Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Dear Parishioners,
 
Today we celebrate the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, the day on which the Lord Jesus rose from the dead. This is also the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The word “LIGHT” appears in the reading from Isaiah the Prophet, in the Gospel reading from Matthew, in the Responsorial Psalm and in the Gospel Acclamation. Its presence in the liturgy of the Word is prominent and revelatory. Jesus said that He is “the LIGHT of the world,” and indeed He is.
 
LIGHT allows us to see clearly, revealing the truth. Darkness is associated with Satan and the forces of evil which trip us up and sets us up for danger. As followers of the Risen Christ who dispelled the darkness of sin and death, we are always reminded that we must be children of the LIGHT.  In the First Letter of John, chapter 1, verses 5-8, we read: “… God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth, but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  The Apostle Paul reminds us in his First Letter to the Thessalonians, chapter 5, verse 5, “ For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.”
 
With the Lord Jesus, we become LIGHT FOR THE WORLD. The radiance which shines forth from our noble deeds is able to expose the wickedness of sin and the destruction it brings. We are reminded in today’s liturgy to reflect on our duty to SHINE for all the world to see.
 
I am looking forward to an event which will help us shine a little brighter, REBOOT LIVE, which is going to take place on Friday evening, April 21st, from 7 to 9:30 at Saint Theresa Catholic School Gymnasium in Succasunna. Internationally acclaimed speaker and author, Chris Stefanick will speak on the life you were made for. The evening includes music which will be performed by musician and recording artist Jon Niven.  This is a ticket-event; seating is limited for this wonderful evening of Catholic revival. Admission tickets are $20 and may be purchased by calling the parish office. I invite you to visit the website: www.reallifecatholic.com. This is an evening you will not forget and an opportunity you should not miss. REBOOT is just the fuel we need to make our lamps burn brighter in the dark world of disbelief and despair. I’ll be there and I hope you will too!
 
In closing Father Marcin and I would like to thank all those who remembered our birthday, Fr. Marcin-January 21 and mine-January 24. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, your generosity and your good wishes!
 
God bless you,
Father Zig