Vocation to radiate the Light on others

Isaiah 8: 23-9:3; Psalm 27:1, 4,13-14; 1Corinthians 1:10-13,17; Matthew 4:12-23

Our readings speak about a light shining upon those in darkness. The light brings hope of better days, of the fulfillment of the Reign of GOD.  The light empowers the people to do whatever GOD is asking them to do. In the first reading the people of the North sense a light that scatters the gloom in which they were living. The Psalmist reminds us that the LORD is our Light. The Apostle Paul reminds the Christians in Corinth that they should not be separating themselves into groups that claim allegiance to the human instrument who helped to bring about their enlightenment, but that they should realize that all the human agents are acting on behalf of GOD. In the Gospel, Jesus fulfills the prophecy in the first reading by being the Light that shines on the people of the North.


The first reading was written after the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The areas of Naphtali and Zebulun were part of the Northern Kingdom. The people of the Southern Kingdom of Judah were afraid that their kingdom would also fall to the Assyrians. Isaiah tries to give hope to the people by promising Light coming out of the darkness and gloom. The Light of the Messiah would not only shine upon the people of the South, but also on the North in the region of Naphtali and Zebulun.


Today’s Gospel from Matthew relates the beginning of Jesus’s public life in the Galilee near the region of Naphtali and Zebulun. After being baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan, Jesus spends forty days in the desert. He is then tempted by Satan. It is only after that experience that Jesus starts His ministry as we read in our Gospel today. Matthew shows that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah. Jesus’ calling is to announce Light shining upon the people, to bring hope to those in darkness. We thus see a clear image of what the calling of Jesus included:  announcing the Reign of Heaven (that begins with metanoia – reform of lives); the calling of disciples; and the moving out into other regions announcing the Good News in word and healing actions.


Reflecting on these readings, the concept of vocation comes to mind. Vocation from the Latin – vocatio – means “a calling.”  Jesus has a “calling” from His Abba-Father to ministry (service).  His vocation is to proclaim the Good News in word and actions, to announce that the Reign of Heaven has begun, and to call others to help in spreading that Reign. The fishermen (Peter, Andrew, James, and John) also receive a “calling.”  Jesus calls them to leave their fishing nets and follow Him and they will be fishing for people, hauling them into the Reign of GOD by their actions and by their words. They will continue the work of Jesus by serving others as Jesus serves the people, especially those who need it the most.


In the not-so-distant past within the Catholic Church “vocation” referred primarily to those called to dedicated church ministry, that is, priests, religious sisters and brothers – those committing their lives to Church service. Yet in the more recent teachings of the Church, the concept of “vocation” has returned to the Early Church’s concept of ministry. All members of the Church, by virtue of their Baptism, are called to ministry. Each Christian has a vocation to share in the proclamation of the Good News. We participate in the calling of Jesus, the Priest, the Prophet, and the King. This is our privilege and our duty. Every Christian is called to ministry, a word that means “service.”

While those called to ordained ministry or religious life have dedicated their lives to ministry; to be reflections of the Light of Christ and help others by their life of service. Yet it is also the role of all Christians to serve their sisters and brothers and to reflect Christ’s light on those around them. And all of us are called to do it full time. We may not have a job that allows us to publicly proclaim in words the Gospel as the ordained ministers do. We may make our living from some job that is not directly related to Church ministry, but that does not mean we are not called to full-time ministry. We are called to be secular ministers in the sense of being in the world, yet serving others while we work. We are also called in varying degrees to give our talents and abilities in some form of Church service: as lectors, eucharistic ministers, musicians, catechists, ushers, and/or members of church organizations.


Our most important area of ministry and service is within our families and at our work or school, since that is where we spend most of our time.  It is in these arenas that we are called to be evangelists (announcers of Good News), priests (helping others to grow in holiness), prophets (speakers of GOD’s love), and royal leaders (leading others to GOD by our acts of service).  We do this primarily in the way we treat others and our willingness to serve them.  Serving others is not the same as being a slave to the wishes of others. True service or servanthood means we are going to do all we can to enable others to experience the Reign of Heaven.  We are not called to be doormats on which other people walk. We are not to be bullies that force other people to believe like we do, with the threat of not accepting them if they don’t believe as we do. We have a vocation to provide an atmosphere in which those around us come into the Light and experience the presence of GOD.


How awesome and humbling it is to think that GOD wants us to be a part of the ministry of Jesus. Yet, that is exactly what we are called to. Our vocation is both a gift from GOD and a challenge from GOD to live lives that reflect our Master-Teacher, Jesus, the Light of the world. Jesus shares His ministry and vocation with us. We are ministers-servants of the Lord Jesus. We serve Jesus as we minister to others especially those in one form of darkness or ther other.

The analogy of phosphors. Phosphors are objects that absorb the energy from a light source. The electrons in the outer shell of the phosphorus elements become excited by the light source and then glow even when they are removed from the source of their excitement (light). As such, they capture the original light energy and are able to give off light-energy even in the dark. That is what all of us are called to do. We are called to receive the energy from the Light of the World (Jesus) and then glow with the energy we have received from the Light and reflect that Light in the darkness in which we are placed. The more we are bathed with the Light, the more we can share the Light in the darkness. The title “phosphors” comes from two Greek words meaning “Light carrier.” We are not the Light, but we are able to “carry the Light” to others by our serving them and helping them experience the original energy of the Light.

How can I better reflect the Light of Christ to others through my service of them?  Who is most in need of my ministry of service today?  This week?