By Father Paul Nord, O.S.B.
Sunday Scripture
First Reading: Isaiah 8:23–9:3; Response: Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14; Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17; Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23
Today’s Isaiah reading immediately precedes the famous verse Isaiah 9:5: “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” This prophecy announces that God is acting to save his people through a messianic figure.
The Israelites badly needed God’s salvation. The prophet Isaiah lived while Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah ruled in Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 1:1). During this time, the Assyrian Empire attacked and conquered the “Northern Kingdom,” which was composed of the 10 Israelite tribes which had separated themselves from Judah and its capital Jerusalem.
Our reading begins: “First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali.” These were two of the northernmost Israelite tribes, which had faced the destruction of the Assyrian army.
“But in the end he has glorified the seaward road, the land west of the Jordan, the District of the Gentiles.” This is a bad translation. Fortunately, a better, revised Biblical translation is approved to begin use for Mass Readings in 2027. The new (NABRE) translation accurately reads: “now he has glorified the way of the Sea, the land across (east of) the Jordan, Galilee of the Nations” (Isaiah 8:23). This describes three regions which were conquered by the Assyrians. Many Gentile inhabitants moved into these regions and intermixed with those Israelites who remained after the Assyrian conquest.
So, the Lord “degraded” (NRSV: “brought into contempt”) the Israelites, but now he “has glorified” the Israelites. God redeems his people after the devastation of the Assyrian conquest. The theme continues: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” This imagery communicates the “abundant joy” and “great rejoicing” which the Lord God has brought the Israelites. The Israelites’ joy is motivated by the removal of the burden of Assyrian oppression. Isaiah describes this burden with more imagery: “the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder and the rod of their taskmaster.” The Lord God has freed them from Assyrian oppression.
The Responsorial is a “trust” psalm: “The Lord is my light and my salvation … the Lord is my life’s refuge” (v. 1). The psalmist repeatedly proclaims that he has no fear. The danger to the psalmist is described in verses 2 and 3 (both omitted here). Verse 2 describes evildoers, enemies, and foes. Verse 3 has two parallel lines: “Though an army encamp against me” and “Though war be waged against me”. The life of the psalmist is threatened by war, but he still trusts in the Lord and does not fear.
In verse 4 the psalmist envisions dwelling “in the Lord’s house all the days of my life.” This describes the temple: “the Lord’s house.” The following line repeats the idea: “To gaze on the LORD’s beauty, to visit his temple.” When the dangers of war end, the psalmist hopes to visit the temple in Jerusalem, the place of the Lord’s presence. The psalm ends with an exhortation (an ABBA chiasmus): “Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!”
In today’s First Corinthians reading, Paul makes an exhortation: “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ … that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.” Paul’s life mission was to bring other people to accept the Gospel of Christ. Paul recognized that divisions within the Christian community are a stumbling block to those who might accept the Gospel. So, Paul exhorts the Corinthian Christians to maintain unity.
Paul continues: “it has been reported to me … that there are rivalries among you.” Paul describes Corinthian Christians in rival groups who profess loyalty to Paul, Apollos, or Cephas. But Paul insists that our loyalty must be to Christ alone. Paul rebukes Christians who have separated into these groups because only Christ was crucified for us. We belong to Christ alone, who gives us new life through baptism.
Paul continues: “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.” For Paul, “the cross of Christ” is the model of true human love. As an apostle, Paul does not seek “the wisdom of human eloquence,” but rather he strives to live according to God’s wisdom – the wisdom of Christ’s cross.
In today’s Gospel, after the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus withdraws to Galilee. Then Jesus moves from Nazareth to Capernaum. The gospel narrator explains this by quoting the Septuagint translation of Isaiah 8:23 – 9:1 (first reading).
Jesus’ message is eschatological. That is, he is announcing the arrival of a new age, called “the kingdom of heaven,” which contrasts with the current age of sin and death. Jesus commands us: “Repent!” The new age is arriving: “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” We must repent so that we may be judged worthy to belong to the kingdom of heaven.
Next, Jesus calls his first disciples. We can almost see the seaside and smell the fishing nets. We meet two pair of brothers. First is Simon and his brother Andrew. Second is James and his brother John — the sons of Zebedee. For both sets of brothers, when Jesus calls them, they respond with earnest obedience. Simon and Andrew immediately abandon their nets and follow Jesus. James and John surpass even this. When Jesus calls them, they abandon the hired men and their stunned father Zebedee in the boat.
Jesus “went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.” Jesus shows he has the healing power of God, and he announces that God is acting for the salvation of all people. Christ proclaims the Gospel of the kingdom.