First Reading: Isaiah 9:1-4
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27: 1.4. I 3-14 (R. 1a)
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13;17
Alleluia: Matthew 4:23
Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23
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| Kuyoro Paul Oluwaseun |
MY REFLECTION
Is my life reflecting the Light of Christ?
Looking at the first reading, we were told that those who walked in darkness have seen a great light because they turned away from their evil ways. Christ is calling us to equally be light to the world just as he called the first four apostles in the Gospel. We should be able to shed light to issues in the right way and not supporting one because of religious affiliation or tribalism which will cause division that St Paul warned us against. As Christians,the Lord has called us to be light by preaching the word of God to eradicate darkness, to help us turn away from our wicked ways since the word of God is like a two edge sword.
The psalmist then encourage us to be courageous in all that we do that is right in His presence because the Lord is our light and our salvation before whom shall we fear.
It's my prayer that God in his infinite mercy grants us the grace to be good salt to the earth and light to the world through Christ our Lord.
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| Okorie Elijah, CCE |
MY REFLECTION
"The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen."(Matt.4:16)
The tragedy of this life is that despite the countless progress of technology and communications, medicine, economy, and intellectual heights in our society today, humanity has not changed. We still see in our midst envy, jealousy, greed, hatred, quest for power, show of supremacy and so many other things that have always caused problems and are still causing problems today. These vices are the underlying reasons behind the disorder in our society today. If you listen to your radio or read newspapers, the same thing makes the headline everyday around the world. And those are also the underlying causes beneath so many of the problems that each of us encounter in our lives from time to time.
In today's first reading pericope (Is.8:23,9:1-3), we heard of the land of "Zebulun" and "Naphtali". This land, history tells us was invaded in 732 BC by a neighboring nation because of greed, quest for power, and such like. In the midst of their suffering, pain, bondage and captivity, the prophet Isaiah made a beautiful prediction for their future: "The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow, a light has shone.(Is.9:1)".
Scholars have it that who Isaiah actually had in mind at the time of this prophecy was king Hezekiah the son of king Ahaz who would be the future king. Hezekiah certainly was a great and an outstanding king, but this prophecy was never fulfilled in his days until Christ came.
In the gospel reading pericope (Matt.4:12-23), we encounter the same problem of envy and jealousy. John was arrested and eventually killed by king Herod because John told him the truth of his life. Herod had sought to silence John, but he forgot that God's word cannot be silenced. As soon as John had finished his testimony, Jesus in fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah (Is.9:1), began his ministry in Galilee. The land of Galilee was assigned to the tribes of Asher, Naptali and Zebulum when the Israelites first came into the land. For a long time it had been under Gentile occupation (non-Jewish nations).
Like John the Baptist, we in one way or the other encounter in our lives killers and destroyers of destiny. The progress we are making today in all different fields of life is quiet applaudable; it has brought great benefits to humanity in this 21st century but has not cured any of the basic ills that is really affecting our collective good, such as envy, jealousy, greed, hatred, corruption, quest for power, etc.
In the second reading pericope (1Cor.1:10-13,17), St. Paul charges us the new Corinthians to shun division, hatred, envy and such like and then, work as a team to achieve our plans and goals.
The only way to solve our problems is through prayers. We must come together, dialogue things out and be of one mind.
Jesus takes up John's message of repentance and calls his hearers to believe in the good news he has come to deliver. Jesus brings you and I the message of salvation, of peace, reconciliation, hope, truth, promise, immortality, and restoration of the friendship we had lost with God. That's why we heard also in today's gospel the call of the first disciples. It is very pertinent here to differentiate between the call of Jewish disciples of their rabbis from the call of Jesus' disciples. Jesus called his disciples to follow him but the disciples of Jewish rabbis were not called to “follow” their rabbi. The disciples of a rabbi were not interested in the rabbi but only in learning the Torah. It is not the rabbis who calls their disciples rather their disciples comes to them. But Jesus called his disciples, and called them to spend time with him. The call was firstly to enter into friendship with him. The disciples of a rabbi studied the Torah but the disciples of Jesus studied Jesus and live Jesus out in their lives for others to see. Today, the Sunday of the Word of God, you and I are called in different ways, places and vocations. Not because of our height, righteousness, beauty, handsome or our goodness as Moses puts it (Deut.7:7-8) but because of his love for us (Jn.13:1; 15:9). Like the disciples today, for us to respond positively, we have to leave everything that can be an obstacle, the boat, the fish, occupation and even family. You know your own.
Jesus began his ministry today with two demands: "repent" and "believe!". Repentance requires a turning away from sin and disobedience and a turning towards the Lord with faith and submission to his word. Second, Believe. To believe firmly, we need the grace of God.It is only when we believe firmly in God that we can experience his healing and redeeming hand and only then, can we proclaim with the psalmist in our responsorial psalm today, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?(Ps.27:1).
Happy Sunday to you.
Remember to get your own Bible; study it, meditate on it, celebrate it, live it out, and like the apostles of Jesus, share it to others.
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| Phyllis Nweke |
MY REFLECTION
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light....
The word of God became flesh and dwell among us, Jesus is our light and salvation. For those who believe they shall be called sons and daughters of God. If we are sons and daughters of God we should go into the world and proclaim the Good News as Jesus did, proclaiming the gospel and healing the sick.
Following Jesus day by day by reading and meditating on the word of God makes us see clearer the love the Father Almighty has for us.
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| Ugwu Felix Anayo |
MY REFLECTION
From that time, Jesus began to preach saying “Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand”.
This calls for a deep reflection into our lives, we don’t have to move about from one house to the other to preach the gospel, if your lifestyle itself does not preach the gospel, then you are moving about in vain.
We have seen many people going about preaching the gospel, you see men of God on pulpit preaching the word of God with so much eloquence, what do they do when no one sees them? What do you get involved in behind the scenes?
Our lifestyle alone should be like a Bible for others to read, our lifestyle alone can be a strong tool to bring conversion, does your life speak the gospel to people at your workplace? Does your lifestyle say the same thing your mouth preaches?
There is more to preaching than words of mouth, let us live our lives in a way that will give glory to God, let our levels be a path to salvation for others.
As a Christian and especially as a catholic, many eyes are on you.
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| Igbinazaka Angela |
MY REFLECTION
Jesus called his first disciples and without hesitation the Bible told us that they followed him.
If I liken the situation to myself, it is glaring that the invitation of Jesus since of old is still valid and reliable and I still find it difficult to accept it wholeheartedly due to “economic reasons” but in truth Jesus’ arm is outstretched to me and those who are willing to embrace him.
If only I could be disposed enough to accept and walk in his path I too will see a great light.
He brings the message of ‘repentance and not prosperity’ not because he doesn’t want us to prosper but because through repentance we can share in the beatific vision of God.
Of course when Jesus went about teaching in the synagogues and healing every disease and infirmity among the people, He was actually sharing prosperity to us.
So, let’s embrace Jesus and be certainly sure that our lives depends on Him.
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| Chika Nwaozuzu |
MY REFLECTION
THEY LEFT EVERYTHING AND FOLLOWED HIM!!!
What was that everything that they left & followed him?
They abandoned their own first priorities in life and made God's own first priority their own first priority meaning that as Christians,we should make preaching the good news of salvation our topmost priority in life either by words, actions or both because the word of God is the only light that can liberate us from any form of darkness and grant salvation to our souls.
May God help us to actualize this by our words & actions through Christ our Lord.
The word of God is light in my path since The word was there since the beginning and God is the word. I will share His word and also repent as He has commanded me to from todays word.
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