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What do you live for? To be light for the world and salt for the earth Sermon: Bishop Mykola Petro Luchok OR, Apostolic Administrator of the Mukachevo Diocese during the Solemnity of the Epiphany, Rakhiv Roman Catholic Parish Solemnity of the Epiphany, January 6, 2023. Gospel Mt 2, 1-12 Reading of the holy Gospel from Matthew When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea during the days of King Herod, wise men came to Jerusalem from the east, asking: "Where was the King of the Jews born? For we saw His star in the east and came to worship Him." Hearing this, King Herod was alarmed, and with him all Jerusalem; therefore, having gathered all the high priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where Christ should be born. They said to him: "In Bethlehem of Judea, because it is written by the prophet: "And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means lesser among the princes of Judah, because from you will come a Leader who will shepherd My people, Israel." Then Herod, having secretly summoned the wise men, learned from them about the time when the dawn appeared, and, sending them to Bethlehem, said: "Go and find out in detail about the Child; when you find it, let me know so that I too can go and worship Him." After listening to the king, they left; and behold, the star that was seen in the east went before them until it stopped over the place where the Child was. Seeing the dawn, they rejoiced with great joy. And, entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary, His mother. Falling on their faces, they worshiped Him and, opening their treasures, offered Him gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh. But, having received a warning in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed by another road to their country. Word of the Lord We come to receive God's blessing and become a blessing to the whole world How is Jesus present in the world today? Through us! There is as much Jesus in the world as we accept Him. The sages accepted Jesus as the Authority: in whom they found the answer - why and how to live. Christianity is based on the fact that when we come to Jesus, we begin to understand what we live for. In the world we live in, there is a huge crisis: the impression is that it is falling apart - covid, war... Jesus says: "Only I am the Truth!" Jesus is the truth. He teaches why you live, why there is evil on earth, why you are a man, why a woman, how to raise children, how to forgive enemies, how to repent of sins, how to be light for the world and salt for the earth. Why is there evil on earth? Because people did not let Jesus into their lives. We should be people of light, people of goodness. What does our language carry? How do we speak? Do we hear ourselves? When we are in grace - our territory, family, home - it is in grace.