Saint Rita Catholic Church and School in Webster, NY - An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings

“The People Who Walked In Darkness Have Seen A Great Light”

This could be called the "season of manifestation". Over the past few Sundays, we have seen Christ manifested first, to the Shepherds at His birth, then to the Gentile world through the Maji, then at His baptism as the beloved Son of God, and last Sunday, as the Lamb of God, via John the Baptist. And now this Sunday, Jesus is revealed as the long awaited Davidic King prophesied by the Prophet Isaiah and others.

In our first reading (Isaiah 8:23-9:3), we hear Isaiah’s prophesy during a time of great duress as the northern tribes of Israel were being besieged and overrun by the Assyrian Army, beginning with Zebulun and Naphtali. This is the region in which Capernaum is located, the city in which Jesus chose to live and begin His ministry. In great confidence, Isaiah foretold of a future time when a new Davidic King would bring "abundant joy and great rejoicing". We hear this prophesy proclaimed every Christmas Eve during the Mass at night, heralding the birth of the Christ child, the new King of Israel.

In our Epistle reading(1 Corinthians 1:10, 17), St. Paul sought to end rivalries and division among the Church in Corinth by urging them to focus on Christ as the true center and wisdom of the Church. “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.”

In our Gospel reading (Matthew 4:12-23), we hear repeated this same passage from our first reading, now being fulfilled in Jesus' return to the very same area decimated by the Assyrians so long ago. Jesus began His public ministry as the new Davidic King, himself the “light shining in the darkness”. Jesus began choosing His apostles and started preaching and healing throughout Galilee. Jesus “left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled.”

Again, we see the prophesies of the Old Testament being fulfilled in the New Testament by Jesus. This revelation helps us see that God's plan of salvation has been ongoing since the beginning of creation.

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012526.cfm