Immediate Responses to His Call

| SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 4:12-23

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen". From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there, and saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and curing every disease and illness among the people.

Introductory Prayer:Jesus, what a beautiful day in the life of your disciples: you walked along the shore and called them! I wish to respond to your gentle call in the same way they did. I know that you will never lead me astray; rather, you will protect me and lead me home to heaven. Here I am Lord, at your service.

Petition:My dear Lord Jesus, help me follow you faithfully without weighing the cost.

1. Just Walking along the Shore: It might appear that Christ’s meeting his first disciples was a chance encounter: He was out walking and saw them. The overall context tells us much more. John was in prison, and Jesus knew his time had come. A significant part of his mission for the next three years would be to teach and form his apostles. These apostles had been selected by Divine Providence since the beginning of time, and now the call to them was made. These were not chance encounters. Jesus knew who he wanted and what he would ask of them. He also knows each of us and what he wants from each of us. His love and attention are entirely personal and very important to him.

2. A Simple Call: When Jesus engages the rich young man later in his life (cf. Matthew 19:16-22), the conversation is much more involved than the brief meetings in today’s Gospel. Here, Jesus approaches and asks the four men to follow him. It is simple, and it is brief. Many other steps in their mission will be made known later. For now: “Follow me!” We cannot spend our lives waiting for God’s call to do something great. In the process we might miss the many simple calls of everyday life: calls to be more charitable with our friends and family, calls to be more patient with our children, calls to be more generous in helping a neighbor in need. Be generous in the small things, and then we will be generous in the greater things.

3. They Left Everything: The disciples’ response was heroic. They followed immediately, totally and joyfully. What is my attitude to God’s will in my life? His will is made known to me through the norms and laws of his Church and through the indications of my superiors or parents. Do I respond selflessly? Or do I count the cost and negotiate a deal before I follow him? “What can I get out of this?” I will get an eternity of bliss only if I generously follow him.

Conversation with Christ:Lord, I need to understand better that you desire a personal and intimate relationship with me like. What can I do to show better my gratitude for your call? For your graces? Help me see that it makes a difference to you how I respond. To you I am not a number or a statistic. I am a soul for which you died.

Resolution:Today I will deal with others in a way consistent with my condition as an adopted child of God. I will avoid any pettiness or selfishness in responding to the requests of others.

7 Points on Sunday’s Reading from Isaiah

by Dr. Mark Giszczak on January 24, 2014 ·

January 26, 2014
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 8:23–9:3
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/012614.cfm

This Sunday’s Old Testament reading contains some real gems of biblical revelation, with important connections back to Israel’s history and forward to the New Testament fulfillments. Here are the seven key points:

1. Zebulun and Naphtali

Zebulun and Naphtali are two tribes of Israel, whose tribal lands were in the far north of Israel. They were “degraded” and “the people who dwelt in darkness,” because their land was the first to be permanently conquered by foreign powers. In 734-32 BC, Tiglath-Pilesar led a campaign against Syria and Israel, conquering Damascus and the northern reaches of Israel. From that time on, the two tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali were under the darkness and gloom of foreign domination. Later, of course, all of Israel and Judah comes under the oppressive yokes of Assyria, then Babylon, then Persia.

2. The “Way of the Sea”

The “way of the sea” is a road. Scholars are divided over whether this term names a road that goes along the Mediterranean or the road that goes from Israel to Damascus. The more traditional view points to the road that leads to Damascus, which will be an important point for the New Testament fulfillment of this passage that I’ll discuss below.

3. God judges, but he also delivers

It is true that the Assyrians conquered Israel, but the prophet Isaiah explains that it was the Lord himself who “degraded” Zebulun and Naphtali. Just as it is explained in 2 Kings 17, here the Lord is the agent of judgment, merely using the foreign powers as tools for his purposes. The conquest of Israel came about “because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God” (2 Kings 17:7 NAB). The Lord punishes them for their unfaithfulness to his covenant with them (2 Kings 17:15), but he will also be the one to deliver them. Isaiah announces that no longer will Israel walk in darkness and gloom, but the light has dawned, bringing deliverance. In Isaiah 9:3, the last verse of our reading, Isaiah depicts the Lord as smashing the “rod of their taskmaster.” He will come to free his people from servitude.

