January 26, 2014 – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Is 8:23–9:3; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17; Mt 4:12-23
Through stewardship we are called to be the light of Christ to others. In today’s first reading from Isaiah, and repeated by the Lord in Matthew’s Gospel is that radiant statement, “The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light.” We are all aware of the joy of light. Of course, this light is much more than just luminescence. This is also the light of understanding and faith, the light to which the Scripture really refers.
It is worth knowing that the Land of Zebulon and the Land of Naphtali where this light shines was during Jesus’ time in the land of Galilee. Jesus begins His ministry there in fulfillment of the prophecy we hear in Isaiah. There is much more on which we need to contemplate in the Gospel, of course. It begins with Jesus proclaiming the Good News and ends with the Lord calling others to follow Him — specifically, Andrew, Simon Peter, James, and John. These men, who were to become the foundation of the Apostles, provide us with a glimpse of our own callings.
Each of us is called as a disciple, as a steward, of Jesus Christ. Our challenge is to hear that call, respond to it, seek our own vocation, and live it out as good Stewards of the Good News. Where are you in that process? Each of us needs to pursue our Christian calling.
