Daily Readings - Sun Jan 22 2023
Isaiah
1But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.3You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.4For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
1 Corinthians
10I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.11For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.12What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ."13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Matthew
12Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.13And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,14so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:15"The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--16the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned."17From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter a powerful narrative of light overcoming darkness, unity amidst division, and the call to embody this light in our lives. The prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a people emerging from the shadows into the radiance of God's promise, a beacon of hope in desperate times. This prophecy finds its fulfillment in Matthew's Gospel, where Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee, illuminating the lives of those who dwelled in darkness. Here, Jesus not only embodies the light but also calls us to a life of repentance and readiness for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Yet, as we bask in the light of Christ, we are reminded by St. Paul in Corinthians of the importance of unity. The early Christian community, much like our own, faced the temptation of division—whether through factions or personal pride. Paul urges us to transcend these divisions, to find our common ground in Christ. The Cross of Christ, he reminds us, is both foolishness to those who perish and the power of God to those who believe. It is through this power that we are called to unity, not in our own strength, but in the grace of God.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we might be the light in our own darkened world. In a time where division and discord often dominate, we are called to be agents of unity and hope. Let us embrace the call to repentance, turning away from the shadows of our own making and towards the light of Christ. May we, as children of light, reflect God's love in all we do, bringing hope to those around us and living as one in Christ.