Greetings on the third Sunday after the Epiphany hearing about the life of faith existing in darkness looking forward to light.
Our invitation to worship asks God to give us grace so that we can answer the call, not only for our benefit but to highlight the good news which leads from darkness to light. Our first lesson from Isaiah relates that the trials we experience are not the end, rather that those who find themselves in darkness are assured that darkness is not the end. The psalmist offers a song recounting that God is our light and salvation and that we are called to live in God’s house to be sustained for the long haul. The reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians offers the reminder that God is not divided and all who answer God’s call are one. The reading from Matthew’s gospel is a recounting of the Isaiah reading and the calling of the disciples to ministry with Christ.
We enter today’s readings and worship in a world of turmoil and darkness. In the end, both Isaiah and Jesus remind us that darkness is not the end, it is the beginning of the next phase of our ministry. While there are things which happen and try to divide the faithful, the truth is, as Paul said, those in Christ are one body and our diverse ministries are necessary for the common good. In a world which tries to divide and focus on darkness and self-interest over all else, we are reminded that all are one and that the darkness we experience is not the end of our journey, it is simply a time where we pause, reflect, and then move forward into the future. Our job as believers is important because we stand against the looming darkness.
How will you share the light of Christ in the world which is being overrun by darkness? To whom are we connected who needs to hear the message of hope? I invite your comments,
Les+
Lessons: Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 5-13; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23
Sermon link: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/epiphany-3-sermon-1
