Daily Readings - Sun Jan 22 2023
Isaiah
1Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.2The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.3Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.4For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
1 Corinthians
10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Matthew
12Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;13And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:14That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,15The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;16The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.17From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, 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.