Light Irrupts into History

January 25 – 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

The fabric of history, despite all appearances to the contrary, is woven by the most wise and benevolent hands of the Father. Seen as a whole, it splendidly reveals to us the greatness of divine power, which carries out its sublime designs without ever disrespecting the freedom of man, who so often opposes these designs with sin.

The prototypical example of this mysterious and fascinating reality is found in the Incarnation of the Word to redeem mankind. St. Augustine, in his hymn Exultet, which the whole Church sings on Holy Saturday, affirms with admirable audacity, referring to Adam’s sin: “O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!” Faced with the obstacles posed by human rebellion to the realization of divine plans, the wisdom of Him who is infinite and unfailing Light always triumphs with new and greater wonders.

This is what we see happening in Galilee of the Gentiles. The passage from the prophet Isaiah taken from the first reading of this Sunday (cf. Is 8:23–9:3) shows the contrast between darkness and light. As a just Judge, God had humbled the land of Naphtali and Zebulun; they lacked the light of faith, everything was shadow and sadness. However, He resolved to cover the way of the sea with glory: the darkness is driven out by the marvelous Light, which brings perfect life and joy.

This announcement is entirely fulfilled with Jesus’ public mission on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, as the Gospel of St. Matthew points out to us (cf. Mt 4:12-23). He was the Light that illuminated the men of that region with His word, saying to them: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (4:17). And, to seal the authenticity of His appeal with supernatural authority, Our Lord multiplied miracles in favour of the sick, those possessed by the devil and those in most need.

Blessed Galilee, first punished, then forgiven and exalted! It passed from darkness to light – and what light! – by the magnificent power of the Almighty.

However, we must ask ourselves: what did Galilee do with this Light of infinite beauty? From initial enthusiasm, it fell into neglect, ending in contempt and hatred. The result? An even more terrible curse: “And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to Heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades” (Mt 11:23). What is the reason for such a terrible punishment? The fact that they did not convert.

If we look at the current state of the world, we are dismayed to witness the process of apostasy that is burying the last embers of faith in the once Christian West. Will punishments come? With sadness and apprehension, we must acknowledge that there is a high probability.

However, the powerful and merciful hand of God, which will cast hardened hearts into the region of darkness, will send to the purified world the splendours of the wondrous Light, causing holy joy to be reborn with new vigour in the remnant that has remain faithful. And, this time, it will do so manifestly through Mary Most Holy, She who, in the words of Pope Benedict XV, “with Christ redeemed mankind.”¹ ◊

Notes

¹ BENEDICT XV. Inter sodalicia: AAS 10 (1918), 182.