GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 22ND JANUARY 2017
THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
FIRST READING: Isaiah 8:23 – 9:3
PSALM: Psalm 27: 1,4,13-14
SECOND READING: 1Corinthians 1:10-13, 17
GOSPEL: Matthew 4:12-23
THEME: RESTORATION
A piece of good news can be likened to a candle in the dark; it enlivens and illumines a gloomy situation. It brings hope and the prospect of a bright future.
As far back as the eighth century B.C., the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali in the Northern Kingdom of Israel experienced devastation at the hands of the Assyrians. They were brought to their knees and darkness engulfed them. In the face of this humiliating experience, the prophet Isaiah gave a prophecy concerning these territories, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined” (Isa. 9:2). It was a promise of salvation.
Hundreds of years later, Jesus appeared in Capernaum which falls in the region of Naphtali where he extensively carried out his public ministry. Matthew understood this move of Jesus as a fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah. Hence he wrote, “And leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled” (Matt. 4:13-14).
The prophecy of Isaiah concerning these territories was one of restoration and glory (cf. Is. 9:1). However, the message that Jesus proclaimed there was one of repentance – “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). The point here is that there can be no glory without repentance.
Repentance entails a complete change of mind leading to a change of action. In any true repentance, there is an inner movement which expresses itself in an outer movement. When Peter and Andrew heard the call of Jesus, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19), something might have moved in their hearts and they expressed it outwardly – “Immediately they left their nets and followed him” (Matt. 4:20). James and John also took a similar decision when they heard the call of the Lord.
To let go of one’s nets can be taken as symbolic of letting go of an old way of life or an old way of doing things. Sometimes, our personal worlds crumble under pressure and our image gets tainted or damaged. For restoration to take place in such moments, we need to do something new — let go of our nets and follow Jesus. We need to let go of that which entangles us and do whatever Jesus tells us.
Jesus desires to restore lives that have been shattered and his message to each one of us today is, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I invite you into all the areas of my life where I have experienced defeat. In your mercy, bring me wholeness and transformation. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).