In today’s First Reading, Isaiah speaks about people who walked in darkness. Their gloom and distress replaced by joy and a harvest that they can rejoice in. In the Gospel, this prophecy is fulfilled when Jesus himself goes to Galilee and the area of Zebulun and Naphtali, spreading and preaching the good news. Jesus is the light of that prophecy, bringing hope and joy to the people who have been living in sin and darkness. Jesus urges them to repent as the kingdom of heaven has come near. This is one of the many examples of God’s faithfulness to us. We may go through periods of darkness and distress with long seasons of waiting where hope seems so far away but we can hold on to the expectation that at the end of that darkness, there will be light, not because of our goodness, but because God is faithful to us. We can be confident in the goodness of the Lord as we wait for his work to be completed. Our tears will be replaced by joy. In that promise, we can place our trust.

PRAYER: Abba Father, lead me from darkness into your wonderful light. Amen.