Jesus tells us the simplest and most basic description of what a Christian should be - i.e., the salt of the earth and a light of the world. We are called to make a difference in this world. To be like salt is to be of substance, and to be like light is to be of radiance, to give glory to God.

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In the days of the prophet Zephaniah, around 700 BC, the Lord promised to care for the "remnants of Israel," the humble and lowly who seek refuge in Him.

Building on this promise, Jesus teaches the disciples who are truly blessed by revealing the Beatitudes, which provide the scriptural foundation of true and lasting peace. His message-"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven"-reflects a central scriptural theme: God consistently favors the anawim, the poor, lowly, and humble. Contemporary discourse calls this God's preferential option for the poor.

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The reading from Isaiah is paired with the Gospel because Matthew sees the prophecy fulfilled in Jesus' revelation of Himself in Galilee. During this time, the kingdom of Israel was divided into two (2): the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Both, unfortunately, were in a state of decadence and destruction. So, when the Assyrians, the dominant empire of the time, expanded to their southern borders, they invaded the northern tribes of Israel, and the land of Zebulun and Naphtali was the first to be destroyed and to experience darkness. These two tribes of Galilee were once allotted to the two Sons of Jacob and part of the twelve tribes of Israel.

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John the Evangelist masterfully weaves the theme of the Lamb of God throughout his Gospel and the book of Revelation. In his writings, Jesus is presented as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world - a deeply meaningful title, rooted in the sacrificial traditions of the Old Testament. The image of the lamb, innocent and unblemished, already carried powerful symbolism for the Jewish people. In the Temple liturgy, an innocent lamb was sacrificed as a burnt offering, emphasizing the victim's innocence and the totality of the offering. This act of sacrifice provided a vivid foreshadowing of the Savior: The Lamb of God.

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A call from my cousin in Michigan brought back a flood of memories. She asked if I could baptize their first grandchild - a request that fills me with both honor and nostalgia. Just last year, I celebrated the marriage of my niece, and now, their first child, a boy, has arrived. I remember the days in the Philippines, cuddling my nieces and nephews. Time flies: they're grown, some now in the US, and my cousins turn to me for weddings - and, now, baptisms.

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In the Gospel, the Magi from the East, tasked by King Herod to seek the newborn Jesus, found themselves transformed by their encounter with Him. They came, they saw, and they were conquered - not by power, but by the humble presence of the Child Jesus. Their journey did not end at the manger; instead, it marked a new beginning. Choosing not to return to Herod, they went home "by another way," symbolizing a break from their old paths and a commitment to a new vision and mission.

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From the moment their children are born, many parents already dream of their future. Grandparents and godparents eagerly share stories, predicting who the child will become. Yet all these dreams ultimately rest on the foundation of the home - a place where a child must grow strong, gain God's wisdom, and learn to live as a true child of God.

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When Joseph learns of Mary's conception, his first instinct is to protect. He loves Mary enough to shield her from shame, even at the cost of his own hopes. Yet it is precisely in that moment of uncertainty that God enters-not with thunder, but with a dream.

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Leaders come and go. Elected political leaders serve a term and literally have to court voters from where their mandate comes. In some dioceses, church leaders, Priests or Pastors, after the period of their assignment expires, are re-assigned to another parish - they also come and go. Whatever the length of the tenure of office, there is a saying: one period is too short for a good leader and too long for a bad one. There are many examples of leaders holding on to their positions and power and not wanting to relinquish them - until the ugly side of power manifests. Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. When this happens, the people the leaders wish to serve are the most affected and become victims of tyranny. Herod the Great and his successors have all succumbed to the folly of too much power.

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One of the responsibilities entrusted to me during my four years as Associate Pastor at St. Theresa in Phoenix was overseeing the Marriage Preparation. Each year, there was always at least one couple who hesitated when asked to participate. They would question the need for preparation: Why prepare for marriage when we already love each other and have known each other for so long?

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