4. The Day of Midian

The “day of Midian” is invoked in Isaiah 9:3 as an example of the Lord’s power to save. This “day” refers to Gideon’s battle with the Midianites in Judges 7–8, when the Lord helps Gideon and his 300 soldiers conquer a vast army. The victory came only by God’s power, not by human ingenuity. Isaiah forecasts that Israel’s ultimate deliverance will come about in the same way.

5. Handel’s Messiah

This passage immediately precedes a very famous passage that G. F. Handel uses in his famous Messiah oratorio: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6 KJV). You can listen to a great rendition of it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS3vpAWW2Zc

The key point here is that while Israel had had the oppressive yoke and “pole” on his shoulder, the Messiah will come and rule. No longer will a “pole” be on Israel’s shoulder, but rather the power to reign will be on the shoulder of the Messiah.

6. Jesus fulfills this prophecy.

The Gospel of Matthew quotes this passage from Isaiah to explain why we find Jesus living in Galilee in the north, rather than in Jerusalem or Bethlehem. For Matthew, Jesus lives in this region “that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled” (Matt 4:14 NAB). The place where oppression and darkness began will be the place where the light of Christ will dawn. Out of the region of deepest spiritual darkness, the Lord will bring the greatest light of all. He will reverse the fortunes of his people through the coming of his Son. I think this shows us God’s power—and his “style” if I may. God can bring good out of evil, light out of darkness. In fact, he seems almost to prefer it that way so that we can see how great his power really is. As on the “day of Midian” when a small group of soldiers beat a whole army by God’s power, now through his Son, the brightest light will come out of the gloomiest darkness.

7. Paul fulfills this prophecy.

Lastly, and unexpectedly, St. Paul fulfills the prophecy too. If you recall his conversion story, you’ll remember that while he was riding to Damascus to persecute Christians, he encountered a great light and the Lord spoke to him (Acts 9:2). From that time on, he becomes the “apostle to the Gentiles.” The beauty of it is that he was riding on the “way of the sea” to get from Jerusalem to Damascus. He was in the place of deep darkness—Damascus was traditionally included in the borders of Naphtali (Josephus, Antiquities, V, 1.22). In that place of darkness, and in his spiritual blindness, the True Light appears to him and strikes him physically blind while giving him true spiritual sight. St. Paul, it seems, interprets his own experience on the Damascus road in terms of Isaiah. The “great light” seen by those who walk in darkness is the light that he encountered. God calls Paul to bring that light to the Gentiles and he responds enthusiastically as a messenger of the light.

I think we can take great courage from God’s power to judge, but more especially from his power to deliver. He can bring good out of evil on a cosmic scale, so why not on the more humble scale of our own lives? If St. Paul could do an about-face when he encountered the light and become the chief preacher of the gospel to the Gentiles, how can we respond generously to God’s call on our lives? That calling begins with an encounter and bears fruit in bringing the light to others.

Scripture Speaks: Following Jesus

by Gayle Somers on January 24, 2014 ·

“When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, He withdrew to Galilee.” Danger drove Jesus into a land that historically had known great danger and grave sorrow. Why?

Gospel (Read Mt 4:12-23)

St. Matthew tells us that when John the Baptist fell into Herod’s hands, Jesus decided to leave Jerusalem. Surely He read the signs of the official hostility that would eventually be aimed at Him, too. As He began His public ministry, He had much work to do. It was not the time for Him to be arrested, so He left for the northern region of Galilee, away from Herod’s grasp.

Jesus’ decision to head north was not the result of figuring out on a map how many miles He could put between Himself and danger. St. Matthew says that He went to live in Capernaum with purposeful intention, “that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled.” The region of Galilee, the “land of Zebulun and Napthtali,” had significance in the history of Israel. Those two tribes were part of the group of ten tribes that had rebelled against the rule of King Solomon’s son, against the house of David. They set up their own kingdom in the north, called “Israel,” with their own temple and worship in Samaria. The two southern tribes of Benjamin and Judah remained under Davidic rule and were known as the southern kingdom of Judah. This division led to great apostasy in the north. Their rejection of the covenant was so radical that it ended with God’s great judgment against them, accomplished through conquest by their enemies, the Assyrians, in the 8^th century B.C. The region of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali was the very first to feel the ravages of the Assyrian attack, where many were killed or sent into exile. In addition, foreign people from other conquered lands were brought in by the Assyrians to intermarry with the remaining Israelites. A thorough corruption of the northern kingdom meant that the ten northern tribes were effectively lost.

