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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