by Msgr. Joseph Calise
TODAY’S SCRIPTURES circle around the theme of the light breaking into the darkness of the human experience. In the first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, we hear that a “people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” and learn of the joy that accompanied this revelation. This light takes flesh in the Gospel as Jesus begins to preach. His message, as St. Matthew tells us, is “Reform your lives, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The long form of the Gospel makes this image a bit more tangible. Following the presentation of Jesus’ theme, Matthew recounts the call of the first apostles, Peter, Andrew, James and John. In the Gospel today Jesus calls simple men – fishermen who are actually described as being about their tasks of casting and mending nets.
It seems unlikely they showed up at the docks that day expecting to be asked to become the first apostles. Yet, that is precisely what happens. In the midst of their labors, Jesus asks them to follow Him. They must have known Him – at least have heard Him preach. They seem to recognize Him and follow with an unquestioning willingness that would have been odd if He were a complete stranger.
Even more, they respond to His words, “Follow me.” He does not offer them a contract or job description and as of this point, there is no discussion of benefits or a retirement plan. He simply promises to lead the way. And to that, they respond.
Their journey with Jesus will begin as a journey within themselves. They leave their nets behind to become “fishers of men,” but first they must spend some time with Jesus – to understand His mission and the part they are going to play in its continuance. They must do the necessary work – become the men Jesus is calling them to be. They were going to have to enter the darkness and allow the power of Christ to guide them. They recognize Jesus as the light of the world and had to become willing to follow blindly into the unknown. We have the fortune of knowing the end of the story as we hear of its beginning. We know of the joys and suffering of the apostles. We know, too, that the Church is built on their witness. The Church is very much alive today because they passed on the message that they learned.
There is no life that is completely free of the darkness. Each of us has moments when our own strength simply is not enough. It is precisely in these moments that Jesus invites us to follow Him, to allow Him to be the light that breaks into our darkness. But that involves a leap into the unknown and the unpredictable reality of God’s will for us. Faith does not mean we know God’s plan for us but that we trust He has a plan even though we do not know it.
The apostles saw a power greater than themselves in Jesus. They gave up their old way of living and learned from Jesus how to live in the light. They allowed Jesus to mold them according to His plan so that they could carry on His mission. Their preaching has become the inspiration for people of faith to “reform their lives and believe in the kingdom” for almost two millennia.
We are not challenged to avoid the darkness but rather to see the presence of Christ within it. If we follow the light, no matter how frightening and uncertain the darkness might appear, we will be safe, and one day, we will find happiness and peace in His presence.[hr]
Readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 8:23 – 9:3
Psalm 27: 1, 4, 13-14
1 Corinthians 1: 10-13, 17
Matthew 4: 12-23 or
Matthew 4: 12-17
[hr] Msgr. Joseph Calise is the pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish, Williamsburg.