This Sunday is set aside to honour the Word of God so that we may appreciate the inexhaustible riches contained in the scriptures, through which God continues to engage us in constant dialogue. Devoting this Sunday to the Word of God opens for us the treasury of His Word, which serves to light our way in a world marked by darkness, moral confusion, selfishness, ignorance, and sin.
The Word of God given to the church is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone.” St. Paul’s letter to Timothy reinforces this stating, “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.” (2Tm 3:16-17)
The Word of God is Christ Himself, for He is the Word of the Father, the Word made fresh. Jesus is the son of God who proclaims the Good News to us. In the Gospel, St. Matthew recounts the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry by associating Him with the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy; as the Light of the World, He brings light to all humanity. Jesus proclaims the Good News not just through words, but also through deeds. The Good News enlightens us, reconciles us with God and one another, and restores us to wholeness and health.
The Good News is ours only when we repent: “From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.” Repentance carries two meanings. Firstly, repentance is an invitation to turn away from those things within you that will take you away from love of God and our neighbour and from our own integrity. It is about where the heart is. So, the first thing the Gospel calls us to is to change our hearts; change what is important for you, Change the focus of your life. Turn your eyes towards other things.
The second thing in the Gospel is: “the kingdom of God is close to us” that means God is close to us which we do not see how close God is. Change what your eyes look for, so that you can see that which is of God in the world to see love, to see goodness, to see truth, to see integrity to see what is beautiful. The repentance is important because without it, we will not see that which is to be seen. If you can truth, follow it, if you can see love follow it, if you see goodness follow it. Peter, Andrew, James, and John saw the Jesus and they follow him.
What are you going to follow in life? I pray we see Christ and follow him.
Fr. Alex Osei
SSC-USA Spiritual Director