2026 Cycle A - 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isa 8:23b-9:3; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17; Matt 4:12-23 or Matt 4:12-17

Homily Theme

Light & Darkness

This week there are two words that stand out for me, when I read the Scriptures for this Sunday. They are Light and Darkness. In the First Reading it talks about a people who walk in Darkness, but they will see a great light that will eventually change their way of living. Many who are living today in our present day world are also living in the Darkness of sin and unbelief:  for them it is a future life of doom and gloom since God is not part of their lives.  Many do not even believe there is a God. Millions no longer go to Mass on Sunday and they rebel when asked to go. I just read this week that 26 percent do not attend on Sunday to hear the Readings, neither do they ever receive the Holy Eucharist.

Many years ago I visited Bergen, a City in Norway. It is a land of darkness for six months of the year when there is no sunlight. I was only 2 days, there during their 6 months  period of their 24 hours of permanent Sunlight:  The Land of the Mid-Night SUN. I would not choose to live in a Country with so much darkness Yet many have chosen to live in our lands in spite of Spiritual Darkness. Where millions no longer pray or worship God. 

This week we are challenged by the Scripture Readings to look at our lives to see whether we are walking in the light of Jesus. Look around you and see how many people that you know who are living in the Darkness of Sin. People that don’t believe their sins are sins. They need light to open their spiritual eyes. Jesus, who is the true light of the World, chooses in today’s Gospel the Apostles. They become the first teachers of Jesus and found His Church which still exists today for those in the light. Many are chosing  which Teachings of the Church they will accept.  They are in the Dark not the light

 When we meet true followers of Jesus they are lights in our Darkness. We will know that they are different because we will feel the presence of God in their presence. They will be like many candles on birthday cake that light up the room we are in. They will light up all those who encounter them with an honest search and an open mind. Some will be like a search light that penetrates our hearts as Mother Teresa of Calcutta did. She is even more powerful as St Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

Resolve today to let Jesus change your light as He did theirs. He is the true light that will do it.  As you finish reading this open your heart and invite Him in to it. You life will not be the same but it will be much better than it has ever been.  Jesus our Lord let Him be your Lord if he wasn’t until now. 

Have you seen the Light? Then be a Light to others.