Peter’s exclamation in today’s Gospel reading catches my attention dear friends. The Church invites us today to reflect upon the Transfiguration of Jesus and to touch upon the experience of his three disciples ‘up the mountain.’

The Gospel for the first Sunday of Lent, in all three years of the lectionary cycle, is devoted to the temptation of Jesus in the desert.

There are two lovely statements about trusting God in today’s readings. In the first reading from Isaiah God says: Does a woman forget her baby at the breast, or fail to cherish the son of her womb? Yet even if these forget, I will never forget you.

One Jewish philosopher once said, “If we follow the law ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’, we would all end up blind and toothless.”

The Gospel reading today invites us to look at the Letter of the Law with the eyes of Love. Dear friends, as we read today’s Gospel, one thing becomes very clear; Jesus has come to fulfil the Law and not to abolish it (Matt 5:17).

Have you ever imagined having a sumptuous dinner without salt? Salt has become a very important part of human life since time immemorial.

Today’s Gospel is the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon “on the Mount” (according to Matthew – “on the Plain” according to Luke) – an extended instruction for his disciples.

Today’s Gospel text focuses on two events: the beginning of Jesus’ preaching in Galilee and the choice of the first apostles. Mark tells the story of each event in a very brief way.

A few years ago I talked to my cousin from the United States over the phone and we chatted for quite a while. While she knows me, while I know that she knows me but somehow in her voice somehow she sounded a little bit bewildered.

The solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, we celebrate today, is an important occasion in the Christmas Season. Through the visitation of the magi, God manifests Godself to the wider world.

As Barry Manilow’s song goes… “It’s just another new year’s eve. Let’s make it the best.” And with the New Year we are blessed with three occasions for this day.

Christmas was not always celebrated in the Church with the same importance with which it is celebrated today.

There was a story of a man who was deeply devoted to St Joseph and when he died he was at the gates of heaven and being interviewed by St Peter.

The tone of today’s celebration is that of great joy. The entrance antiphon for today’s Mass says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.

An ancient Chinese proverb advises,’ it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness’!