5th January 2025
Lectionary Readings: Is. 60,1-6; Ps. 72; Eph 3,2-6; Mt 2,1-12
Theme: the Word of the Lord is the light for my feet, and a light on my path
Is it not clear that from the initial verse of Isaiah 60 we are sent back to the day of creation and if so, are we able to grasp the meaning? For example, the separation of light and darkness can be found in the book of genesis (Gen. 1, 3-5): “Then God said: Let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good. God then separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” Evening came, and morning followed—the first day.” This similitude nonetheless highlights the power of God over light and darkness, and His words allow us to distinguish what belongs to light and what belongs to darkness, enabling us to separate them according to their rightful attributes. How is this possible? His words help us to understand and grasp the meaning of things belonging to light and darkness, for the role of language is first to transmit a particular message. In this case, the Lord is transmitting to us knowledge that is divine in origin, which allows us to distinguish the light of the day and the darkness of the night.
Thus, we can grasp the Is. 60, 1-2 “Arise! Shine, for your light has come, the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you. Though darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds, the peoples, upon you the Lord will dawn, and over you his glory will be seen.” distinguishing the manifestation of God among us as it was highlighted by Saint Jerome. Though this chapter also highlights Is. 56 calling everyone to universal salvation, recounting the suffering of the people of God among us gentiles nonetheless their suffering is like a star of the night in the wide universe: a sign of the power of God among humanity through which we come to know the true God, the LORD. For they brought with them wherever they went the Word of the LORD. We are thus sent further into the Gospel of Mathew (Mt. 2, 9): “And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.” In here the light of the night was able to help the wise men (gentiles)to identify the Word of the Lord. This means that even in the darkness the light distinguishes his power, even in the vast hollowing emptiness and coldness of the vast desert we can distinguish his power, but we must in the end follow his light.
For Reflection and Discussion: 1. Are we able to identify the Word of the Lord among the words of human beings? Or are we focusing too much on and trusting in the words of human beings rather than the Word of the Lord?
Bibliography: McKenzie, J.L. Dictionary of the Bible (New York: 1965)
This week’s Sunday Liturgy Commentary was prepared by
Jefferson Philip Jacob Reyes, France , Bat kol /Alumnus: 2019
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