Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

I’m always struck by the familiarity of todays Gospel with our own situations at times. “The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light”. This describes us perfectly when it comes to our own darkness that exists before we come to have a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, and also when we sometimes allow it to take a back seat to other parts of our life. Without Christ – we truly exist in darkness.
Saint Paul understood this keenly, as he addressed the people of Corinth. He asked them plainly – who but Christ has died, and risen for you, that you might claim to be followers of theirs? Obviously, no one. This statement truly paints the picture for all of us as well – there is nothing else that we can believe in, that illuminates, brings peace, or draws us close to what we all seek, than a relationship with Jesus. He is the ONLY way.
When Jesus called Simon, Andrew, and James and John, it is noteworthy that their reactions were as decisive as they were. No questions were asked. These men were all fishermen, who owned their boats and gear, as probably some of the most significant investments of their lives. They and their families literally lived or died based on the success or failure of their labors. To walk away from all that without so much as a question is extraordinary. Yet this is exactly what they did. Why? Simply put, it was because they could innately sense that in Jesus, they would find the sustaining presence that would support not only their needs while here on earth, but far beyond that, into eternal life. They knew that this was He whom they had been waiting for their whole lives.
When we engage in, or maintain a strong relationship with Jesus, there is a certainty that comes into our own consciousness. It supplants the usual cares and concerns that sometimes otherwise consume us. It does not mean that we don’t maintain our own efforts at work, or within our families, but it does mean that these things now come into perspective in a radically new way. They are now compartmentalized within a scope that is subservient to what is most important to us – drawing close to Christ. Things can still go wrong, concerns still sometimes exist, but they no longer are all consuming. They are put into proper perspective in light of an ultimate goal of seeking eternal life with Jesus. If we really digest this, there is a peace that comes with this view of everything else taking place in our lives. Things become more manageable, peaceful contemplation of everything going on around us becomes possible, and all of this is illuminated by the light of Christ to be visible without the harsh glare of this world. Peace, light, and love can now pervade us when we let Him be our focus. God Bless