Gospel says that after John the Baptist was arrested by king Herod, Jesus began his
ministry in the region of Galilee, a land of mixed population [Jews, Romans, Greeks]. It
was already a hostile environment that generated darkness, divisions in the land. Jesus
unafraid started out his ministry of healing and teaching, saying ‘repent and welcome
the kingdom of God’. Jesus was inviting all saying: consider my way, change your
mind, share my love, follow me and you be the light for others; together we change the
world, remove gloom and darkness, help people to live a love, hope oriented life!
Kingdom is not about one day going to heaven but living heaven here and now, today,
living the law of charity!
Maria Garno writes how gospel became real in her life, how she helped remove gloom
and darkness from a depressed woman! It was cold winter morning in Toronto. I was at
the bus stop on my way to work, Last night with some friends we read the gospel
passage: ‘whatever you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine, you did
for me. I realized that every one of those strangers at the bus stop is in fact another
Jesus to be loved, if only for a few minutes. then I saw a woman in her 40s, her face full
of pain, with large, sad and distant eyes. I knew she was the person I had to love first
and I said, good morning’. We sat on the bus next to each other. She told me her story:
She had a wonderful life, she and her husband went to live in Greece, had two boys
and started a successful restaurant business. When economy collapsed in Greece their
business went bankrupt, lost everything. No work, they returned to Canada. She found
a job in a bakery and her husband had sunk into depression. As we got off the bus she
said: you don’t know what you did this morning. Last few days I thought of ending my
life. Today you restored my hope. I had prayed that I would meet someone who would
understand, someone I could talk to. Today God answered my prayer. We both cried.
Lela, I became friends and I met her husband and helped them find better jobs. We
walked a painful road together with its joys and sorrows!
Paul talks about division in the church of Corinth, people claiming to belong to this
group or that group; there are such divisions in church today! It begins with divided
hearts, people struggling with darkness; light would seem distant! Division happens in
family when darkness [selfish, unforgiving attitudes] overcomes your love, commitment
to each other; you experience love squandered and betrayed! When we don’t allow the
good news of Christ enlighten and guide our lives, chances are darkness and gloom
gradually engulf us. Repentance breaks the spell of darkness; Paul: God’s kindness,
mercy is about leading us to repentance. What is the good news we need to hear
today? Good news is that Christ was crucified for us, he has overcome darkness,
gloom and death for us! Lord, I bring to you the burdens of my fears, ill health, stress in
relationships, anger, and place them beneath your cross; I need rest, peace; help me
see clearly and love deeply!