“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same.”

Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness. 
Martin Luther King, Jr.

(Gospel Text: Mt 4:12-17, 23-25)

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,

he withdrew to Galilee.

He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,

in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,

that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet

might be fulfilled:

Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,

the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles,

the people who sit in darkness

have seen a great light,

on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death

light has arisen.

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,

“Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

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.

His fame spread to all of Syria,

and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases

and racked with pain,

those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics,

and he cured them.

And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea,

and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

In today’s gospel reading, the prophet Isaiah was quoted from the Old Testament «The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light; on those who live in the land of the shadow of death, a light has shone» (Mt 4:16).

Many of us like to think that God’s presence manifested itself more in the past than it does now. We so easy forget that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). There was never a time in history where it was easy to be a practicing Catholic.

The sacraments of the Church and fostering a daily prayer life grant us pardon and peace and an opportunity to participate, once again, in the works of God in the world of today.

The forces arrayed against Christianity have always been daunting.  It seems as though the average person has no power or influence to change things for the better.  However, the Christian is not called to be "average," but to be a saint.

Don’t miss the opportunity!