26 th January : Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Light shines in darkness

First Reading       : Isaiah 9:1-4
Psalm                    : Psalm 27:1, 4-9
Second Reading : 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Gospel                  : Matthew 4:12-23

Jesus begins his ministry not from the Holy city of Jerusalem but from Galilee, the land of Herod Antipas, the ruler who had just arrested John the Baptist. Matthew saw this as a fulfillment of ancient prophecy (Is 9:1-2). Light has come into a land of darkness (Jn 8:12). Christ’s work goes on wherever even one true follower of his is found for there still many who live in darkness and in the shadow of death. Each of us has areas of darkness in our lives. Darkness can stand for many things: fear, illness, pain, sin, error, loneliness, despair, oppression etc. As followers of Christ we are called to be bearers of His light.