Called to the Light

Many of us have heard, or even preached, a stirring message on being called to discipleship based on these texts (Third Sunday after Epiphany. Matthew 4:12-23; Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27; and 1 Corinthians 1:10-18.). Mostly suggesting that it is personal darkness and sin that we are called out of. And yes, many persons have found the light in response to being called and answering that call. And many more individuals are still in need of the light and repentance and redemption. But the call is so much more radical and inclusive than just personal salvation.

Sentence:

“The people who sat in great darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” Matthew 4:16

Collect:

Gracious God,

You came among us that we might know your light

And you have called us to liberation and new life that we and all your peoples may know ourselves loved, forgiven and healed.

Grant us the same courage and curiosity as your fist disciples that we may follow wherever you lead.

This we pray in the name of your Beloved Son. Amen.

Reflection:

Many of us have heard, or even preached, a stirring message on being called to discipleship based on this text. Mostly suggesting that it is personal darkness and sin that we are called out of. And yes, many persons have found the light in response to being called and answering that call. And many more individuals are still in need of the light and repentance and redemption.

You may wish to read my own previous reflections on this text.

The Call of the Ordinary Ones

The Call is to Kingdom People

But the text, and therefore the call, is much more powerful, radical, broad and deep than just the call to individual salvation and discipleship! For as always context is important, including geography and history. Jesus begins his ministry by ‘withdrawing’ after the troubling news that John the Baptiser has been arrested. Jesus withdraws maybe to reflect, recalibrate and to gird his loins for what is to come, but certainly his withdrawal is also strategic! Jesus goes straight to the work of his life – preaching and healing among those who most need the good news. Jesus begins by calling those who are in the place once in contempt, the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, on the road by the sea, Galilee of the nations, and about to be made glorious and to experience an increase in joy. “For the yoke of their burden and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.” Isaiah 9:4

Firstly, the witness of Matthew’s gospel is that Jesus is the fulfilment of the prophets so the linking of the language of Isaiah and the gospel is an important affirmation of who this Jesus is and his greater purpose. This is of course a common devise or theme in Matthew.

Secondly this is not a random location or action. The actual mentioned location is also important because it is named as the former territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, two of the tribes of Israel, but now also the home of Gentiles. There is a Roman trade road running along the coast. And there is mention of the miraculous victory God gave the Israelites over the Midianite army which led to liberation from oppression. A contested location with a layered past.

And the good news is proclaimed, the call is issued, to those in the shadow of darkness in the language of a new dawn. The new dawn comes not only to individual persons, but to groups of people who are seemingly on the edge, forgotten, of not great importance. But they are remembered and sought out and called to participate in a greater purpose, a changing of mind and vision and opportunity.

Salvation is always personal but the call to a new dawn is for whole communities, for the whole world. And the invitation is focused on those who most need a new way, who need to be liberated from oppression. This is not only metaphoric oppression but literal – the yoke, the bar and the rod, being literal implements of forced work. And this stirs us to be a people of hope at this moment when lines seem to be being drawn between those who most need liberation and those who do not want a new world dawning because they benefit from old ways.

Dr Martin Luther King, Jrn, said: “Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all God’s children.” When we respond to the call to the light that rises in dark places it is about hope for the individual soul, and it is very much about hope for the peoples of God, the beloved community that is in need of light, and is called to proclaim the light of hope in dark places. To respond to the call of Jesus is to find that we have responded to an invitation to a new dawn, a new way of being the people of God, and to serve the community in such a way that we may know heaven on earth.

But as we know this is not easy work for not all who live in the dark want the light to come, not even ourselves sometimes! Strangely we have aspects of our inner lives that sometimes prefer the small comfort or temporary advantage of not repenting and changing - those shadowy aspects of our own makeup that prefer familiar suffering or advantage to demanding change. And certainly, there are those in society that cannot find the hope that change will come. And even worse there are those who fear good change because it would limit their advantage! But the call to repentance and change is holy and for the whole of life. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer puts it: “Your ‘yes’ to God requires your ‘no’ to all injustice, to all evil, to all lies, to all oppression and violation of the weak and poor.”

Responding to the call to the light is an all of life call. Something those naïve fisherfolk did not seem to realise anymore than most of us did. Answering the call is an important and memorable moment but a moment is all that it is, a moment that will continue to call us home even through troubled landscapes. And like those fisherfolk there will be seasons of great and difficult challenge and resistance. For many this time is such a season. A time so conflicted and ugly that hope seems unfounded. And yet, as Bishop Mariann Budde says: “for Christians hopelessness is not an option – not because of us, but because of Christ’s dwelling in us and our ultimate hope in our true home in the love of God.” We are called into the light that has come to a place that has been in the shadow of darkness.

Intercessions:

Gracious God,

Out of the void you created all that is.

Call us into the light of your loving purposes and enlighten and enliven us until we desire your ways.

We remember in your life-giving presence all those place, peoples and creatures who are in need of rest and recreation.

We particularly pray for …

May justice and mercy flow until all can flourish in peace and abundance.

Gracious God, Redeemer of the whole world,

we pray your protection and inspiration for all who speak and work in your name.

May we honour all who love and serve the common good, and may those who seek harm for others become convicted of a better way.

We particularly pray for those situations we are aware of and those known only to you …

Spirit of the Living God,

Come call us into wholeness and holiness, heal us and sustain us.

And grant us the gifts to share with your broken and disheartened ones that we may again hear your promise of light and life.

At this time, we particularly pray for …

Living God,

Creator, Redeemer of all, Spirit that Sustains,

We pray in the name of your Beloved Son, the Christ, who came among us and called us to follow. Amen. 

This is my work which is informed by everything I have read, heard and experienced. I am indebted to the wisdom of others. This week I am especially indebted to the conversations and quotes in the public domain.

Bishop Mariann Budde on Substack “Hopelessness is not an option” 17^th July 2025

Kate Penney Howard’s Facebook page as seen on Progressive Lectionary Preaching (RCL) Facebook page.

Paul Turley “Talking about the Text” Facebook page as seen on Transforming Worship - Uniting Church in Australia Facebook page