HOMILY

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

Isaiah 8:23-9-3 I Corinthians 1: 10-13, 17 Matthew 4: 12-23

A lament which is often expressed in various ways and in various contexts is: “If I had it to do all over again, I would. . . .” This can apply to some of the major decisions which are made in life. In approaches which were made to relationships which were developed over the years different choices could well have led to different results. Perhaps the approaches which were made about going to school or paying attention to one’s studies or considering the possibility of attending college could have led to a different type of a career or work. Even in simple tasks or project, choices made can be significant. In a situation in which the project is begun on an experimental basis, when it is not clear just how it should be done, the approach which is taken has to allow for mistakes to be made which may or may not be able to be corrected.

All of these choices, and many like them, are a part of the adventure of living which involves the freedom we have to make choices. We need wisdom to recognize the various positive and negative results of the choices which are made or not made.

This line of thinking came to mind as I thought of the cycles of the Church’s Liturgical Year and how we are presented, in the Word of God we hear, a challenge, once again, to start over, to listen to message of the ministry and teaching of Jesus as it is announced to us by Saint Matthew.

I suspect that an immediate response might be that this is just the same old thing. I have heard it many times before. There is nothing new or different that I can expect. The temptation might well be to hit that internal “snooze button” which will wake me up when this is all over.

I would like to suggest another response, a response which is open to the richness of the way in which God seeks to communicate with us. Be open enough to recognize the possibility of being touched, like never before, by what is being said today. Listen carefully to how, perhaps, the Lord is attempting to communicate to me this day: what will I come to know about myself, what will I realize about the possibilities in my life through God’s speaking to me through the instrument of Saint Matthew.

Our fundamental belief is that in Jesus Christ God is in our midst. In what we are hearing today, he is renewing his call to mankind, to us, to me, as he begins his ministry and teaching. In doing this, the imagery of Isaiah the prophet, whom we heard in the first reading, is invoked and repeated. Isaiah announces, and Jesus makes his own, the message that in this place, among this people, a change will take place. In the depth of darkness, a light will begin to shine forth.

In the lives of those who heard him them, and also in our lives, in my life, where there is darkness, confusion, questions, doubts, anxiety, fear - a light is entering. This light will allow us to see just what it is that is around us. It will permit us to confront the puzzles, the hurts, the confusions which are a part of our lives with solutions, cures, the means to overcome. This will be learned from the teachings and the actions of Jesus.

An outline of how this will be done is given to us in these words recorded by Saint Matthew. We are, first of all, to repent. This means that we are to be open to the possibilities of change, of looking at our lives in a different manner. Secondly, we are to “drop everything.” In other words, we need to be willing to remove the distractions and excuses not to listen, not to be open. Third, we are to recognize that he is here to cure every illness or disease of the people. The physical cures are but a sign. Here is here to cure the deeper and more painful illnesses which trouble the mind and the heart, illnesses which arise from an alienation from God, from others and, even from ourselves.

Matthew tells us that in Jesus God stands in our midst. He is in the midst of our lives - the Galilee of our questions, darkness and confusion - as the light to guide us on. In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus will return to Galilee time and again, so that we might look to where we had been, how far we have come, and where we can go if we have been open to the possibilities of the message which is being announced to us. There is an echo of this in what Saint Paul write to the people of Corinth. He tells them that they have strayed from the original oneness of spirit which they had in Christ because they have divided into factions. It is time for them to start over again with a renewed unity founded on their common faith in Christ.

With a genuine spirit of openness, then, to the light of Christ present with us now, let us hear again the message which is being proclaimed to us. Doing this will allow us to realize the full meaning of God’s love which is present in our lives.