Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - A January 27, 2008

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

As each of us goes about our daily lives with the same routines and often the same activities, we do so much so that it all does not seem all that different, and it does seem all that same. While doing this, it is difficult to escape the news of the world around us. You may be like me and not pay much attention to what is called “news” on some of the local television channels. Or, you may only hear or read about the news in bits and snatches here and there. Nonetheless, it is fairly easy to know about such things as the economy in our country, or the situation of the fighting in Iraq, or the long and seemingly dragged our presidential election. Then, too, we can be made aware of some things which are seemingly insignificant by comparison, such as what the ball park might be named in the future.

Whatever might be our individual circumstances in terms of family, job, school or even parish, as much as things seem the same, things always do change. Not only is the world different, but also our individual worlds are different. We are different as well - every day. Who we are today, in some way - sometimes subtle - is not who we were yesterday, or the day before, or last year.

So, as we heard in God’s word today, as the Lord spoke top us today, what almost seemed to be the same words spoken by Isaiah the prophet and written by Matthew the evangelist, are really different - different because of the one speaking or writing, different too, and more importantly, because of the ones hearing them.

The same words are used - words that refer to the “Land of Zebulon, the land of Napthali, Galilee” - a territory in the north of present-day Israel. We hear repeated that “a people have seen a great light, a light has arisen.” Isaiah is speaking to the people of Israel back them, a people threatened by the attack of their political enemy, Assyria. Matthew can be understood as saying that Jesus is beginning his ministry in context of an occupation by another great political enemy - Rome. Although the might be the same, and the situation might be similar, the contexts are indeed different. Isaiah is a prophet speaking of the reality that is present. Jesus is more than a prophet, Jesus is God in our midst, who has been identified for us and introduced to us.

The words spoken by Jesus, according to Matthew, are not simply addressing a political situation. They are addressing a much deeper reality - a light has arisen to enlighten a reality within us. Those words are being spoken not only then, but also here and now, to us. We might consider ourselves much the same persons who may have heard these words before - maybe time and again, maybe all too often. But we are person now who are different, different even than who we were yesterday.

The challenge placed before us is whether we hear these words today. How does Jesus speak to us today - this beloved son of our Creator. We are being asked how am I know, how is my life right now. How can I, how can my life, be touched, be affected, be made better by my experience of the ministry of Jesus Christ, God’s presence with me now.

I would like to suggest using something which I read recently. I believe that it helps put things in a different light for us. It can give us a different perspective if we answer honestly. I would like to suggest that we hear the offer of Christ’s teaching, the insight, the light, he offers in what he says and does, as a way of addressing thee questions to us. What do I want in life? Ho do I achieve what I want in life? What will it require of me to achieve what I want in life?

Through the cycle, through the routine of daily life - and each day as we start living once again, these questions and these teachings of Jesus can be before us. Jesus seeks to reveal to us a great light, the great light of God’s presence with us each day. It is the great light of God’s willingness to lift us up, to realize our possibilities each day. It is the great light of God’s effort to be with us, to nourish us, each time we are here.

If we open ourselves to the full effect of Christ’s ministry and teaching, we will realize that there is much more present here that pious and simple sayings. He seeks to give to us true resources to understand and appreciate what it means to be alive. We can learn that the answer to the greatest desires of what we want in life is found in our relationship with God our Creator and Maker. We can learn that the means to achieve the very best of what we want in life is found in our relationship with God who is with us, who speaks to us. We can learn that what we need to achieve this very best in life is found in this relationship with God, and in living from day to day, what we truly are, reflections of our loving God.