Bible
Study: Isaiah 8, 23 to 9, 3. 1st Corinthians 1, 10 to 17 and Matthew
4, 12 to 23.
Last
Sunday, our readings were centred on vocation: the fact that we are called by
God as Christians to become a light to the nations; the fact that just like
John the Baptist, our lives should point people to Jesus; the fact that we need
to constantly hear from the Holy Spirit in other to succeed in our mission of
pointing the world to Jesus. Last Sunday, we spoke of the need for us to revive
our spiritual lives so that we would begin to hear from God like John the
Baptist who did not know Jesus but was able to identify him by the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit. A Christian whose prayer life is weak is like a dead light
bulb, no matter the amount of electricity that passes through it, it cannot
shine.
Today, the
theme of light comes up again. This time, Jesus Christ himself is described as
the light whose presence frees a people from darkness. The very fact that Jesus
would visit the Lands of Naphtali and Zebulun is seen by Matthew as a
fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah which we saw in our first reading. Matthew
bearing in mind that his audience were aware of the Old Testament often makes
reference to it in other to prove that the life of Jesus fulfils all the
prophesies of the long awaited Messiah.
However,
what does Isaiah mean by a people that walked in darkness? And how did Jesus’
presence become a source of light for them? When a people live in darkness, it
does not mean that the sun no longer shines there or that they lack
electricity. Rather, the word darkness is used to refer to the state of their
spiritual condition. As we know, everything that happens in the physical realm
is controlled in the spiritual realm. Once the spiritual side is down, it means
the inner man is dead and this is state of darkness.
To live in
darkness is to live in a state of sin. It is living a life that does not
glorify God of even acknowledge his existence. When we do not keep the
commandments of God, it is either we are in the dark about these commandments,
that is, ignorant of them, or that we prefer to keep the commandments of Satan
instead. Telling a lie is a symbol of darkness. Since Jesus is the way, the
truth and the life, any lie we tell does not glorify Jesus, rather it makes us
anti-truths or anti-Christ. This can be applied to every sin we commit.
Whatever
we do, say or wear that does not glorify God is a work of darkness. Someone
made a comment on Facebook that these days when you see people coming out of
the Church, there seems to be no difference with those coming out of a night
club. A dress that can be accepted to a night club should not be found in your
body at all not to mention wearing it to church. Bear in mind that being
beautiful is different from being sexy. When a dress is sexy, it is because it
is tight, short or fails to cover those places that ought to be covered. When a
dress is sexy, it means it arouses the appetite for sex in others and announces
to the world that you are a sex-object, that you can be used and dumped like a
rag. When your dress reveals the shape and size of your body or exposes your
nakedness it is a sign of deep seated darkness.
Another
way of identifying darkness in our lives is by asking ourselves about the
things we do in secret; things we hide from others, things we by first ensuring
no one is watching us, things we do literally under the cover of darkness – at
night or in very hidden places. The works of darkness are those things we do
which we are not proud of announcing to the world.
When a
people live in darkness, you hear all kinds of terrible things happening among
them; you hear of man’s inhumanity to man, you hear of atrocities,
abominations, wickedness, evil and calamities of various proportions. Darkness
is characterised by sicknesses of different kinds, demonic possessions and
disunity among the people. Yes, disunity is one of the signs of darkness and
that is why St. Paul appeals to the Corinthian Church in our second reading
today not to allow anything bring division among them. When Satan wants to
dominate a community, he applies the principle of divide and rule. He brings
something capable of dividing the people so much so that they begin to hate
themselves and start fighting each other. When camps and factions are created,
people no longer trust each other and love disappears. My dear parishioners,
let us not allow Satan bring darkness to this community through disunity. Let
us stop Gossiping about each other, let us stop tearing one another apart with
our mouths, let us stop forming camps or treating certain persons as though
they are holier than others.
Jesus
could see the lands of Naphtali and Zebulun just like our country today
enveloped in such thick darkness and immediately he proceeded to bring about a
cure. What is the cure for darkness? “REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS CLOSE
AT HAND.” Repentance is the first and foremost the cure for darkness. It is the
foundation on which discipleship is built, the foundation on which healing and
miracles can take place. Hence Jesus began by preaching repentance. The people
needed to repent first before Jesus could call the disciples and before he
could carry out healing of their diseases and infirmities.
How come
Jesus did not proceed immediately to heal them? It is because healing comes
only when faith has been developed in the mind of the sick person. And faith
comes only when the sick person repents of his past life and begins to
acknowledge God by following his commandments. If the people had not repented,
Jesus would not have been able to perform healings among them. Mind you, when
Jesus went to his home town, we are told that the people looked down on him so
much so that “he could do no mighty work there…” Mark 6:1-5.
Dear
friends, if we must benefit from God’s blessings and provisions in our lives,
we must first cooperate with him, we must be first repent, we must first renounce
our attachment to worldly things and sinful passions. Unless we let go, we
cannot let God in. God is not going to force his way on anybody. If we continue
to enjoy of sinfulness and still hope to receive God’s healings and manifold
provisions, we are only deceiving ourselves. Whatever you know is against your
faith, stop compromising, stop lying to yourself that it is okay because others
are doing it, stop trying to eat your cake and have it, stop for good today.
Repent. Repent. Repent.
If we do
not repent and start keeping his commandments, we remain in darkness and
frustration. Yes, we become frustrated because darkness does not pay, the world
cannot give us the joy and peace our hearts long for. What is that that you
seek from God today? Why not take out the source of darkness from your life so
that God can come in and change your situation. Why not repent from that sin
that might is preventing the light of God from shining upon you.
Let us
Pray: Lord Jesus, I give my lifetime to you. Make me your instrument, your
apostle and a light to the world. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you.
Fr. Abu.
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