Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
The theme that binds today’s first reading and the gospel together is the names of two rather insignificant towns – Zebulun and Naphtali. The first reading from the book of Isaiah reads:
“First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali;
but in the end he has glorified the seaward road,
the land west of the Jordan,
the district of the Gentiles. (Is 8:23)
Then in the gospel reading, Matthew says that Jesus begin his ministry in the “region of Zebulun and Naphtali (Mt 4:13).
A history of these places will tell us the significance of this detail provided in the readings. When the people of Israel entered the Promised Land, it was divided into twelve regions according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Thus, the region of Zebulun and Naphtali belonged to the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. When Isaiah, in today’s reading says, “The Lord degraded the land of Zebulun of Naphtali” (Is 8:23), he was referring the Assyrian invasion of the Northern Kingdom. Zebulun and Naphtali were the first regions to be destroyed. Why is this detail important? It is important because Isaiah promises that these very regions that experienced “anguish and darkness” (Is 9:3), will once again experience joy and light. Matthew picks up on this theme in today’s gospel reading by suggesting that Jesus, about 700 years later, began his ministry in the same place where the people of God first experienced anguish and darkness. We are not merely taking symbolism here but a real intervention of God in human history. Jesus, God in flesh, walks through the dark and anguished lives of human beings. As Matthews says,
“…the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen….” (Mt 4:16)
Immediately following this, Matthew says that by the sea of Galilee Jesus invited four people to follow him. The interesting thing is – they followed him. As if God was calling them, they left everything and followed him. Jesus then went about with the four disciples, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people (Mt 4:23).
Zebulun and Naphthali – the significance of these places is not merely historical and geographical. Today, they represent the anguish and darkness that pervades our world and society. Notice that immediately after calling the Peter, Andrew, James and John, Jesus goes about teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people (Mt 4:23). Be it in shanty towns, in oppressed and exploited peoples, in nursing homes, in juvenile centres, in abortion clinics, in refugee camps, in prisons, in the lives of addicts, in starving population of the world, or in war torn regions – there is much anguish and darkness.
Today’s readings challenge us to be the “light” that people in darkness and people in anguish will see. Today, God is asking us to be light for somebody in the world who is in anguish and darkness of poverty, misery, ignorance, sin and selfishness. The practical implication of today’s scripture is to let our lives be meaningful for those today’s Zebuluns and Naphtalis. We cannot go about our lives concerned only about our needs and our lives. Like the apostles, we must accompany Jesus to those in need.
- Fr. Satish Joseph