Sunday’s Gospel is a continuation of last week’s Gospel. Striving to live the Beatitudes, which we heard last week, is the way we will be a light to our respective worlds of home, parish, and work. Striving to practice the directive of today’s first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah is the way we can be the salt of the earth.
Called to Love God and Others
As disciples of Christ, we are called to love God and love others. We are called to love God through the celebration of the Eucharist, through prayer, and through reading Scripture. Loving others is a way we love God. To love others means willing the good of the other regardless of personally liking or disliking them. We will the good of the other because Christ has demanded us to love. We are called to both love God and others. We cannot separate these two commands. Thus, we cannot say, “I will not worship, but I will serve the poor.”
Faith Strengthened by Good Deeds
We serve the poor and practice mercy because God wills us to do these acts of kindness. When good deeds and belief are held together, the faith is made strong. When negative actions accompany the faith, we are scandalized, and the faith is weakened.
When I see people who celebrate the Eucharist regularly, forgive hurts, address issues honestly, work for justice—being concerned for the most vulnerable of our society—give service in their respective communities, care for their elderly parents and relatives, and give of their time to others, my faith is enriched, and I feel uplifted. When I witness clergy and religious serving and praying, my vocation is encouraged.
In a negative way, when I witness those who are regular churchgoers exhibiting hatred, prejudicial behavior, severe judgment—not being moved to compassion, refusing to grow in forgiveness, holding the poor in contempt, or abusing their role of service through misuse of their authority—I am pulled down, my faith is weakened, and the world is not as bright as it can be had we all followed the Gospel.
Choose Life
We have a choice. We can choose to be light and salt and give life, or we can choose not to follow the dictates of the Gospel to love God and others and choose death for ourselves and those around us. Let us choose LIFE.
Msgr. Guy A. Massie
February 8, 2026