Have you noticed the emphasis on light in the readings over the past few weeks? Three weeks ago, we heard, “rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory” (Is 60:1-2).
Last week we heard “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (Is 49: 6). This week we hear “The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light; upon those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen” (Mt. 4: 16) and “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?” (Ps 27:1).
Jesus came to bring light to people who live in darkness and despair. Jesus came to bring light to us. What is this light that Jesus brings? The light is the Good News, the “gospel of the kingdom” (Mt. 4:11). The light is forgiveness so we don’t have to live in the darkness of sin, “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 4:7).
Unfortunately, it is easy for us to be overwhelmed by the darkness in our world. It seems to surround us: the war in Ukraine; civil wars in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Mali, Ethiopia and the Central African Republic; terrorism on nearly every continent at one time or another and of course recent natural disasters. Not as far from home are drugs, hunger, and poverty in most of our nation’s cities, suburbs, and rural communities; homelessness and joblessness nationwide; and environmental damage.
No matter where darkness extends on earth, Jesus is “the light of the world” (John 9:5). And, as St Matthew will remind us in a few weeks, so are we, “you are the light of the world” (Mt 5:14). Just as Jesus called Peter and Andrew and James and John, he calls us. The Good News is that we, the spiritual heirs of Saints Peter, Andrew, James, and John, can share this light with people in our world. We are all apostles of light. Let’s let the light of Christ shine through us.
God our Father,
your Son invites us, gently but insistently,
to follow him as faithful disciples.
Open our minds to his light,
make us respond to his love
and entrust our whole being to him.
May his kingdom grow in each of us
and in the whole world,
that he may lead us in hope
to the joy you have prepared for us in your home.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
