The Light That Unites
The Third Sunday after the Epiphany | January 25, 2026
Opening Thought
We live in a world that loves to put labels on people. We label ourselves by who we vote for, where we live, what news channel we watch, and—yes—even where we go to church. It is human nature to sort things into categories: "us" versus "them."
But this Sunday, St. Paul stops us in our tracks. Writing to a church in Corinth that was tearing itself apart over these exact kinds of divisions ("I belong to Paul," "I belong to Apollos"), he asks a devastatingly simple question: "Has Christ been divided?"
It is a question that rings just as true today as it did 2,000 years ago. When we walk through the doors of the church, the labels are supposed to fall away. We are not there as a fan club for a preacher or a social club for like-minded people. We are there because we have all been called by the same Voice.
In our Gospel, Jesus walks by the Sea of Galilee and calls two sets of brothers. He doesn't ask them about their politics or their background. He simply says, "Follow me." And immediately, they drop their nets. They drop the tools of their trade, their identities as fishermen, and their security, to follow the Light that has dawned in their midst.
This Sunday is about remembering what binds us together. It is about stepping out of the darkness of division and into the light of a shared calling.
Engaging the Word
Isaiah (9:1-4) gives us one of the most beautiful images in all of scripture: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." This isn't a soft, gentle glow; it is a dawn that breaks the "yoke of their burden." It promises that God’s light doesn't just reveal things; it liberates them.
Psalm 27 is our confident response to that light. "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?" It is a psalm of singular focus. In a world full of distractions and dangers, the Psalmist desires only one thing: "to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life."
1 Corinthians (1:10-18) is the hard reality check. Paul pleads with the community to "be united in the same mind and the same purpose." He calls out the foolishness of their factions. For Paul, the cross of Christ is the great equalizer—it empties human boasting of its power and leaves us with nothing but grace.
Matthew (4:12-23) shows us the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. Jesus moves to Capernaum, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali (the very places Isaiah mentioned), and the light begins to shine. But this light demands a response. Simon, Andrew, James, and John show us what that response looks like: immediate, radical obedience. They leave their nets to become "fishers of people."
A Journey in Song: Our Musical Guides
Our music today moves from the quiet intimacy of prayer to the bold vision of service.
Opening Voluntary: We begin with the "Adagio in E Major" by Frank Bridge. "Adagio" literally means "at ease." This piece is a lush, romantic meditation that invites us to slow down, breathe, and center ourselves before the service begins. It sets a tone of warmth and introspection.
Entrance Hymn: We stand to sing "I come with joy to meet my Lord" (#304). This is the perfect hymn for a Sunday focused on unity. It describes the Eucharist as the place where "strangers now are friends" and where we "find in each other's gladness" the presence of Christ.Sequence Hymn: We sing one of the most beloved hymns in the Anglican tradition: "Dear Lord and Father of mankind" (#653). Set to the sweeping tune Repton by Hubert Parry, it is a prayer for calm in the midst of chaos. We ask God to "take from our souls the strain and stress" and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of his peace.
Offertory Anthem: The choir offers "Eternal God" by Richard Shephard. The text is a prayer based on St. Augustine, and it traces a beautiful path of discipleship:
- Minds that know you (leads to Trust)
- Hearts that love you (leads to Service)
Communion Music: We have a special musical moment during Communion. As many of you know, the weather prevented us from hearing the scheduled Offertory last Sunday. However, Colton Barber, Susan Pavoni, and Mickey Brooks have worked incredibly hard to prepare this masterpiece, and we simply couldn't let it go unheard. They will offer "I Waited for the Lord" by Felix Mendelssohn. While the text is from Psalm 40, it echoes the spirit of today's Psalm 27, which concludes: "Wait for the Lord; be strong." It is a reminder that even as we drop our nets to follow, we must always wait on God’s strength.
Post-Communion Hymn: We conclude with the ancient Irish prayer "Be thou my vision" (#488). Having seen the "Great Light" in the readings and the Eucharist, we ask God to be our vision—our "best thought," our "wisdom," and our "high tower"—as we go back out into the world.
A Closing Note on our Journey
There is a phrase in the Offertory Anthem that stuck with me this week: "Grant us so to love you, That we may freely serve you." Notice the order. We don't serve God to get Him to love us. We serve Him because we love Him. When Peter and Andrew dropped their nets, it wasn't a transaction. It was a reaction. They saw something in Jesus that was worth more than their livelihood. This week, you will likely face "nets" of your own—distractions, divisions, petty arguments, or just the exhausting grind of the daily routine. My prayer is that you can find a moment of "Repton" quietness in the middle of it all. Listen for the "still, small voice of calm." And when you hear it, don't be afraid to drop the nets and follow.
A Prayer for the Week Ahead
Let us pray for unity in our hearts and in our church.
For the light of Christ to shine in the dark corners of our lives.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the courage to drop our nets and follow where Jesus leads.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the grace to see Christ in the face of our neighbors, especially those we disagree with.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Collect for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany:
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
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