As a new year begins, these texts speak to us of the here and now, especially in light of who we are, and what is expected of us. This charts a life programme for every believer to observe.

Our first reading from Jonah initiates a line of biblical reflection drawing upon Nineveh’s acceptance of the Lord’s Word spoken by the prophet. Having declared their faith in that proclamation, the people of this large city stand spared from divine wrath. Expressed in few words, this dramatic moment places great emphasis on the message being received almost spontaneously. In essence, God’s Word is gloriously championed as life-changing.

A similar line of thought occurs in Paul’s words to the Corinthians. Here, a degree of urgency is associated with the response required of Christian believers. The crucial time factor for Paul necessitates becoming keenly attentive to what God desires from his people. It is a season of being at one with the holy, and a life beyond this one.

In Mark, Jesus quickly clicks into gear with his message of good news. Believing in what is being proclaimed, and joining in the mission of spreading this good news, must be propelled by a sense of urgency. So, one of the first things that Jesus does is to call some fishermen to abandon their nets and immediately engage in a different type of labour, gathering in human beings to live a new form of existence within the Kingdom of God. Mark thus impresses upon us the changed life that Jesus wishes for his followers.

The clear focus of today’s readings is striking because of the simplicity of their content, and the effect it is intended to convey. The call to be in God’s company, and work together for everyone’s eternal well-being, is a message communicated eloquently.

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Considering the content of these texts, it is easy enough to comprehend how they make us ponder the vocation we have been called to follow.

In this first reading, the drama of Samuel’s prophetic vocation plays out over several verses. After three mistaken attempts to identify the voice he keeps hearing, he finally learns that God has chosen him for a special role, that of speaking words of prophetic worth. Having heeded Eli’s advice Samuel responds to God with the following words, “Speak, your servant is listening”. They immediately signal that he is putting himself at the service of God’s word as a prophet.

As part of his own divine commission, Paul’s advice to the Corinthians establishes the broad standards by which every Christian should follow the Lord’s teaching. Being bonded together in Christ, every member of the Church necessarily accepts a common responsibility to act rightly in many respects. And that basically lays down the command that every member of the body of Christ must fulfil their public and spiritual vocation fittingly.

The Gospel text also gives us an insight into the Christian vocation. John the evangelist here narrates the call of Jesus’ first disciples. Naming Jesus both Rabbi and Messiah, this episode makes it plain that these first disciples have their teacher and life-guide right in front of them. Following in behind Jesus then means that the course of their lives is taking a new direction. They will learn directly from the Master, equipped to proclaim his gifts of life and spiritual insight. Becoming a disciple is thereby grounded in looking to Jesus, so as to be an authentic follower.

What we gain from these passages of Scripture is a clear-cut message. Each of us is called to follow in the Lord’s footsteps, and do so with a refined, discerning heart.

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This festal day celebrates the way we consider the revelation of deep mysteries that often seem unfathomable. And these readings are the means to engage with this task.

In his six verses, Isaiah uses words like “light” and “glory” to suggest how we might enter into a deeper understanding of God’s mysterious ways, especially in revealing his grand plan. With a conclusion focused on gold and frankincense and praising the Lord the prophet’s, images open us up to a realisation that an element of the divine may be right there before us.

Turning to consider what the author of Ephesians is saying, we note that he is keenly focused upon the word “mystery” and its unravelling. In becoming aware of God’s grace working in the midst of the world, and then discerning where God reveals himself, we are advised to look closely at what is being expressed, and how things hitherto hidden can be seen. Interestingly, for this author, it is ultimately in Christ Jesus and the Gospel that we are told to turn for enlightenment.

Unique to Matthew, the story of the Magi may at first also puzzle us. But when we take a closer look at Matthew’s text, we see how rival notions of kingship, the light of a star and the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh take our thinking in a direction that progressively points to the superiority of this little Christ child. Signalling that this child is the future Messiah King claims for him a truly astounding future; and it also sets him in opposition to Herod’s own royal ambitions.

By grappling with the mystery aspect of this feast, we enter into the realm of revelation. And so the epiphany of the day finds its meaning in the good news about Jesus Christ found in Holy Scripture.

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A child is central to each reading today. And for a couple who find themselves in a most unusual situation, he is a special gift from God. Divine intervention is the source of a blessing that ensures each family’s future.

The familiar story of Abraham and Sarah, a childless elderly couple, stands out as a sad tale of a husband and wife whose line is destined to die out. Then Isaac’s birth comes about miraculously. And it happens because of their faith in the promise made to them. Thus, the Genesis text brilliantly illustrates God’s power supernaturally enabling these human beings to achieve what otherwise seemed unattainable.

