Live our lives in – and as – His light
Reflections on the readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (January 26, 2020): IS 8:23–9:3; PS 27:1,4,13-14; 1 COR 1:10-13,17; MT 4:12-23
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days
On this Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, both the Old Testament and the Gospel readings emphasize that God will bless His people who have known darkness and hardship with both light and joy.
In preparation for His mission to redeem the world, Jesus had chosen to be baptized by John the Baptist. Now that John is under arrest, Christ starts on His own road to reveal God’s mercy. “He left Nazareth and went to live…by the sea…that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: Land of Zebulon and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea… Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who live in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen” (Matthew 4:13-16).
Jesus is the Light of the World. And the world is changing. He preaches the coming of God’s Kingdom to everyone who will listen. He wants them to know that His light of truth and generous mercy will open the gates of heaven for them. His disciples eventually come to understand that their Savior is here for people of every nation – and that all of us are meant to recognize one another as brothers and sisters. When Christ calls us to repentance it is because He wants us to abandon sin, that is, anything that creates a barrier between Him and us. When we walk with Him, we never walk alone or in the dark.
Suggested missionary action: Let us ask our loving Savior to help each one of us in fulfilling the unique mission to which we are called. Let us pray that we lose no time in sharing the Good News with others through all we do and the good example we offer.