First Reading - 1 John 3:22-4:6
Gospel - Matthew 4:12-17,23-25
The First Reading from 1 John speaks to a community facing inner tension and confusion. John does not tell them to be suspicious of everything, but to be discerning. Not every spirit comes from God. The test is clear and practical. What truly comes from God leads us to confess Jesus Christ, to live in love, and to remain in God rather than fear the world. Truth does not isolate, dominate, or confuse. It builds communion and strengthens trust. When faith leads us away from love, it has already lost its way.
This reading reassures believers who feel overwhelmed. John reminds them that God is greater than the forces that unsettle them. They do not need to panic or constantly defend themselves. They already belong to God. Discernment is not about anxiety, but about staying rooted in what gives life: love of God and love of neighbor.
The Gospel from Matthew shows what this life-giving truth looks like when it takes flesh. Jesus begins his public ministry not with judgment, but with invitation: repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repentance here is not about shame; it is about reorientation. Turn around. Look again. God is closer than you think.
As Jesus moves through towns and villages, his presence brings healing, restoration, and hope. People are drawn to him because his words and actions align. What he proclaims, he lives. Where he speaks, lives are lifted. This is how truth reveals itself, not through force, but through transformation. Darkness recedes not because it is argued away, but because light has arrived.
Dear friends, when faced with choices, teachings, or inner impulses, we can ask simple questions. Does this lead me closer to Christ or away from him? Does it deepen love or feed fear? Does it build communion or division? The spirit that comes from God always leads toward life.
This is especially important today, when many people feel spiritually exhausted or unsure whom to trust. God does not ask us to figure everything out. God asks us to remain. To stay grounded in love. To listen for the voice that heals rather than wounds, that frees rather than controls.
The invitation today is clear. Stay close to Christ. Let your faith be shaped not by fear of being wrong, but by love that seeks truth. Allow repentance to be a daily turning toward light. When we do, we discover that the kingdom of God is not distant. It is already among us, quietly transforming lives, beginning with our own.
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