First Reading (1 John 3,22-4,6).
Reading of the First Letter of Saint John.
Dear friends, whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. This is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, according to the commandment he gave us. Whoever keeps his commandments remains with God and God remains with him. That he remains with us, we know by the Spirit he gave us. 4, Dear friends, do not believe in any spirit, but examine the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have come into the world. This is the criterion for knowing whether an inspiration comes from God: every spirit that leads to professing that Jesus Christ came in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not profess faith in Jesus is not of God; it is the spirit of Antichrist. You have heard that the Antichrist will come; Well, he’s already in the world. Little children, you are of God and you have overcome the Antichrist. For with you is one who is greater than he who is in the world. Your adversaries are from the world; Therefore, they act according to the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; Those who are not from God do not listen to us. In this we recognize the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Matthew 4,12-17.23-25).
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, upon learning that John had been arrested, Jesus returned to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum, which is on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, in the territory of Zabulon and Nephtali, to fulfill what was said by the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zabulon, land of Nephtali, way of the sea, region of across the Jordan River, Galilee of the heathen! The people who lived in darkness saw a great light; and to those who lived in the dark region of death a light shone.” From then on, Jesus began to preach, saying: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing all kinds of illnesses and diseases among the people. And his fame spread throughout Syria. They took to him all the sick, who suffered various illnesses and torments: demoniacs, epileptics and paralytics. And Jesus healed them. Numerous crowds followed him, coming from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and the region beyond the Jordan.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” These words of Jesus, which we hear in today’s Gospel, echo down the centuries to us, as urgent and relevant today as they were when they were first spoken on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
But before we dive into the meaning of this proclamation, let’s consider the powerful context that our first reading of John’s letter offers us. John tells us something extraordinary: “Whatever we ask we will receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”
What an extraordinary promise! But take note – it comes with a condition. It is not some kind of spiritual “blank check,” but it is intrinsically linked to our obedience and our desire to please God. John is telling us that there is a deep connection between our moral life and our prayer life.
And what is the fundamental commandment that we must keep? John expresses it with crystal clarity: “That we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another.” Notice how faith and love are inseparably united. We can’t have one without the other. Our faith in Christ must manifest itself in concrete love for others.
But John also warns us about a real danger: “Do not believe in every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” In our time of fake news, conspiracy theories and false prophets, these words gain special relevance. How do we discern the truth amidst so many conflicting voices?
John gives us a clear criterion: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. In other words, true Christian spirituality always recognizes the reality of the Incarnation – God becoming truly human in Jesus Christ.
Returning to the Gospel, we see Jesus beginning his public ministry in circumstances that could seem unfavorable. John the Baptist had been arrested – a dark omen of what awaited Jesus. But instead of retreating in fear, Jesus moves forward. He leaves Nazareth and goes to live in Capernaum, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy about a light shining in the darkness.
“The people who lay in darkness have seen a great light; to those who lay in the shadow of death a light has shone.” What a powerful image! Jesus is that light, piercing the darkness of our world, of our lives, of our hearts.
And what is the first message of this Light? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repentance is not just feeling remorse for our sins. The Greek word metanoia means a complete change of mind and heart, a total reorientation of our lives toward God.
Jesus’ ministry was not limited to words. Matthew tells us that he “went all over Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing all manner of sickness and disease among the people.” Teaching, proclamation and healing – these three dimensions of Jesus’ ministry continue to be the model for the mission of the Church today.
And the impact was extraordinary. People came from everywhere – from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and across the Jordan. The light of Christ attracted people from all directions, crossing geographic, cultural and religious barriers.
What do these readings mean for us today?
First, we are called to continuous discernment. In a world full of conflicting voices, we need to develop the ability to recognize the voice of God and distinguish what is truly of the Spirit.
Second, we are challenged to a faith that manifests itself in concrete love. It is not enough to profess to believe in Jesus; our faith must translate into loving actions for others.
Third, we are invited to genuine repentance—not just feeling remorse for our sins, but reorienting our entire lives toward God and His Kingdom.
And finally, we are called to be light, as Christ was light. In our workplaces, in our families, in our communities, we must reflect the light of Christ to those who “lie in darkness.”
May the Lord give us the grace to discern His voice amid the noise of the world, the courage to respond to His call to repentance, and the strength to be His light in a world that so desperately needs hope.
And may Mary, the first and most perfect disciple of Jesus, intercede for us on this journey. Amen.
