GOD CREATED MAN LIGHT, BUT MAN CHOSE TO BECOME DARKNESS.


Sunday, January 22, 2023

THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (A)

THE ENTHRONEMENT OF THE BIBLE


First Reading. Isaiah 9: 1-4

Psalm.  27: 1, 4, I3-14 (R. 1a)

Second Reading. 1 Corinthians 1: 10-13, 17

Gospel. Matthew 4: 12-23


TOPIC FOR REFLECTION 


JESUS CALLS US FROM DARKNESS INTO LIGHT. 


God created light and not darkness. 

He created light because He is light and not darkness 

He went further to create small lights like Himself- man. Cf. John 10: 34

However, the man who suppose to be a light like God suddenly turned dark, what an irony! 

More reason, God sent His only begotten Son who is also light. Recalling the phrase from the Nicean Creed, it says... God from God; Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten not made. 

So, it is this Light (Jesus) that proceeds from the Father that has come to brighten our dark minds, hearts, and world. 

Jesus the light of the world is calling you and me from our dark world into eternal light. 

However, some accepted to follow Jesus like Simon and Andrew responded, while some of us are still very reluctant to respond. 

Well, I guess those who feel reluctant to respond to God's call into light generate and love to dwell inside darkness than light. 

In that regard, some questions came to my mind... 


Should we say humanity prefers darkness to light? 

Then what type of world are we living in? 

Is it a world that promotes conflicts and banishes peace? 

Is it a world that promotes evil and relegates God? 

Is it a world that values materialism and not humanity? 

Of a truth, is this the world that God created or another? 

May I remind us again that when God created the universe, the first thing He created was LIGHT. He said: “Let there be light”; and there was light." cf. Gen. 1: 3.

Our darkened world has led to great tribulations and chaos; 

A peaceful world that has turned war zones

It has become a world that dims the light of hope. 

A world that we live without assurance of surviving tomorrow. 

A world that some people willingly turned themselves into a beast 

A world that promotes survival of the fittest. 

Yet, it is inside this dark world that Jesus who is light has come to invite us out of darkness into light. 

Are we ready to respond to His call or not? 

The psalmist said that the Lord is my light and my salvation, and I add, whom shall I fear? 

Meanwhile, prophet Isaiah's prophecy states that the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. 

So, anyone who becomes another light like Christ to others will not become an agent of the devil like the Corinthians in today's second reading who were causing division among the people of God. Some say they belong to Paul, Apollos, Cephas, etc 

Paul asked, is Christ divided? If not, which means the body of Christ is one, and every other person who follows Him must be perfect. So, no division but unity? 

On another note, the Bible is enthroned in all our churches today, therefore always remember that the BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD, AND THE WORD OF GOD IS LIGHT. 

The psalmist says: Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Cf. Psalm 119: 105

In summary,  God calls us from our dark world into His Light, and we can let the light shines on the world by reading our Bible regularly. 

Similarly, the Bible's enthronement signifies that God speaks to us in the Bible, and also as a light that guides our daily steps in life

Peace ✌️ be with you. 

Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS. 

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