Epiphany 3A RCL January 23, 2011
Isaiah 9:1-4
Psalm 27:1, 5-13
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Matthew 4: 12-23
The Lord be with you
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Lord Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the good news of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Isaiah is speaking hope to a people who have been conquered by the powerful Assyrians. They live in the northern portion of the Kingdom of Israel, which was called Galil and later the Galilee. It was called “Galilee of the Nations” because it had been conquered and ruled by so many empires. The people are depressed at their constant war and oppression. Isaiah writes, in words we can hear echoed in the music of Handel, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them has light shined.” These words, this hope, speaks to all ages. God’s light is coming. God’s light is here, and it is a light of illumination and transformation.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?” says our psalm. The psalm goes on to tell us that the light, the presence of God, is also the presence of hope, strength, safety, shelter, and protection.
Writing to the congregation in Corinth, Paul is encouraging them to remember that they are not following him, or Apollos, or Peter, but they, and we, are following Christ. Christ calls us to be one in him. Later on, Paul is going to elaborate on the whole idea of the Body of Christ. We are all parts of that Body, working together in harmony. In John’s gospel, Jesus says, “I am the vine, and you are the branches.” We are all interconnected. Each of us, by using our gifts fully, helps the Body function at its best. All of our gifts are energized by the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through the vine to the branches, flowing through the Body. Paul was asking the Corinthians to move away from their factions into oneness in Christ. The more we can focus on our Lord and his call to us, the closer we become,
In today’s gospel, Jesus fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy. The light comes to the littlest places, the Galilee, Zebulon and Naphtali. God loves the little places, like Sheldon, Franklin, Fletcher, Fairfax, Rouses Point, Montgomery. The light is coming into the world. The darkest time of the year is over. The light is growing. Jesus calls Andrew and Peter, James and John. They and we become fishers of people.
We remember today our beloved sister in Christ, Sue. Sue was and is a beacon of light and love. She was and is an inspiration to all who know her. We all have been changed because of her compassionate, encouraging and healing presence. Sue is part of the light of this world. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
Now, at the darkest time of the year, the light is growing. We grieve for the loss of Sue, and we give thanks that her suffering is over. We know that she is with God and with all her loved ones who have gone before her. May we, like Sue, be people of light and love and hope.
Amen.
Filed under: Reverend Janet Brown, Sermons |
Grace Episcopal Church (Sheldon, VT) 