(Is.8:23-9:3;   Ps.27:1,4,13-14;   1Cor.1:10-13,17;   Mt.4:12-23)   “Light has arisen.”   “Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness: for there is no gloom where but now there was distress.”  Yes, “a light has shone”; Jesus has come.  No longer do we walk in darkness.  So we should proclaim with David: “The Lord is my light and my salvation”; we should long to dwell in the Temple He has built, “gaz[ing] on the loveliness of the Lord.”  Here in His House we “see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living.”  Here in His Church we come to the paradise He has come to establish in this land of darkness. The light dawns as Jesus calls His disciples to His side.  Here are the beginnings of His Church, the coming of light to this earth.  The Lord calls Peter and Andrew, and James and John, and they respond, and they follow the light.  And the light goes forth as He goes “around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.”  Do you see how the light grows?  Do you know the light reflected in the disciples’ eyes, which shall take root and become known to all the world?  Here indeed is the Church begun, the holy House of God – the New Jerusalem.  And nothing shall disturb its growth; nothing shall dim or block the light that has come. Yet what division is upon the Church Christ has founded here on the shores of Galilee.  How has it come to be that we are so disobedient to Paul’s instruction “that there be no divisions among [us], but that [we] be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.”  How many more rivalries have we than the Corinthians.  Not only do those separated from the Church declare their peculiar allegiance to various people or nations, saying, “I belong to Luther,” or “I belong to Calvin,” or “I belong to England” – and now there are some 360 different denominations, one for every day of the year, it seems – but within the Catholic Church deep divisions arise between “liberal” or “conservative” theologians, thus bringing darkness upon God’s people.  The Church remains, and nothing shall overcome it, but what a poor sign it is to the world as the devil has his day in its division. The Lord has come bringing “abundant joy and great rejoicing” for those who remain in His light.  The unbroken flame rises up from these first apostles Jesus called on this one morning by the Sea of Galilee.  The net extends from their hands and draws in all who truly seek to dwell in the presence of God.   Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt.   Music: "Mirror of Knowledge" (2nd part) from Listening to the Lamp, ninth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt.   ******* O LORD, may the Gospel be proclaimed in strength this day in your Son’s holy Name.  YHWH, your light has dawned upon this dark world; in Jesus your Son our salvation has come, and now we may dwell in your House with Him.  Beginning on the shores of Galilee, your Word goes forth, calling all men to your kingdom.  May we repent of our sin that we might enter there. Today your Son calls the first apostles from their boats to dry land that they might be fishers of men.  And so He works through His apostles even to this day.  A great light shines upon those who walked in darkness – we who were sinners now come to your Temple, LORD, there, we pray, to remain all our days. Let there be no division in your Church, dear God, but let us be united in the flesh of your Son and preach His Gospel with one voice (His own) to the ends of this dark earth.  O let your holy light now shine through all He calls to be His disciples!  The yoke of sin that has enslaved us be smashed, we pray, that we shall no longer be afraid, that we shall no longer walk in darkness.