ISAIAH 8: 23-9: 3

PSALM 26: 1, 4, 13-14

1 CORINTHIANS 1: 10-13, 17

MATTHEW 4: 12-23

————————————————————————————In today’s Gospel, Jesus begins his mission with the words, “Repent, for the kingdom is close at hand.”

Jesus is inviting us to his kingdom and he is the light that will lead us there. Our response as the words of Jesus suggest, is one of repentance, and conversion.

The challenge for us is to recognize our own darkness and so let Jesus light shine that we can move away from that darkness. Mother Teresa of Calcutta tells a story of a man she visited in Melbourne. His little unit was a mess and dark with everything closed. And there he lived never venturing out unless for necessities. As she tried to clean up the place and open the curtains and windows, he told her not to worry for he was happy with the unit as it was.

We are sometimes like that man not realizing the darkness we live in because we have got so used to it. And because of this we refuse to let the light of Christ lead us to the kingdom of love. Even St Paul in the second reading had to remind the good Christians of Corinth of their dark side.

People will say though that Jesus said “Come as you are.”Jesus loves us no matter who we are, but because he loves us, he is concern when we let sin rule and destroy us He wants to help us out of our darkness into his kingdom of heaven.

Being a Christian is an ongoing conversion to God’s Wayof love to grow in holiness..

When we look at Jesus’ ministry, he cured many of their illness and demons. But they came to Jesus. And the spiritual healing is more important than the physical healing.

We too need to bring our sinfulness to Jesus that he may heal us and strengthen us.

Where is our darkness where we need to let the light of Christ to shine: is it violence, hatred, prejudice, fear, laziness, indifference, selfishness, pornography, unfaithfulness, greed, etc.

Matthew is inviting us through a journey with Peter and Andrew, and James and John as they journey with Jesus, to hear about the kingdom and live in it.

As we begin this journey, let us ask ourselves how ready are we to follow Jesus? Are we ready to take Jesus seriously in all he teaches? Are we ready to go where he calls us to? What if it gets difficult, will we abandon the journey? In Matthew’s Gospel, before Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus told the parable of the wedding feast and how so many gave excuses for not coming. Are we ready to follow Jesus, or do we make excuses for not seeking to grow in faith?

The immediate response of Peter and Andrew, and James and John suggest the importance and urgency of the message and the faith they had in Jesus.

And there, is the reason for our journey with Jesus….our faith in him. He is our saviour and he is God, who else can we turn to? This is first and foremost, a journey of faith….If we say we believe in God and Christ His Son, let us follow him.

Let us put our faith in what he teaches because it is the light that leads us to life.

ISAIAH 49: 3, 5-6
PSALM 39: 2, 4, 7-10
1 CORINTHIANS 1: 1-3
JOHN 1: 29-34

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Amidst the tragedies of bush fires and cyclones and floods we always hear of many heroic stories of saving lives and neighbour helping neighbour. It is a great witness of the human spirit and the goodness that is within us. And whilst it can seem so dark, people will rise again if they know that they are supported with love in this time of trial.
Where love prevails, darkness is overcome.

In the same way Jesus comes to save us from a darkness that engulfs us. For there is one challenge in life that we all struggle with is the challenge that is sin. Sin is like the bush fires and cyclones, can becomes too strong for us to overcome as it destroys us.

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist gives witness to the Lamb of God who comes to help us through this tragedy in life. God does not leave us to ourselves but sends His Son, Jesus that we may rise from our struggle against our sinfulness. The prophet Isaiah in the first reading speaks about Jesus who comes to save the world.

For without Christ, sin would drag us down in despair.

Jesus, the Lamb of God recalls the sacrifice of the lamb at the Passover when the Jews were slaves in Egypt, and unable to save themselves. It is God who freed them from slavery. The sacrifice of lambs then became a sin offering restoring the people’s relationship with God.

Jesus is the new lamb, the perfect Lamb of God who frees us from the slavery of sin.

John the Baptist and St Paul are encouraging the people to follow Christ that we may be saved. Unfortunately, whenever disasters are approaching, some people would ignore the warnings given. Likewise, some people feel they do not need the God’s salvation.

With the cyclones and fire, we can see the danger coming. With sin, we often do not recognize it and can be so easily be misled because it is pride or our emotions that controls us.

For instance we can be persuaded by our friends who might live a lifestyle that is contrary to God’s law;
Or when we are controlled by our emotions: how often people do things in their anger only to regret it later.
Or when we are led by our hatred and prejudices to inflict injury either by word or deed on others.

Sin is deadly and destructive for it destroys our very soul. God comes not only to take away our sins but to lead us to the way of life and love.

