Sermon Tone Analysis

Title

The Light is Christ

Outline

We live in a time of celebrity focused division

Listen to the news - most political groups are named by their leader (I say this without statistical counting) with the party designation secondary, which is true around the world.

Listen to Catholics speak - while some will claim allegiance to “the traditional Latin Mass” more will designate themselves as Pope St John Paul II or Pope Benedict XVI Catholic as opposed to Pope Francis Catholics or perhaps by their bishop, if he “has name recognition” - in other words, we flag which group we are in

Of course, many Protestants, particularly those in large churches, are followers of Pastor X, with a less number mentioning a prominent group of leaders, such as The Gospel Coalition

All would claim that light has come into the world, but whom that light came through is in dispute.

Isaiah, of course, does refer to light

Light shines on those in darkness; this light smashes the tools of the oppressor.

But he names no names, only characteristics.

Jesus fulfilled that prophecy, for he not only made his proclamation, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” in the right area, but his actions were the freeing of people from oppression, although the oppressors were disease and demon and dogmatician (in that the various religious parties agreed on one thing - using dogma to shut out those who were not like them)

But Jesus makes the light personal.

Unlike the religious leaders he calls lower class fishermen to follow him personally and to do so at the cost of their livelihood.

(This giving up all to follow him is a theme throughout the gospel) And also unlike the main religious groups he will even call men (and some women) to leave their family to follow him.

But Jesus did not claim to be a party leader among other religious or political parties.

He claim to be the light himself, the temple itself, the Danielic Son of Man, even Son of God (usually indirectly).

Paul draws out the implications

In Corinth (and also in Rome) there were divisions among the Christians, divisions that ran along ethnic or social or linguistic or religious lines, which were identified with the particular Christian leader who had deeply impacted or converted (that is, baptized) them.

Paul is horrified.

And he would be horrified more by our host of denominations today.

The worst issue was that he was considered one of those leaders.

He points out that, while he did baptize people, he normally did not do it, for baptism was into Christ, into the body of Christ, and thus a function of the body, not of Paul.

Christ is not divided.

Christ is the only one who was crucified for them.

Paul was merely a preacher, a man exercising his charism, and not doing it “with the wisdom of human eloquence,” i.e. making the gospel fit the rhetorical conventions (which would not have used the term cross), but rather focusing on the scandal of the death and resurrection of Jesus so that “the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.”

Paul was not “seeker friendly.”

For Paul there was one light, one Lord, and all who believed were becoming one with that Lord, one in embracing his cross and one in union with his exalted Excellency.

Sisters, there are implications for us

First, the schisms and divisions in the body of Christ should be of great concern to us, not in a way that causes us to water down the truth of Christ, but in a way that makes us gracious to all and urgent in prayer before God.

Second, you are Dominican, but must hold your Dominican charism as a gift rather than as something that makes you look down on Franciscans or Jesuits or diocesan priests and deacons or laity.

It must not divide, but be a gift given for the good of the whole.

Third, we should live with Paul’s humility that was constantly calling people to Christ, the one Christ, the only Christ, and pointing away from himself, although not at the cost of minimizing the cross.

That is what we should be striving for in our prayers, our examinations, and our actions.

There is one light which has shown in the darkness and we should not be shy about the fact, but our goal should be that Christ is all and in all.

Readings

FIRST READING

Isaiah 8:23–9:3

23 There is no gloom where there had been distress.

Where once he degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, now he has glorified the way of the Sea, the land across the Jordan, Galilee of the Nations.

CHAPTER 9

1 The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

Upon those who lived in a land of gloom

a light has shone.

2 You have brought them abundant joy

and great rejoicing;

They rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest,

as they exult when dividing the spoils.

3 For the yoke that burdened them,

the pole on their shoulder,

The rod of their taskmaster,

you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.

RESPONSE

Psalm 27:1a

1 Of David.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom should I fear?

The LORD is my life’s refuge;

of whom should I be afraid?

PSALM

Psalm 27:1, 4, 13–14

1 Of David.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom should I fear?

The LORD is my life’s refuge;

of whom should I be afraid?

4 One thing I ask of the LORD;

this I seek:

To dwell in the LORD’s house

all the days of my life,

To gaze on the LORD’s beauty,

to visit his temple.

13 I believe I shall see the LORD’s goodness

in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the LORD, take courage;

be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:10–13, 17

10 I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.

11 For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you.

12 I mean that each of you is saying, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided?

Was Paul crucified for you?

Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 4:23

23 He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.

GOSPEL

Option A

Matthew 4:12–23

12 When he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.

13 He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,

the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles,

16 the people who sit in darkness

have seen a great light,

on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death

light has arisen.”