Deacon Matt's Reflection

Reflection for 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Sunday, January 22, 2023

Isaiah 2:23-3:3: This passage is a good one for reflecting on the fact that the message of Scripture relates to all time; past, present and future. When it was written, the message gives hope that Israel’s and Judah’s oppression by the Assyrian empire will soon be over. The passage alludes to the change from rule by the aggressive King Ahaz to the gentler and more favorable rule by King Hezekiah. By many Scripture scholars, this passage alludes to the long-hoped for reign of the coming Messiah. Indeed, Jesus did inject great hope into His followers and they began to see the massive liberation from oppressive rulers and from sin and death; giving hope for eternal life. For those of us living today, the message gives hope for our future; Jesus’ Second Coming, which may not be far away.

Psalm 27: “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” Like the first reading, this psalm describes people moving from a life of darkness, hopelessness and gloom to lives filled with the light and hope and trust brought by faith in God and confidence in God’s provision for us. When you contemplate this, consider that when we “dwell in the house of the Lord,” we aren’t only physically doing that, but “spiritually dwelling in God’s house in our souls.” Most importantly, “God’s house” is the soul with indwelling faith! God’s house is more than a physical building… it’s a spiritual dwelling place, as well. A person with strong and confident faith here on earth is already experiencing and dwelling, spiritually in Heaven in a very real sense. This point of contemplation ought to give us great hope in our current individual and world struggles!

1 Cor 1:10-13,17: While we’ve been reflecting in the first two readings that the relevance of Scripture transcends time, Paul stresses today that we must strive for consistency and unity among ourselves, as Jesus’ followers. As we present our faith to others, we must strive for peace among Christians and for unity in the way we present and live, by example and testimony, the Christian mission and message. Only if we achieve and display this unity, harmony and peace will the world recognize and believe in the Heavenly origin and Divine Source of Jesus’ rule over our lives and souls. If we display only disharmony and conflict among Christians, then we come across as only of worldly origin, with a message no different than that offered by the secular world, which is constantly in disarray and conflict. As Christians, we’re called to work for peace in our individual relationships, and in our communities and world.
 
Matt 4:12-23: Today’s Gospel message underscores the unity and consistency in the Scripture message we’ve been reflecting upon, today. Matthew notices that when Jesus left Nazareth and moved to Capernaum (Galilee), (the region of Zebulon and Naphtali), he was fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah, from several centuries before. Once again, we focus on our consistent theme of moving “from darkness into light,” or moving from a spiritual state of hopelessness, depression and despair into a spiritual outlook characterized by great hope, serenity, peace and joy, born of following the teachings of Jesus, our Messiah, Savior, Redeemer and God. In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus making His first efforts to unify diverse people into a group that’s consistent in its beliefs and practices. The twelve Apostles were amazingly different from one another, but soon learned to strive for the unity that we long for, even today. Don’t stop trying!

Have hope! 
Deacon Matt