The Holy Gospel according to Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness
have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
He went around all of Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people.
His fame spread to all of Syria,
and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases
and racked with pain,
those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics,
and he cured them.
And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea,
and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
Reflection:
During this recent storm we experienced clouds, chilly temperatures, and even some darkness. Last night, I heard a sense of silence from outside i.e. the rain isn’t drumming my home anymore, so I went outside with my dogs to catch a breath of fresh air. As I looked up to the sky, I noticed that there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the stars and the moon were this vibrant bright white. The sky was this beautiful dark blue color that offered a great background too. I guess that I was gazing up to the sky for quite some time when I noticed that my dogs were beside me, looking up as well. They must have been wondering what I was looking at or did they notice that beautiful sky too. This beautiful moment of witnessing this fabulous light, that we rarely see living in Los Angeles, brought me joy, peace, and even a resurgence of life.
This reminds me of a quote from Og Mandino, “I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.“. This quote highlights finding beauty and purpose even in difficult times, as darkness reveals the stars.
I would imagine that the people of Galilee had the same feeling when they finally witnessed this Divine human named Jesus. This is the man that John the Baptist has been talking about. Jesus didn’t only show up and present himself, but he started preaching the Word of God and took action, healing the people that needed it and shared his compassionate heart with everyone. He was that bright light and a breath of fresh air just like that breath I got that night after the storm.
Jesus brings fulfillment to Isaiah’s and John’s prophecy, bringing light and hope to a people living in this spiritual shadow. This light that warms the soul. Think about these cool days when you stand outside and it’s a bit chilly but if you turn your back to the sun, it warms you up and gives you a small shiver of comfort. It’s a small example of the comfort and reassurance that Jesus brought to his people. That same acknowledgement and reassurance that was brought to the disciples and the people of Galilee who were willing to respond to Jesus’ call to “Follow Him”. Their ordinary and dull lives that emerged from the darkness and sprang them into the Light of Christ. That same feeling with the sun on our backs but much longer.
Action of the Day:
In our typical and ordinary days, Pause … and think about the blessings that you’ve missed. Recognize the light and the Calling that surrounds your livelihood. That calling to be a “Fisher of Men” bringing Gods light, Word, and His kingdom to others. Reaching into those corners of darkness that we witness and lending a helping hand and maybe even an embrace.
Audio Reflection:
