Reflection for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2026

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

The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light

Have you served on jury duty? If you have, you know that the responsibility of determining the facts rests with imperfect human beings.  Discovering the truth often takes patience and persistent effort, as Reginal Rose illustrates in his play Twelve Angry Men, where jurors struggle towards a unanimous and just verdict.

Being open to the light of new evidence is important in every life situation. If we truly seek the truth, God will help us find it.  Is there anything in my life that mystifies me – something that needs prayer so the light of Christ can shine upon it?

In today’s readings from Isaiah, Psalm 27, and St. Matthew’s Gospel, the clouded hopes of God’s people are brightened by the light of the Holy Spirit. Maybe one of these scriptural scenarios mirrors your own experience.

Jesus’ first clear directive is “Repent!”. Let us consider what it truly means to repent.  Repentance involves three steps:  acknowledging past sins or errors, feeling genuine sorrow for them, and firmly turning away from them with new resolve.  When we leave the darkness of sin, we see more clearly how to navigate our lives.  We must keep our “hands on the wheel,” making deliberate choices and looking ahead to see the road plainly and avoid pitfalls. How firmly do I keep my gaze on the true road to eternal life?

Jesus added immediately, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  What truth does that hold for me personally? Perhaps it reminds me that God is nearer than I often realize. To live in God’s kingdom means entrusting myself to a King who governs with perfect justice and compassion.  The light of His Wisdom can both reveal and resolve the mysteries of my life – though sometimes persistent prayer is needed to to open the doors of my heart fully to that wisdom.

The Gospel tells us that Jesus then called disciples into His kingdom. They answered a need in the early Church.  Though the lamp of John the Baptist had been dimmed, the torch of truth had to be carried forward.  Today, perplexing situations – both great and small – still require the light that only Christ can give.  He is the Truth and He reveals Himself to those who ask.  So let us ask!

After the somber news of Saint John the Baptist’s arrest, the words of Jesus were a beacon, perhaps so bright that it startled those who heard it.  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”  The message continues to  light the path for people today.  Does it still startle us?  Does it move us to change?

The Lord is my light and my salvation