1 John 3:22 - 4:6 / Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
The festive season is obviously over.
We have celebrated Christmas, and welcomed the New Year.
With the feast of Epiphany over, it is time to take down the Christmas decorations and keep the statues of the Nativity scene.
As much as all the feasts and festivities are over, some things must have changed.
We have experiences that have deepened and strengthened our faith.
Our faith is leading us to the mission, and the mission is to proclaim the Good News of God’s love.
It is the same mission that Jesus embarked on in the gospel.
With His light in our hearts, we go forth into the world, but we are not of the world.
The 1st reading tells us that those who of the world speak the language of the world, and the world listens to them.
The world listens to those who speak of efficiency, results, achievements, numbers and profits.
But we who are of God will speak the language of the Good News.
We speak of the dignity of the person and respect, forgiveness and healing, kindness and gentleness, patience and dependence on God’s providence and guidance.
May the Spirit of truth lead us to speak and act with love.
And may the Good News bring about God’s blessings on us and on the world.