Beloved, do not trust every spirit
but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God. - 1 John 3

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
"Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." - Matthew 4

For those of us who just celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany, yesterday, the 6th of January, we might be surprised to move right into the story of the beginning of Jesus' ministry. The context, here in Matthew, is that Jesus moves out from Nazareth to Capernaum. Matthew sees this as the fulfillment of the passage from Isaiah, which we just heard on Christmas eve at midnight.

The people who sit in darkness
have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.

Jesus begins his preaching with two messages: 1) we are called to repent; and 2) we hear the announcement that the Kingdom of heaven is near.

Today, as this Christmas season draws to a close, we can all recognize that we've discovered more areas of darkness in our lives. Perhaps in two ways. One area of darkness comes from the discouragement - "gloom" in some translations - which overshadows us. There is so much conflict and division around us. There's such a disturbing sense that things aren't "well." We seem to be surrounded by proclaimers of darkness. The second area of darkness is our own sin, our own resistance to the Light. So many needs, so many wounds, so many selfish choices fill us with darkness at times. The good news we celebrate these precious days is that there is Light for this darkness - dispelling it. The Light Jesus brings can offer us courage in the midst of discouragement, and it offers us mercy, in the midst of our sin. To repent is to let the Light shine in us and enlighten every corner of darkness. By repenting, we are, cooperating with the grace offered us, choosing to walk in the Light. We are choosing against all darkness.

In the midst of feeling sometimes that all there is around us is chaos and conflict, Jesus reminds us this day that his Kingdom, his reign, his way, his path of peace is very near to us. We don't have to go very far or go through arduous processes to find Jesus' way for us. Jesus wants us to have hope and to accept the grace that is close to us, because he is close to us.

As the first reading suggests for us, our daily lives requires some discernment. It is most often the simple question: Is this movement, attraction, choice before me, coming from the Holy Spirit or the evil spirit? Will it bring me closer to Jesus or father away? Does this movement within me make me more like Jesus today or less like him? Does it place me more in compassion and solidarity with others or lead me to be against others? Does this feel like freedom or bondage of some kind? Is this walking in the Light today or is it entering into some darkness?

Dear Lord, Jesus, thank you so much for the gift of your Light among us and within us. Let us be children of your Light today in all our actions, relationships, and acts of loving service. In your name we pray to our Father, "May your Kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."