St. Matthew wants us to remember this dark history as he recounts a prophecy from Isaiah for God’s future restoration of all that was lost to Him when His people rebelled and had to be punished: “the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.” Someday, God would visit His people with salvation—with forgiveness, healing, and renewal. Isaiah says this great visitation would begin in the very place that was first lost, which was “the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.” Galilee was the northernmost area of Israel; thus, it was neighbor to Gentile lands. It was the place where the light had first gone out in Israel. This is the exact spot where Jesus wanted to begin His preaching ministry: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The Light of restoration, the Voice that would call all Israel—north and south—back to God had arrived.

We see the effect of Jesus’ preaching right away. Simple fishermen—Peter, Andrew, James, John—doing their ordinary daily work heard the Voice and left everything to follow Him. This is a beautiful reversal of the rebellious spirit that had created the northern kingdom in the first place. Then, Jesus “went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.”

He was the living fulfillment of God’s promise: “On those overshadowed by death, light has arisen.”

Possible response: Lord Jesus, the fishermen responded promptly to You when they heard You preach. Please help me to be willing to stop everything and do the same when I hear You today.

First Reading (Read Isa 8:23-9:3)

Here is the passage in Isaiah from which St. Matthew quotes in the Gospel to explain why Jesus headed for Galilee when the danger to Him in Jerusalem was too great. Reading it, we can begin to understand the historical importance of this move. With the arrival of Jesus and in His public ministry, “Anguish has taken wing, dispelled its darkness: for there is no gloom where but now there was distress.” If we think of Jesus’ appearance as Israel’s Messiah in the geographic location of God’s covenant people as a prefiguring of the work He left heaven to do on behalf of the whole word, we can see how beautifully it is summed up in these words from Isaiah: “For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster You have smashed.” Mankind’s “taskmaster” is not the Assyrians but God’s primordial enemy, Satan. When Jesus appeared within human history calling all to repentance and thus transforming lives diseased by sin, He showed Himself to be Isaiah’s promised Victor.

“You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing.”

Possible response: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to break our taskmaster’s hold on us. Help me resist the enemy’s temptation to succumb to it again.

Psalm (Read Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14)

This psalm is a song full of the expectation of deliverance. It could have been sung by those to whom God, through Isaiah, promised a future joy. It can now be sung by us as we also must wait for God’s full deliverance from sin, death, and the devil. The first “installment” on this promised deliverance began with Jesus’ preaching in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali. It will be completed when He returns to this earth as King and Victor: “I believe that I will see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living.” In the meantime, we sing: “The Lord is my light and my salvation.”

Possible response: The psalm is, itself, a response to our other readings. Read it again prayerfully to make it your own.

Second Reading (Read 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17)

St. Paul, in writing to the Christians in Corinth, urges them to live in unity: “I urge you, brothers and sisters … that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.” He had heard about divisions in the community there. People were dividing into rival groups behind the names of Paul, Apollos, or Cephas. St. Paul is deeply troubled by this, because he knows that the hallmark of what Jesus came to do was to make one the people of God. It was for that reason that He had begun His public ministry in Galilee. He didn’t want Israel to live as a divided kingdom, north and south, again. All the covenant people would now follow one Light, the true heir to David’s throne and only Son of God. St. Paul understood how foolish and dangerous divisions are in the Body of Christ. He was appalled to think any would congregate in his name: “Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

Jesus lived, died, and rose again to restore unity to the family of man through reconciliation with God. Personal division and rivalry among His followers unravels His marvelous work. In contrast to “human eloquence,” which is often very effective in creating “followings” that lead to division, St. Paul reminds us of the stark reality of the Cross of Christ. None but Jesus has died for our sin. When we cleave to this dramatic truth, we will not empty the Cross of its meaning by personal rivalries and divisions.

Possible response: St. Paul, pray for the Church to preserve the unity Jesus won for us. We know our calling is to follow a Person, not personalities.

Called and Chosen

by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D. on January 24, 2014 ·

Flick on the television, turn to the news, and notice how hopeless it all looks. Terrorists kill hundreds and intimidate millions. Government debt in the US and Europe balloons out of control and whole countries need to be bailed out.

Things did not appear much better in first century Galilee. The king was an irreligious adulterer and a lackey of the hated Romans. Traitorous tax collectors took a big cut of the little money people managed to earn. The Sea of Galilee was really only a moderate sized lake and competition to catch its few fish was stiff. Only two things were (and still are) inevitable: death and taxes.

