Light Has Dawned

The Sunday after Theophany has as its Gospel reading the text from St Matthew 4: 12 – 17.  There is a background for the day’s Gospel:  Christ had been baptized in the Jordan River by St John the Baptist.  Also, he had just returned from his victorious 40 days in the Wilderness.

Now after Jesus heard that John was arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.  And upon leaving Nazareth, he went to dwell in Capernaum along the sea, in the region of Zebulon and Naphtali so that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying “The land of Zebulon and Naphtali, along the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to those sitting in the region and shadow of death — light has dawned upon them (St Matthew 4: 12 – 17).

Regarding those sitting in darkness…in the region and shadow of death, it applied to those in Galilee.  And, it applies to this darkened, depraved world today.  These verses from St Matthew’s Gospel applied to us before we joined ourselves, and were joined to Christ and his Church by the actions of God working through the sacraments of the Church.  We are now in union with his Light and Life.

Following the above verses, Jesus began his ministry.

After this Jesus began to proclaim and to say,  Repent! for the Kingdom of Heaven has drawn near (St Matthew 4: 17).

The events that followed today’s reading tell of the call of the first four Apostles:  Peter, Andrew, James, and John left their former lives and followed him.  With this the company of the Apostles began to form.  All those who would become the Apostles entered into Jesus’ ministry and teaching.  Upon this, the apostolic faith of the Church is being established.  Additionally, into this faith we, too, walk with Christ and his Church.

Next, let’s examine the epistle reading for the day.  It applies to our walking in the ways of the apostolic faith:

But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”  (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth?  He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)  And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipment of the saints, for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Ephesians 4: 12 – 17).

Why are spiritual gifts given?  St Paul informs us that they are “for the equipment of the saints,  for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.  In a word, to do the work of God, that we may follow Christ more fully, and that Christ may be more fully formed in us, the Body of Christ.

We also have this from St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2: 10).

To outline the Way of Christ in which, and by which we are to live we are given by our Lord the Beatitudes and the teachings from Sermon on the Mount:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  Blessed are those who are mourning, because they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, because they shall inherit the earth (or the land).  Blessed are those who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness, because they shall be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, because they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, because they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, because they shall be called the sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, because the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  Blessed are you when men insult you, persecute you, and speak falsely all manner of evil against you for my name’s sake.  Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven, for thus they persecuted the prophets who came before you (St Matthew 5: 3 – 12).

As these spiritual qualities and attributes are built up in us we have this reality established in us:

You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (St Matthew 5: 14 – 16).

So, let live by faith and do the works of faith.  Let us have the spiritual qualities of the Beatitudes be worked into our lives.  Let us become by faith with its struggles salt and light to this darkened and depraved world.

In Christ,

Fr Irenaeus