(See the readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time)
“The first time I met her, I knew she was the one.” Bill was talking to me about his wife Jane. They had met at a social when they were in high school. He easily recalled the encounter. He said something inside him just knew she was the person with whom he wanted to share life and raise a family. He just knew it.
While not everyone has this kind of experience in finding their future spouse, Bill’s experience is not isolated. I’ve met many people over the years who express a similar experience. Some people even describe a similar awareness in finding a good friend. Many times they see this friendship as a gift that all started with an encounter.
The Gospel account for this Sunday’s liturgy recalls the opening of Jesus’ public ministry as presented in the Gospel according to Matthew. The passage has a short introduction that builds up to the call of the first disciples. The ministry begins after John has been arrested. John’s ministry of preparing for the Christ is now complete. His arrest signals the time for Jesus’ ministry to begin, a mission which will change the world.
Jesus moves from the Jordan back to Nazareth then quickly onto Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee. Matthew tells us that in doing so an Isaian prophecy has been fulfilled: “The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen.”
Matthew thereby links the ministry of Jesus with the prophecies of old. He will continue to do this throughout the Gospel. The link cannot be understated. The God who entered into covenant with Israel by which His saving work is revealed has come to fulfillment in Jesus.
The first reading for Sunday’s liturgy provides the fuller context of Matthew’s reference. Isaiah prophesies in Judah (the Southern Kingdom) but he is speaking of the devastation wrought in Israel (the Northern Kingdom). The Assyrian Empire had conquered the territories that Isaiah mentions, Zebulun and Naphtali, and incorporated them into its provinces.
The Assyrian domination was seen as a consequence of Israel’s abandonment of the covenant. They had sinned and turned away from God, and worshiped false gods. As they turned away from God, they looked to themselves for salvation. It was to no avail, as they could not save themselves.
Into this situation of “anguish,” “darkness” and “gloom,” hope is born so that the “people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” The hope of which Isaiah speaks may initially point to the reign of King Hezekiah, one of the few truly good and faithful kings of Judah or Israel.
Yet, read in the fullness of revelation, we see God pointing to a time of deliverance that will not be solely from earthly oppression but a time of definitive salvation when mankind will turn again to God, our sins will be forgiven and our relationship with God will be healed. Matthew, at the very beginning of the public ministry, identifies Jesus as the one who will accomplish this healing.
Now Jesus opens the public ministry: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The time of salvation has arrived. God is acting definitively in Jesus who calls humanity back to God and to enter into a new relationship with Him. This takes concrete form as Jesus calls His first disciples Peter, Andrew, James and John. It all starts with an encounter, a call and a response.
Jesus encounters Peter and Andrew as He was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberius). It is a normal day for the brothers Peter and Andrew. They are fishermen at work, going about their daily routine, casting their nets and making a living to support their families. Something happens dramatically that makes this day no longer normal.
Jesus offers them an invitation, a call. “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” In this succinct presentation, Matthew highlights the importance of the encounter, the relationship that now begins. No longer will these two be “catching fish;” now they will be “catching men.” They will, eventually when ready, invite others to share in the encounter with Christ Jesus. They respond by leaving their work, their livelihood, their security and follow Him.
The pattern continues as they walk along further and Jesus repeats the invitation to two other brothers, James and John. They too leave everything, including their father, and follow. The relationship now established with Jesus becomes the bedrock of their lives. As the fruits of this first encounter grow, they will see its life-transforming effects in their lives and in the life of the world. Immediately we see a hint of this effect as Jesus teaches in their synagogues, proclaims the good news of the kingdom and cures diseases and illnesses.
God’s relationship with humanity reaches a whole new level with Jesus. In Him we encounter the God we cannot see. Jesus continues to call and invite through the work of the Church represented by Peter, Andrew, James and John. The invitation to healing and life continues.
In one way or another, we have been the beneficiaries of this encounter and we share in the mission to invite others to life. Jesus calls each one of us to a relationship with Him and through Him with God our heavenly father. It is in Him that we are freed from sin to share in the life of love He offers. He invites us, as well, to share in his mission; to help others encounter Him and hear that same invitation.
The encounter with Christ flows through His Church and at the same time is deeply personal. He invites us to be in a relationship with Him. The relationship is one where we listen and talk, where we spend time together, where our hopes and desires are expressed, where our fears are acknowledged, where our joys are celebrated. But there is something unique about this relationship that goes through a human relationship to something divine. God is one yet He invites us to know Him and His love, sharing in His divine life.
In this relationship He heals, strengthens, forgives, counsels and directs. He leads us forward, ever deeper, into His life of love. In one sense, there is always something new about this relationship, there is always an opportunity for more. Perhaps the account of the disciples’ call that we hear this Sunday will provide an opening in our heart — an opening where we allow Christ Jesus to enter, perhaps in an area of life where we kept Him at a distance, to encounter Him anew and to follow Him.
Bill told me the story of when he met Jane sometime after she had passed away. That first encounter was the start of a beautiful relationship that lasted 60-plus years of marriage. The fruits of that marriage are a loving family of children and grandchildren all sharing in the joy of their love. That initial encounter opened the door for a life of love, a transforming relationship that brought with it life.
Today we will encounter Jesus. He will come to us in a way that we might not expect. He will invite us and call us to be His disciple. Following Him will lead us to life. The challenge is to look for Him, to listen to that call, to respond with an open heart, and follow.
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Msgr. Joseph Prior is pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Penndel and a former professor of Sacred Scripture and rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Read more reflections by Msgr. Prior here.
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