Today as we begin the year, let us ask ourselves how do we respond to God’s gift of salvation? Do we listen to the Word that guides us or do we choose to go our own way.
Do we keep God close to our hearts through prayer or do we wonder far from Him. Do we reach out to the hand of God which offers forgiveness or do we feel we have no need of forgiveness and mercy pushing His hand away?

As we begin our year, then let us choose for God and seek His way. Let us seek His presence for that is the best way to preserve ourselves from sin.

(2025)

ISAIAH 42: 1-4, 6-7
PSALM 28: 1-4, 9-10 R. v. 11
ACTS 10: 34-38
MATTHEW 3: 13-17

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Last month we witnessed the darkness of the Bondi massacre. The terrorist would say that this was their calling from God.

In contrast Jesus reveals the true calling of God.

Today as we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, we are celebrating the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry. As soon as Jesus is baptized, a voice speaks from heaven, “This is my Son, the beloved, My favour rests on him.”

God’s favour rests on him because in his humanity, he does the will of the Father.
And in so doing he reveals the nature of the Son and the love of God. The Son always does the will of the Father, because the Father lives in the Son. In his baptism, Jesus is not claiming the right of his divinity but submitting to his humanity.

And in the second reading, Peter explains the consequence of this: “God had anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him. And Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.” Peter is attributing all Jesus actions in his humanity to the Holy Spirit who lives in him.

This is also prophesied by Isaiah in the first reading where the prophet speaks of the righteous one whom we identify with Jesus.

Today as we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, we are celebrating the depth and meaning of our own baptism. Jesus did not have to be baptised for he was without sin, but he was baptised because he lived and was affected by the sins of the world. He carried our sins for us. He wanted to identify himself with our human journey on earth.

And through his baptism we find the meaning of our own baptism. Jesus found favour with the Father because he was obedient to the will of the Father. Jesus always sought the will of God through prayer. Jesus gave his life for God and for us.

Our baptism is a gift to us from God. It remains only a gift unless it is used.

Through our baptism we are invited to become what God has meant us to become, an image of Christ, His Son through the Holy Spirit.
Through the Holy Spirit, this becomes a reality when we like Jesus are willing to live a life in obedience with the will of God.

This becomes a reality when it is a life of love for God and neighbour.
This becomes a reality when we are ready to give witness to God through our faith in Him.
This becomes a reality when we are ready to bring healing and hope to others.
This becomes a reality when we are willing to forgive from our cross.

Our baptism is a call to live a life that we as humans were meant to be. Created in the image of God, we can only find meaning in living a life founded on God’s love.

ECCLESSIASTICUS / SIRACH 3: 2-6, 12-14
PSALM 127: 1-5
COLOSSIANS 3: 12-21
MATTHEW 2: 13-15, 19-23

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What are your fondest memories you have of growing up in a family? There may be fond memories of Christmas past, or going on holidays or presents received but underlying all these is knowing that you were loved. For all these things has little value if the love was not there.

And how do children know that they are loved? It is simply when parents take time to spend with their children. It is there that children will find the happiness they long for.
They may seem to enjoy the outings and things bought for them but these things don’t last. They can even still feel very lonely in spite of them.

What their spirit longs for most is loving interaction. It is in the presence of being there with them and for them that matters most. This is what helps them grow in love and what they remember most. That is what we hold most dear in our hearts. And this is true of all relationships.

The feast of the Holy Family reminds us that there is another more important family that we belong to where God is our Father. In telling the story of Jesus’ birth, Matthew is comparing Jesus’ story with that of Moses who freed the people of God from slavery in Egypt.

When Jesus was born, Herod killed the innocent children. So too when Moses was born, were the children of Israel killed. Moses was to lead the people out of Egypt into the Promised Land. Jesus will lead us from the slavery of sin into the heavenly kingdom. In all this we see God present with us with his love. God does not promise the Israelites the greatest of kingdoms and empire nor does he promise us material wealth.

No! God promises us something greater……A relationship with Him that is life giving.

And as Moses led the people to Mount Sinai to enter into a covenant with God,
Jesus now leads us to a relationship with God which will become real through his passion and resurrection. Through Jesus, we are invited to become part of God’s family, his children as never before.

In the Holy Family, we see the intimateness of this relationship. Their story was one of openness to God, trusting in God and following the way of God. They did this simply because they knew God in their hearts.
Today is a time to reflect on our own relationship with God. Do we know the love God has for us? What has been our experience of God in our lives?

If we do not feel God’s love, keep praying to God. There can be no substitute for prayer.
Like all other relationships, spending time with God will draw us closer to Him and open our hearts to His presence.