Jesus started his public ministry in Galilee, considered a land of pagans, a people held in contemptby the Jews (1Macc.5:15). The light that shone out from Galilee is destined to illumine people allover the world. The land which, in the time of Isaiah, was ravaged by invaders and planted by sizeable numbers of foreigners is now the first to receive the light of salvation and to hear the Messiah’s preaching (Is.8:23-9:1).
Isaiah stresses the universality of the Church and shows how these foretold prophecies are fulfilled; "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness; on them has light shined" (Is.9:2). The light of God's goodness should be seen the Messiah Christ Child!
For St. Paul, faith is not something that depends on preachers or on who performed one's baptism. There should be no divisions among us that would undermine our unity in faith; rather, it is based on Christ. The miracles he works are signs that he is establishing the Kingdom of God, signs of the mercy and grace that God, through Jesus, is offering all humanity, as represented by the crowds that flock to him.
The Lord Jesus inaugurated his Church by preaching the Good News, that is, the coming of the Kingdom of God, promised over the ages in the scriptures….This Kingdom shone out before humanity in the words, in the works and in the presence of Christ Jesus. The Church on "Mission" to 'the lost sheep of the house of Israel' foreshadowing 'all nations' (Mt.10:6; 15:24; 28:19).
Today is the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's legalization of abortion. This year the liturgical commemoration of a 'Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children' is transferred to tomorrow because of the anniversary falling on a Sunday. Nonetheless, it's still fitting for petitions, hymns, and homilies today to focus on how to respond prayerfully to this national horror.
Jesus withdrew when He heard that John had been arrested. Jesus knew that John's life would soon end by beheading. But it wouldn't require divine insight to see the reason for John's arrest and martyrdom. John was jailed and executed by civil authorities for his steadfast witness to truth. He wasn't willing to be silent. He wasn't willing to pretend that civil authority's abuse of moral truth is either justified or without serious consequences for society.
It was at this time that Jesus began to cry: "Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand" (Mt.4:17). John the Baptist's preaching was all about repentance. But for Jesus, repentance is only the opening act of a larger drama. He calls Simon and Andrew to come after Him to be fishers of men.
St. John the Evangelist proclaims the truth that 'God is love'. God's very life is love. Everything that God created, He created out of love, and for love. This is true of human beings in a unique way, for God created humanity in His own image and likeness (Gen.1:26). Through Christ's death and resurrection, he revealed that this love is more powerful than sin and death; His Kingdom is founded on this revealed truth. Sin and death are not powerful enough to have the last word, either in this world or in the next.
Civil law in our nation has claimed that Americans have the right to kill innocent 'Beings'. This claim cannot be justified by reason, nor can its effects on our society be ignored. God has called each Christian to the responsibility of imitating John the Baptist in witnessing to the Truth. Jesus, through His death and resurrection, has shown the power of God's life of love. Drawing on that love, we find strength to persevere in fostering a culture of life—through just laws and fervent charity—in our own day and time, as a reflection of God's eternal kingdom of love.
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