Author: SHSS

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

This Sunday has been designated Word of God Sunday. The Church wishes to point out to us the importance of the Word of God in the Liturgy. There are four readings every Sunday and holy days: the first reading, usually taken from the Hebrew Scriptures, the responsorial psalm, the second reading, and the Gospel. It is only during Easter that the first reading is also taken from the New Testament. We believe that Christ, the Word of God, is truly present in the reading of the sacred text as well as in the sacraments. Today we are asked to reflect on the presence of Christ in the Word, and even in the homily given.

The Word Proclaimed in Scripture

To illustrate the importance of God’s Word in sacred text, let us look at the text proclaimed today. The first reading is taken from the Book of Isaiah. The reading speaks to us of the land of Zebulun and Naphtali. This is a region in the north of Israel. It was a place that was largely populated by non-Jews. It was also a land that was regarded as a place of darkness regarding spirituality and religious observance. Yet the reading tells us that the people who live in this region have seen a great light.

In the Gospel, the same region is mentioned. Yet the light that the people see is none other than Jesus. What is the Liturgy of the Word telling us? There are people who live with a great deal of darkness and sadness. There are people whose lives are dark, who are lonely, who feel abandoned. There are people whose lives have been difficult and who are about ready to give up. Yet a great light has come. The light for them is Jesus, who can change their lives. Do you know people whose lives were changed by coming to know Jesus?

The Word That Changes Us

Once we hear the Word, know it, and allow it to touch our hearts, then we too, can be changed for the better.

Msgr. Guy A. Massie
January 25, 2026
Sunday Readings