Scripture reveals the Great Light of Christ today, that is made visible through our acts of love for others
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – January 25, 2026
When we think about the situation in Kenya for ordinary people, it is clear that most people are struggling in a big way. There are the few who are rich and the rest in economic poverty, struggling for food and medical care.
So, when we hear the First Reading, we can understand when many people don’t see the light: they can be closed in on the darkness of our suffering. However, the readings are not disconnected from the recent and great celebrations of Christmas.
When Jesus Christ was born, a great light did enter into our world but many don’t feel it because, perhaps, they are so busy surviving that they don’t have time to turn on the light.
At the risk of offending anyone, perhaps the image of the man in this story might help us see what I mean: the man had no particular faith and was walking past a Minister baptising people in a river. The Minister called to him: “do you want to find Jesus?” The man said, “Sure.” The Minister pushed his head under water for a few seconds and pulled him up again, asking: “Have you found Jesus?” The man shook his head, so the Minister pushed him under water a second time, for a bit longer, and asked again, “Have you found Jesus?” The man shook his head, so the Minister pushed him under water a third time, for even longer. The man started spluttering and yelled out, “are you sure this is where he fell in the river?”
When we talk about a “light”, our minds may be too focused on the usual meaning of electric lights, candles, lanterns, etc. But when Christ came among us, we were given a light in our hearts through baptism, when we received the Holy Spirit.
Wherever we see acts of love and service, know that God has entered into our lives: recognise it as the light, and allow that light to inspire us to do likewise. The forces of evil around us may make life difficult, but they cannot extinguish the light of Christ unless we ourselves stop doing acts of love and service in the communities where live, work and visit.
Today we celebrate the new Feast: Word of God Sunday, for only the eighth time since Pope Francis initiated it in 2019. It is a happy coincidence that this date (25th Jan), is also the day St Paul had his great conversion experience. He literally saw and heard the Word of God and certainly, we are told, he saw a great light: it blinded him!
Today’s First Reading says: “The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light.” Many of us are searching for that light, but we forget to spend time with Sacred Scripture.
Perhaps we forget because we want God to fit in with “my” plans, instead of adjusting our plans to fit into the life-giving instructions God has given us: I’ve already made my plans and, now, God better help me!
When we go home or visit friends after Mass, does anyone ask: ‘what were the readings about today?’ It’s embarrassing when we say: “I can’t remember!”. What does that really indicate? It could mean that we are stressed and overwhelmed by some issue(s). Or it could mean that we are just going through the motions of attending Mass because that is what we always do.
This Feast Day reminds us to engage in the Mass more fully each week, and allow our troubles to be massaged by the Word of God, and the Eucharist to heal our wounded hearts. Otherwise, we’ll be like people at a wedding feast who sit on their phones: forgetting to eat the beautiful food and talk to the people present. We will miss the opportunity to be nourished.
How can we allow the Sacred Scriptures to be a real light in our lives? Let us start by reading the Readings before we come to Mass (or come a little early to read them). In Mass, we can connect with the Readings more deeply, allowing the homily to open our minds.
Otherwise, when we hear the Readings for the first time at Mass (often read poorly and quickly by the readers and the priest alike), it will be like eating raw potatoes! We are “there,” we are “eating,” but we are not appreciating the goodness in the potato, distracted by the taste.
Next, form Scripture groups in our local communities: even with just one or two neighbours: if you can’t get to Mass, why not read the Scriptures? When done as a small group, it is more powerful: the Holy Spirit talks to us as others share “what the reading says to me”.
Today’s Gospel reveals how Jesus began inviting people to do things differently: repent, simply means turn-around. As we enter into 2026, can we also “repent” by doing things differently? Try, with your neighbour, for one month to share the Scriptures weekly over a breakfast cuppa.
Finally, depression is currently the third biggest disease in the world and is projected to be the No.1 killer by 2030. Let’s pray that we can carry the “light” of Sacred Scripture into the “darkness” that many people experience in their lives.
By Gerard Conlan, OMI
