaphors of darkness and light run through today’s readings. And it is very clear
in the responsorial Psalm, “the Lord is my Light and my salvation” (Ps 27:1a).
This is true. In fact, in biblical theology and spirituality darkness
represents all kinds of misfortunes, woes, divisiveness, bad leadership, terrorism, evil and
all forms of life’s difficulties while light symbolizes, joy, love, unity, life and hope for salvation for all peoples, of all
cultures, Jews and Gentiles!.
Life’s
difficulties throughout history we know can come in different forms. It can
come in form of oppression, marginalization of your group, town, village, or
invasion and violation of your faith, right and freedom as it was during the
time of the Prophet Isiah (Isa 8:2–9:3). It can also come in form of divisions
as was the as in in the Corinthian community of Paul’s time (1 Cor 10:10-13,
17). Finally, it can come in form of sins, temptations and illnesses,
oppressions, as was the case in ancient cities of Capernaum, Zebulun and
Naphtali, heard in today’s Gospel (Matthew 4:12-23). But the question is what
do we do in the face of these challenges? What do we do in the face darkness?
Resistance, love, faith and
hope. This is true of Isaiah’s generation. As we heard in the first reading the people
were invaded- their land, property, right and freedom to worship and express
themselves. They were mocked, called all types of names, insulted,
marginalized in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, especially whenever they dare to ask for
their rights. An Assyrian Commander- in Chief, Tiglath-pilesser,(around 733BC)
ordered their violation, and the Zebulunians and Naphtalians were even deported
to Assyria. Their lands were colonized and freedom deprived. Imagine the pains
of being deported from your homeland! Imagine the feeling of being colonized!
Imagine the feelings of foreign military's occupation of our property?
In spite of all these, the hymn we heard in today’s
first reading is that of joy and hope of salvation. For Isaiah it is all about
hope and trust in the Lord. Light is on the way, he says. For Isaiah those who
walked in darkness! Those who momentarily experience invasion, deprivation and
marginalization will one day see the light of God, be liberated with the birth
of Christ who would bring the freedom of truth, unity, oneness, peace, good
health of mind and body. This is the mission of Christ Jesus preached also by
Paul in the Second reading to the divided community of Corinth.
Again, and most importantly, Isaiah’ prophecy is
fulfilled in today’ Gospel (Matt 4:12-23) where clear reference
is made to the once marginalized Zebulun and Naphtali. Jesus is here. The Light
is here. In the Gospel Jesus arrives in
these cities. He preaches repentance in these cities and evangelizes the
surrounding communities of Galilee. He cures the darkness of diseases and sins
in these regions. He also attracts vocations to the ministry of preaching and
healing from this geographical area. Peter and Andrew, James and John are among
those who abandoned their fishing nets to follow the Light of Christ and his
witness of joy, hope, unity, forgiveness, peace and charity and of fishing for
the salvation of humankind.
In our divisiveness,
and seeming hopelessness we are called to focus on the Light. No doubt there may be
times of darkness in our lives. Think of those elements of darkness in
your life, home, and communities? Would you see cotemporary deprivation of your
fundamental human rights, your property, and your freedom even to pray or
worship as darkness?
What about division,
racism, discrimination and misunderstandings in our neighborhood and societies?
Sometimes we feel the weight and the darkness of disappointments, wars,
terrorisms, distrust, defective-political structures and judiciary systems in
our nations, joblessness, high cost of educations and health care, the
disparity gaps between the rich and the poor, illnesses, the clutches of sins
and bad habits.
In these
darkest moments the good news is that Christ who is the Light and our Salvation
is on the way to “Zebulun and Naphtali”. He is here with us, in our “Zebuluns
and Naphtalis,” in his Words and Deeds, in our homes and families, communities,
schools, and places of work, nation capitals, in the Eucharist we
receive, and in the support and encouragement we continuously give to one
another, especially the poor and the voiceless.
Reflection
questions
1.
Do you consider the Lord as your Light and Salvation?
2.
What would you consider elements of darkness in your
life, home and towns and cities?
3.
Who are the Isaiahs of your time? Or the St. Pauls' of your
time?
4.
Would you consider yourself agent of light and conduit of
unity or source peace?