Abraham and Sarah’s miracle of new life also occupies the author’s mind in this text from Hebrews. It emphasises Abraham’s incredible act of trust in God’s Word, and the blessed reward that comes of it. Putting his faith in the divine promise therefore secures him a son, Isaac, and a line of heirs that will testify to the incomparable power that generation after generation works wonders.

In Luke, the arrival of the child Jesus and his parents in the temple draws us into a scene where this particular family attracts the attention of two special individuals, Simeon and Anna. The description of the encounter informs us of the child’s singular identity, and the blessed state of the mother and father. This holy family (like that of Abraham, Sarah and Isaac) is a model of trusting faith, a shining example of God’s extraordinary power guiding people through most unusual circumstances.

As we joyfully gather to observe the feast of the Holy Family, we hear that what is impossible humanly speaking becomes possible through the hand of God. That is a scenario that invites us to be people who dare to take a leap of faith.

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Today’s Scriptures herald the coming of the one we know to be our true king. Here we have the long story of preparing for his birth followed by the Church’s mission of announcing the eternal benefits of his life and death.

In 2 Samuel, the conversation between King David and the prophet Nathan introduces us to the world of divine revelation and the kind of leadership God intends for his people. The specifics of that royal authority and its future personnel reflect the eternal rule willed by God as a source of enduring blessing. The guarantee of a precise line of kings is, however, accompanied by a warning. So when God’s will is not implemented, the consequences will be unpleasant.

Addressing the Romans, Paul conveys another clear message. Its purpose is to conclude the letter in a way that grabs our attention. It emphatically declares that God and Jesus Christ are to be honoured for having overseen a plan down the ages. And so, in light of all biblical revelation, we are led to value the great mystery unveiled for Jew and Gentile alike to behold.

Luke’s angel Gabriel leaves us in no doubt concerning God’s handiwork in the lives of Mary and Joseph. That Joseph belongs to the house of David highlights his royal lineage and its relevance to Jesus’ coming birth. The aspect of the unusual though underlines how God often works in mysterious ways. This steers us to a view of Jesus’ kingship that is familiar and yet unique. Thus, the kingdom of God is showing itself in an extraordinary way.

Pondering these readings as Advent concludes, we find ourselves in a blessed state. We are now well prepared to celebrate the birth of the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary overshadowed by the Most High God’s power.

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Something of the mystery of God surely shows itself in these pieces of Holy Scripture. For in each we hear ourselves being invited into quite a strange experience of the divine. Everything is therefore not exactly as we might imagine it from a human point of view.

Isaiah’s words open up for us a certain understanding of what God calls his people to be, and to know about the working out of the divine plan. There is a degree of reorientation in our thinking that the prophet is leading us to latch onto. He says that being at one with God demands an attitude of mind that aligns with an acceptance of God’s revealed instructions, even if they do not square with our own perceptions and desires.

Addressing the Philippians, Paul sets an example for them to follow. He is basically exhorting them to join him in becoming spiritually reflective with respect to the work and practice of faith. For Paul, this present life is in every regard intended to be one that bears fruit consistent with the Gospel message concerning communion of mind and heart.

The parable that Matthew’s Jesus tells, invites us to see God’s presence in our midst bringing, about a plan that draws all sorts of people in a sometimes mysteriously timed order. The narrative image of workers in a vineyard, employed at different times of the day for the same wage, asks us to stop and ponder God’s extraordinary graciousness that welcomes everyone into the splendour of the heavenly kingdom.

As we consider the content of these readings, we come to appreciate the deeper meaning of the faith we profess, and the call that we have received to give witness to that faith. Every day, therefore, provides opportunities for us to be faithful in mind and practice.

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There is a singular focus to today’s biblical texts. It concerns being in God’s company, while being graced to fulfil our daily mission in faith and practice.

Joy and rejoicing are Isaiah’s topic. For him, life finds its true expression in the person who knows what it means to be a child of God. And this is not just a spiritual concept.

To Isaiah’s way of thinking, our bodies must be vitally involved. For in that way, we can show the world that we are actively pursuing a style of life that, in everything we say and do, will reflect the Almighty’s presence.

In Paul’s message to the Galatians, his final address to the churches of Galatia is a nicely honed, impressive statement. At its heart is the cross and its significance for Paul’s life, something the letter’s recipients also need to comprehend for themselves. And it is the body’s part in this that is also emphasised.
For we are all thought to be walking in the shadow of Christ’s cross, and to be doing so in a spirited and uplifting manner. This is the gracious sentiment with which Paul signs off the letter.