Into this gloom steps someone whose face radiates hope, whose words penetrate to the heart. To the people who live in the hellish kingdom of Herod, he announces that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

He walks the lakeshore alone. But his mission is not to remain alone. He has come to call people out of the darkness into the light.

This, by the way, is what the word “Church” really means. The word “ek-klesia” in Greek means those who are “called out.” To be a Christian means to belong to a group of people who leave behind a community of darkness with its tired way of life, to join a new community dedicated to a new, fresh way of living and an entirely different vision. This does not mean necessarily withdrawing from family and friends, moving to the mountains, and waiting for the second coming. That’s “cult,” not “Church.”

But neither does “Church” mean simply to attend mass once a week and subscribe to a list of dogmas. To respond to Christ’s call to the Church means to be in the world, but not of it. Not to be manipulated by the media. Not to be motivated by the love of money, pleasure, power. It means to “re-form your life.” To allow your thinking and your pattern of life to be completely reorganized around the truth of God’s word.

Belonging to the Church does not just mean that you accept Jesus as Savior. It means accepting Him also as Lord. It does not mean welcoming Christ as part of your life. It means making him the center of your life.

To respond to the call means to hand over the reins to Christ, trusting that he knows you better than you know yourself, and loves you more than you love yourself. It means willing to change anything that He wants changed–from behavior, to ideas, to friends, to career.

Peter and Andrew were small businessmen, running a family fishing business. Jesus had a different plan for their lives. For them, the call meant leaving behind their career. The same was true for James and John. The four of them had the courage to respond, despite the cost, and the Church, the community of those “called out,” grew.

The Church has been growing ever since. But the Lord’s call, also known as “vocation,” is different for each person. When it came to me as a teen, it meant leaving behind my bass guitar and rock band to embrace the discipline of theological study. It also mean turning off the TV to develop a life of prayer. In my twenties, it meant surrendering the independence of single life to open my life to another in marriage, and to lovingly accept the gift of five children from God, with all the accompanying responsibilities, joys, and challenges.

The point is that a vocation is not just something that apostles, priests and religious have. God has a unique and marvelous plan for each one of our lives that involves sacrifice and joys beyond our imaginings. And this plan leads all of us to a realm far beyond the reach of death and taxes. But to experience the adventure of the journey, and arrive at the destination, we have to accept the call. And that always means being ready to re-form our lives.

One Bread One Body

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | Español

All Issues > Volume 30, Issue 1

<< Sunday, January 26, 2014 >>

3rd Sunday Ordinary Time

Isaiah 8:23—9:3
1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17
View Readings

Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
Matthew 4:12-23
Similar Reflections

"THE LORD IS MY LIGHT" (Ps 27:1)

"A people living in darkness has seen a great light." —Matthew 4:16

Jesus, in His merciful love, can't bear the thought of a world in darkness. He declares: "I have come to the world as its Light, to keep anyone who believes in Me from remaining in the dark" (Jn 12:46). Yet some prefer the darkness and hate the light (Jn 3:19-21). There is no bushel basket (Mt 5:15) or wall thick enough to block out the Light of the World. So the people who hated the Light tried to extinguish the Light. For three days, they were successful, and the Light was buried in a tomb. However, Jesus is risen from the dead! "The light shines on in darkness, a darkness that did not overcome it" (Jn 1:5). Now Jesus the Light shines through us, His disciples (see Mt 5:14).

The people in darkness have seen a great light (Mt 4:16; Is 9:1). Many are attracted to the light, and stream toward it (see Is 2:2). Others prefer the deeds and lifestyle of darkness and will continue to attempt to extinguish the light, as if that were possible. Since we are now Jesus' lamps in the world, we must expect that His opponents will attempt to extinguish us in their futile attempts to darken the world. Eventually the only option for those who love darkness is to flee the light and find a place of permanent darkness. Some will detest the light so much they will beg the mountains and hills to cover them (see Hos 10:8; Lk 23:30; Rv 6:16). Repent of the futility of preferring darkness and opposing the light. Come to the Light, and join the victorious side (Jn 1:5).

Prayer: Father, I repent of anything that I am hiding from You. Shine Your light on any darkness in my life.

Promise: "Come after Me and I will make you fishers of men." —Mt 4:19

Praise: Praise Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life! (Jn 11:25) "He is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords Who alone has immortality" (1 Tm 6:15-16).

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Marriage=One Man and One Woman 'Til Death Do Us Part