January 29, 2026 Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: 2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29; Mark 4:21-25
Children of God: During the conclave of 2025, one story that caught global attention was that of the youngest Cardinal present, Mykola Bychok of the Redemptorist congregation, 45 years old. He is just a year older than me! Wow.
In an interview, he shared that he was born during the time of the Soviet Union, when faith had to survive quietly and carefully. Churches were watched, voices were restrained, and belief often stayed hidden to stay alive.
His childhood was shaped by silence, caution, and resilience. Faith existed, but it was not meant to be seen.
He also recalled that when Ukraine gained independence in 1991, it was not only a political turning point but a spiritual one. That moment signaled the Church’s freedom after seventy years of persecution.
As a young child, he saw the rebuilding of the Church. And he witnessed the life of the life and mission of the Redemptorist. From that child, the dream was built, to be one of them.
He joined the Redemptorist congregation in 1997, inspired by their missionary zeal. His service has been extensive, including roles as a missionary in Russia, parish priest, and provincial bursar in Ukraine as well as vicar of the Ukrainian Catholic Parish of St. John the Baptist in New Jersey.
His life became a witness to how truth, once suppressed, eventually finds its voice.
From that story of faith, we turn to the gospel where Jesus speaks about the lamp that must not be put in a basket but to be placed on a lamp stand. The gospel challenges us to examine what we do with the light and truth entrusted to us. What are our inspirations for today?
First, truth is given not to be hidden but to be revealed at the right time.
Hiding a light contradicts its purpose. The experience of the Church under persecution shows this clearly. There were moments when faith had to be protected in silence. Yet silence was never the final goal. When freedom came, the light was meant to be raised and shared.
The gospel reminds us that whatever is hidden will eventually be brought to light (Mark 4:22). This calls us to honesty and courage. Truth entrusted to us carries responsibility, not secrecy.
Second, how we listen and respond determines how much light we receive.
Jesus warns that the measure we use will be measured back to us, and more will be given besides (Mark 4:24).
Those who endured persecution learned to listen deeply and cherish every word of faith. When the Church was freed, that deep listening bore fruit in strong witness.
The gospel also warns that those who do not value what they have will lose even that (Mark 4:25). Indifference shrinks the heart. Attentiveness allows light to grow brighter.
Children of God: The story of hidden faith and the teaching of Jesus meet at the same point. Light is never meant to stay covered forever. Truth may wait, but it does not disappear.
What we receive must be lived and shared. The way we listen shapes the way we shine. Silence has its season, but witness has its mission.
Each of us carries a lamp, whether small or bright. The question is where do we place it.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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