Today, sending out the seventy in Luke relates at some length what the mission will entail. Their work is a participation in the coming of God’s kingdom. By implementing what Jesus himself had been doing, his disciples will find success, and return with great rejoicing. But as is made clear, that joy must be genuine. So, rather than gloating over their success, Jesus advises them to let it reflect the great achievements of their missionary vocation, and duly bear witness to the presence of the heavenly kingdom.

By means of these readings, we come to know what we are called to be as genuine children of God.

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After a series of Sunday feasts, we now return to a more ordinary sequence of Sunday observance. And so these Scripture passages centre us on our everyday faith world.  

Isaiah’s message is one of hope and joy-filled expectation. At the heart of his prophetic words is great trust in the power of God to restore his people to happier times. And so what he proclaims in these verses is a promise that Israel will be given a new form of life. Much rejoicing and a renewed understanding of all that truly binds God’s people together will visibly confirm the reality of the promise.  

That vibrant sense of community is also evident in the almost hymnic words Paul addresses to the Corinthians. His use of repetition drives home the point that all, with their individual gifts, contribute to the well-being of the Church’s life. That variety in unity, especially under the power of the Holy Spirit, is a genuine sign of God’s plan at work among his people. And we today rightly participate in that vision through communion of life and our giftedness made visible to the world around us.  

Found only in John’s Gospel, the Wedding Feast of Cana event speaks to a similar expression of joyous communion. And, in addition, it proclaims the superabundant grace that the Lord Jesus bestows on the family of the Church. Every character present in this Gospel episode demonstrates what it means to play a personal part in gathering and rejoicing together, whatever the occasion may be.  

Interestingly, each of today’s biblical authors orients our thoughts in a certain direction. Fundamentally, then, each one leads us to contemplate what it is that makes us a communion of gifted believers who have received much, and are sent forth to share that richness with the community at large.  

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For this Sunday and its feast, the biblical texts have a really distinctive focus. And that helps us better picture the initial phase of Jesus’ mission and ministry.  

First of all, Isaiah voices words of comfort and consolation for Israel at a difficult time in their history. For him, this is his vocation, to proclaim a smooth path ahead. His view of the future is heartening, because in it the Lord God will make his presence a refreshing experience for his people. In saying these things, Isaiah wants to highlight the good news that is being announced afresh. Through Isaiah, God therefore assures Israel that he will take care of them and guide them into a new era.  

The reading from Titus declares that the saving work of Jesus Christ stands at the centre of all that we profess. And it is because of such wondrous action that we should not hesitate to give the glory to Jesus as our saviour. The manner of these words from Titus therefore makes it clear that we are called to do two things. We are to honour both the merciful hand of God at work in the Church, and the work of the Holy Spirit that enlivens and empowers that Church.  

The brevity of Luke’s version of Jesus’ baptism by John takes the focus off the Baptist’s actions, and instead emphasises what happens afterwards. For that is when the Holy Spirit appears, and God’s voice affirms who Jesus is and what great things lie ahead. Jesus’ mission and ministry are therefore given a public and official stamp of approval.  

With readings like these, today’s celebration takes on a different kind of emphasis. For Luke, the beginning of Jesus’ saving work plainly brings to fulfilment what the other two biblical authors proposed.  

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This feast’s word of the day is “epiphany”, a word that comes from the ancient Greek language. It indicates the act of showing or revealing something. The function of these readings, therefore, aids a deeper understanding of why the birth of Jesus is such an important event.  

Starting with Isaiah makes us think about the nature of his words. Their key image is the great light that will envelop all the earth and dispel the darkness that has held it captive. This is a hopeful, uplifting message of future gladness. Its forward-looking outlook prepares us to welcome the most precious gift that the Lord can offer to all peoples on earth. So, Isaiah’s line of thought here opens up the prospect of that looming historical moment when all will be revealed.  

The verses taken from Ephesians add to that sense of the dawning of a new era. For this Pauline text speaks of the mystery that came to be fully revealed in the person of Christ Jesus, along with the Gospel he preached and enacted. Of great significance here is what is to be revealed. It is something for all humankind, both Jews and Gentiles, to ponder and recognise as a unique gift of spiritual insight.  

Matthew’s unique narrative recounting the visit of the foreigners from the East, that is the Magi, adds further significance to the Christ-child’s birth. Providentially guided by the light of a bright star, their arrival in Bethlehem and then swift departure, herald the importance of their visit. The precious gifts they offered the child Jesus highlight this birth’s universal significance.  

These readings appropriately signal the essence of this festal celebration. As privileged members of the faith community, we rightly accept the joyful call to proclaim this message of Good News.  

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