3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: JUST LIKE ZEBULUN AND NAPHTALI

What are Zebulun and Naphtali all about in today’s readings?

What is it about repentance and the kingdom of heaven?

What is it about the calling of the first disciples? All three point to one shared truth that touches every believer: God’s light is already in you.

The prophet Isaiah speaks of a reversal. He says, “First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the end, he has glorified the seaward road.” That word “first” matters. It reminds us that darkness can precede light, and suffering can come before restoration. Then comes the promise: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”

This is not just ancient history. It is the story of many lives. It may even be your story.

In the Gospel, Matthew deliberately situates Jesus’ ministry in that same region—Zebulun and Naphtali, Galilee of the Gentiles—a land once humiliated, occupied, and forgotten. Historians tell us these were the first tribes conquered by the Assyrians centuries earlier. And yet, this is where Jesus begins. Not in Jerusalem. Not among the powerful. But in the margins.

Why? Because the Messiah enters precisely where darkness once reigned. Jesus is restoring the Davidic kingdom—but transforming it into something far greater: the kingdom of heaven. In him, Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled. God’s light shines where people least expect it.

Jesus’ message is simple and radical: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This is the heartbeat of his mission. The kingdom is not merely coming someday—it is already near. It is already present. And it begins with the conversion of heart.

Then comes the calling of the first disciples—Simon and Andrew, James and John. Fishermen. Ordinary men. No credentials. No influence. From a small village, far from centers like Jerusalem, Rome, or Alexandria. And yet they leave everything to follow him.

This echoes Nathanael’s question: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” And the answer, again and again, is yes—when God’s light is allowed to shine.

How often do we disqualify ourselves? I am not good enough. I don’t know enough. My faith is weak. Yet Jesus chooses precisely those who feel small. The first disciples allowed his light to shine in them, despite their limitations. God’s light is in you.

Saint Paul reminds the Corinthians that division and discouragement weaken the witness of faith. And today, we face similar challenges. Social, political, and economic pressures can dull our spiritual courage. Among the youth, there is confusion and doubt. Violence, hatred, and manipulation seem to flourish, as though the light were fading. But the light has not gone out. The question is whether we are listening.

Jesus still says, “Follow me.” He still invites us to begin anew—to leave behind fear, resignation, and the weight of the past. Journeying with Christ clears the path forward and fills life with truth, beauty, justice, and love. Hope is born when we bear witness to the light within us.

Pope Benedict XVI reminds us in Spe Salvi that before encountering Christ, people may have many “gods” but remain without real hope. And that rings true today. Our generation often trusts in powers that disappoint—politics, ideology, technology, false cultural promises. These cannot bring the kingdom of God. The Gospel, Benedict says, is not just informative but performative—it changes life. “The one who has hope lives differently; the one who hopes has been granted a new life.”

That is our calling.

Today, hear Jesus again say: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Be grounded in hope. Trust the presence of God within you. And carry this kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit to others.

Let God’s light burn brightly through love, service, and truth. Let it dispel fear, anguish, and hatred. Let it overcome darkness.

God’s light is in you.

Readings: Is. 8:23–9:3; 1 Cor. 1:10–13, 17; Mt. 4:12–23

Reflection Questions

1.    Where do I recognize areas of darkness or discouragement in my life that God may be calling into the light?

2.    What fears, attachments, or habits might Jesus be asking me to leave behind in order to follow him more fully?

3.    How can I allow God’s light within me to shine more clearly through my words, choices, and service to others this week?