Sunday, January 22, 2023
READINGS: IS 8:23-9:3; PS 27:1,4, 13-14; 1 COR 1:10-13, 17; MT 4:12-23
The first reading and the Gospel this Sunday remind us that we have a call from God to reach beyond our comfort zone to those who are on the margins of society and not a part of our circle of friends. This is at the core of who we are as disciples of Christ.
Our first reading, from Isaiah, contains this prophecy of Christ and what His saving message would mean to all who embrace it: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” We are among those blessed people on whom the light of Christ has shone. By virtue of our Baptism, we, who were once in the darkness of original sin, have been reborn into the great light that is God’s grace in us. We are cherished members of God’s family.
What a privilege! Yet, with this privilege comes the responsibility to place God at the center of our lives and to bring His Good News to all those we meet — at work, at school, in our community and right in our own home — in other words, to live as modern-day disciples of Jesus Christ.
And there is a certain urgency that comes with the call to a discipleship way of life as we see in our Gospel passage from Matthew. Jesus says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In other words, turn away from selfishness, turn towards God and live as His disciple now — don’t wait!
In this same passage, the very first disciples give us examples of receptivity and openness to Jesus’ invitation when they exclaimed “yes” to his call to them. Our Lord invited them to “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.” They did not hesitate but “at once they left their nets and followed him.” They put our Lord and His will first.
This is the essence of a discipleship as a way of life — to be always ready for the ways that Jesus calls us to bring His light to all we encounter. It’s more than something we do — it’s at the essence of who we are.