The Lord is My Light and My Salvation

First Reading Is 8:23—9:3

First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali;
but in the end he has glorified the seaward road,
the land west of the Jordan,
the District of the Gentiles.

Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness:
for there is no gloom where but now there was distress.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 27

R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Today's Gospel MT 4:12-17

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The theme for today was related to Christ being a light in the darkness. This was too funny. About 15 minutes before the 6:00p.m. LifeTeen Mass began the transformer outside of the church blew. No power. We entered church with the Sun light shinning through the windows. Slowly it got darker and darker. Mass began with candles all over. People were using small lights from their key chains or the light from their cell phones to sit down. We sat in almost complete darkness as the readings were read. The homily was just as wonderful and completely appropriate considering it was dark. Then just as soon as the Liturgy of the Eucharist began the lights popped back on. He really is the Light of the World!