Sunday, February 12, 2023 – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle A Readings: Sirach 15:15-20, Psalm 119 “Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!”, 1 Corinthians 2:6-10, Matthew 5:17-37

     My dear brothers and sisters, last week Jesus told us that “you are the light of the world”. Light illuminates, it reveals what is there and shows the way. Light is opposite to darkness and it is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness. You are the light of the world. Jesus is telling his disciples that they are the light of truth that reveals the reality of God’s goodness and contrast with man’s wickedness. We are to be LIGHT, witnessing boldly to the Word of the Lord. Now he shows us that bringing light to others doesn’t just happen. It happens only when his light fills our minds and hearts so that it can shine out from us.

     Darkness is a metaphor for ignorance or evil. When we light a candle darkness is overcome. This symbolism of a lit candle overcoming darkness, ignorance and evil was a powerful sign at the feast of presentation and Easter vigil. Tonight a candle is a symbol of hope. In this Black History Month, we are reminded to light candles of hope, love, unity and reconciliation. To light a candle is to say to yourself and others that, despite anything that might be happening in the world, you are still spreading a message of peace and unity based upon something beyond the present state of things and this hope is based upon deeper realities and powers than the world admits.
     Each person has a God-given mission to fulfill, a particular job to do that has been given to no one else. The first reading tells us that human beings are free and we are accountable for our actions. The second reading speaks of the wisdom of God, so different from human wisdom, the gospel gives some examples of this. The disciples do not ask Jesus to explain what he says. They believe in the love of the Father and know that the way he shows them is the way of life.
     The doctrine of Jesus is of eternal value to people of all times. To keep the truths of faith in their fullness is essential to the salvation of mankind. May he grant us the grace to light our candle wherever we are. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.   Amen
Fr. Paschal Chester, SVD.