Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

On this first Sunday of Lent, the Church leads us into the desert with Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew 4:1-11, the Spirit drives Him into the wilderness, where He fasts for forty days and is tempted by the devil. Before He begins His public ministry, Jesus enters into combat.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

In today's Gospel, Jesus says something striking: "I have come not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it." He is speaking to disciples - then and now - who might be tempted to reduce faith to rules, minimums, and appearances.

Discipleship, however, is not about doing just enough to avoid sin. It is about allowing the law of God to reach the heart. It is to strive for greatness with humility, to holiness with perseverance.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us plainly who a disciple is: "You are the salt of the earth ... You are the light of the world." He doesn't say you should become salt and light - He says you are. Discipleship is not a future project; it is a present identity.

Salt only matters when it disappears into the food. Light only helps when it shines for others. A disciple, then, is not called to draw attention to himself, but to give flavor to the world and clarity in the darkness - often quietly, humbly, and faithfully.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Today, in the Gospel, Jesus proclaims the Beatitudes - the heart of His teaching and the portrait of a true disciple. He does not describe a life of power or comfort, but a life transformed by humility, mercy, and hunger for righteousness. The disciple of Jesus is not shaped by the values of the world, but by the heart of Christ.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

In today's Gospel, Jesus begins His public ministry with a simple yet demanding invitation: "Come after me." He does not begin in palaces or temples, but along the shores of Galilee, among ordinary fishermen. This is important. Discipleship begins not by escaping our daily lives, but by allowing Christ to enter them.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Today's Gospel shows us the beginning of discipleship. John the Baptist points to Jesus and says, "Behold, the Lamb of God." He does not draw attention to himself; he directs others to Christ. True discipleship always begins there: recognizing Jesus and helping others encounter Him.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Today, at the Jordan River, Jesus steps into the water - not because He needs repentance, but because He chooses solidarity with us. The sinless One stands among sinners, revealing a God who draws near, who enters our history and our wounds.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord, when the Magi journeyed from distant lands to worship the newborn King. Their story is a powerful lesson in discipleship: following Christ often requires courage, perseverance, and the willing- ness to step beyond what is familiar.