Monday after Epiphany

In what makes rather depressing reading the Prince's Trust (set up by Prince Charles in 1976 to help young people develop skills and move into work, education or training) has published a report based on interviews with 16 to 25-year-olds. The trust said the survey revealed an "increasingly vulnerable generation" without family support. More than one in 10 young people in Wales claimed life was "meaningless", with many feeling stressed. They are then, so often, a people who walk in darkness, the darkness of depression and despondency.

The Gospel Reading today looks back to an older prophecy from Isaiah. "The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light; on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death a light has dawned." In the gospel we see Jesus begin his preaching with the message of the Kingdom of God. Repent, he says. Turn your life around. The Kingdom of God is close at hand. The message he brings is one of good news, one that is symbolised by the curing of all kinds of sickness and disease and painful complaints of one kind or another. How we could do with that today. With more and more people, and more and more young people, saying how depressed or down they often feel, and how they feel that life is meaningless, how we could do with the good news of the kingdom of God, close at hand, tansforming lives, helping them look upwards to a dawning light.

Yet that is exactly what Jesus offers. We must, of course, be careful not to preach quick fix solutions or overnight miracles. But the kingdom of God is close at hand, and the message that Jesus preached is the message that we carry too. In Jesus, we find meaning to life. Yes, it is difficult at times. It is sometimes hard work, and often confusing. But Jesus' message is one of love, in which all are valued by God. We have in our midst "a vulnerable generation," and one that is so often dismissed and bad mouthed. But we see (don't we?) the value and worth of young people? We see (don't we?) the wonder and beauty of what it means to be alive and to know Jesus. How they could do with the good news of the kingdom of God, close at hand, tansforming lives, helping them look upwards to a dawning light. It's up to us to show them.

Readings: 1 John 3:22-4:6; Matthew 4.12-17. 23-25
You can read the illustration of the homily here