3^RD SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST: CHANGE YOUR WAYS

(Matthew 4:12-23)

It is the third Sunday of the ordinary time in the Church's liturgical calendar. This Sunday is dedicated to the appreciation of the word of God. Today's message highlights the transforming power of the word. The word is not just verbalization but vitalization. Let us hear Jesus the Word and live according to His ways.

 

THE NEED FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE MESSAGE

The Gospel began by telling us where the word took John the Baptist. John the Baptist was arrested. He was the agent of the Word. He carried the message of Christ, He prepared people for Christ, the word that would become flesh through his spoken word and preaching. He feared no one, He preached by the authority of He that is to come. The climax of it all was the message delivered to Herod, a message inviting him to retrace his steps. For this, He was thrown into prison. Why do we hate the truth so much? Why do we hate living under the light of divine truth? Why do we hate those who tell us the truth? Why do we try to hold the truth down?

The word cannot be imprisoned. Jesus came and continued with the same message John preached in a higher level. The word will not rest until evil in the world is arrested. But unfortunately, we allow evil to arrest the word. We follow the world and keep the Word in chains. No matter what happens, the word must be heard. Little wonder John called himself the voice. Can the voice be held bound? When the Baptist was in the prison, the voice of his message continued to ring even louder and more still through the word himself, whom he voiced. You can cut the head, but you can't cut the Good News. May we heed the word of God and work on ourselves instead of working against it and its agents.

 

THE NEED FOR CHANGE

Some translations used repent, while others used change. The question is, what really needs to be changed in us? Our ways. These are the ways that are contrary to the ways of God. These are the things we have created ourselves to be. These are the images we derived outside the image of our creator. These are the instructions we got from the enemy of our salvation. Jesus must have seen the need for this change and wants us to see the need for change in our lives. The word should motivate us to do good. It should discomfort us when we are not getting it right. It is meant to bring us back to our senses. Let's be touched by the word of Christ Himself as Christians that we are and be changed for good.

Let us listen to those called to spread the word. Let us be preachers in word and deed. Let us be healed and heal our world of all her infirmities by the power of the word of God. Let Christians who are privileged to hear this word endeavour to change the world whenever and wherever they are offered the opportunity. May the message of Christ in all its richness find a place in us and transform us, transform our leaders, transform our land, transform our system and transform the entire world order. May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Oh Lord our God, we call upon You to cast the light of Your word in our world. May we see light in the light of Your word. Deliver us from the prison of not speaking the truth of Your word and from the misfortune of not following the dictates and ways of Your Son Our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Happy Sunday to you (3rd Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr. A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 3^rd Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: The Restoration Power of God’s Word

Readings: Is 9:1–4; 1 Cor 1:10–13, 17; Mt 4:12–23

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today’s readings continue the message of the light of Christ that we heard last week. Last Sunday, the Church urged us to let the light of Christ shine in every corner of the world through our actions in society and through our witness to our friends. Today, the prophet Isaiah and the Gospel of Matthew reveal what the light and the Word of God can accomplish: they can restore desolate lands and uplift lives that have been despised. This message is especially fitting as the Church celebrates the Sunday of the Word of God today.

In the first reading, Isaiah prophesies the restoration of the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali in Galilee. These two communities were destroyed by the Assyrians in 732 BC when they invaded the northern kingdom of Israel. That attack left the region devastated, neglected, desolate, and despised.

Dear friends, it is important to understand why the Assyrians succeeded in destroying the northern kingdom. For many years, the kings and people of Northern Israel lived sinful lives and refused to listen to the prophets God sent to them. When their sins and stubbornness became too many, God withdrew His protection and allowed their kingdom to fall into the hands of the Assyrians, who carried the people into exile. This story teaches us a vital lesson: whenever we close our ears to the Word of God, we lose His protection, expose ourselves to danger, and become vulnerable to our enemies, for God alone is our mighty defender. As the Psalmist says, “If the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain do the watchmen keep vigil.” Whoever refuses to welcome God’s Word is, in a sense, sowing the seeds of his own destruction.

Yet, dear friends, the anger of God does not last forever. He never abandons His people—especially when they repent and call upon Him with sincere hearts. After many years of desolation, the cries of the repentant people of Zebulun and Naphtali reached God. Thus, in today’s first reading, Isaiah proclaims God’s promise that these lands will be restored, that His light will shine upon them again and dispel the shadows of darkness and destruction. Whenever we sincerely repent and call upon God, He hears us and restores us to His glory.

Isaiah’s oracle is a message of hope for all Christians this year. Even if our past has been marked by disappointment or rejection, we must not lose heart, for God has not forgotten us. Isaiah assures us that lives which have not flourished in previous years will see the light of God this year.

This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus visited the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, bringing them the light of the Good News. Today’s Gospel tells us that when Jesus heard of John’s arrest, He withdrew to this region and proclaimed the Gospel there. Matthew explains that this fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy: “The land of Zebulun and Nephtali … The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.” The light and Word of Christ healed the people of those lands of every disease and infirmity and restored them to dignity and glory.

My prayer is that the Good News you hear today will dispel every shadow of darkness in your heart and life, and usher in the dawn of God’s glory.

Dear friends, the Gospel and the second reading teach us an important lesson: we must never refuse opportunities to hear the Word of God. Each time the Word is preached and welcomed, darkness is driven away. Earlier, the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali rejected God’s Word and suffered destruction. But when Christ brought the Word to them again, they accepted it, and it became the beginning of grace, favour, and restoration. Their acceptance of the Word fulfilled God’s ancient promises.

Today, the Church speaks to all whose hearts or lives have been wounded by past mistakes or sins, those crushed by disappointment or failure, those discouraged by unfulfilled goals, and those who feel despised or forgotten. Do not lose hope. Instead, open your hearts to Christ and His Word. The Word of God has the power to restore the glory and success of your life. What happened for Zebulun and Naphtali can happen for you as well.

In the second reading, the Church reminds us that division and rancour among Christians can hinder the work of restoration that God’s Word seeks to accomplish. Paul and the other apostles preached the Word in Corinth and united the Christians in love. Yet the Corinthians allowed themselves to be divided into factions. In today’s passage, St. Paul warns them against all forms of division. Likewise, the Church urges us to reject division, hatred, and bitterness in our communities, families, and society, and to work instead for peace and unity. Let us cooperate with God’s saving work of dispelling the darkness of the world, the darkness of disappointment, and the darkness of past errors.

Let us not become stumbling blocks to the restoration, freedom, salvation, liberation, blessings, healing, and favour that the Word of God desires to bring into our lives this year.

Peace be with you.

Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima