First Reading - Isaiah 8:23-9:3
Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17
Gospel - Matthew 4:12-23
The First Reading from Isaiah begins with an image many people recognize from experience. A people walking in darkness see a great light. This is not a denial of suffering; it is a promise spoken into it. God does not wait for the darkness to disappear before acting. God enters it. The light Isaiah speaks of brings joy, relief, and freedom. Burdens are lifted, fear loosens its grip, and hope is restored. God’s saving action transforms the very place that once felt forgotten.
The Second Reading from 1 Corinthians shows how darkness can also take another form: division. Paul addresses a community fractured by rivalry and identity labels. People are aligning themselves with personalities rather than with Christ. Paul’s response is direct and urgent. Christ is not divided. The gospel is not about promoting ourselves, winning arguments, or proving superiority. It is about the cross, a sign of humility, love, and self-giving. When focus shifts away from Christ, even faith becomes a source of division.
The Gospel from Matthew brings light and unity together in the person of Jesus. Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee, precisely where Isaiah’s prophecy pointed. He proclaims a simple but demanding message: repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. This is not a threat; it is an invitation to turn toward the light. Jesus then calls ordinary people fishermen, workers, men in the middle of daily life and asks them to follow him. They leave their nets not because everything is clear, but because something greater has drawn near.
Dear friends, light moves people out of darkness. Unity calls people beyond division. Discipleship pulls people out of routine into purpose. God does not merely comfort from a distance; God calls people to step forward.
This speaks clearly into our own lives. Many experience darkness not only through suffering, but through confusion, comparison, and division. We argue over differences, cling to labels, and sometimes forget the heart of faith. The call of Jesus cuts through all of that. Follow me. Not follow an idea, a faction, or a comfort zone, but a person who brings light, healing, and direction.
The fishermen did not wait for perfect understanding. They responded to presence. Paul did not ask the Corinthians to agree on everything, but to be united in Christ. Isaiah did not describe a people who fixed themselves, but a people who received light.
Turn toward the light God is already offering. Let go of what divides and distracts. Allow Christ to be the center again, not one voice among many, but the one who calls, heals, and sends.
When we walk toward the light, darkness loses its power. When we place Christ at the center, division begins to heal. And when we respond to the call to follow, even ordinary lives become places where God’s kingdom takes shape, quietly, powerfully, and full of joy.
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