Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.
A great light
1. John. Matthew tells us that John had made it clear that he wasn’t the Messiah. He had said, “the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew writes so that the communities that had not yet known Jesus might be clear about John’s mission. John’s ministry was one of preparation and repentance, calling people to turn from sin and prepare their hearts for the Messiah. Jesus is the key. Many times, we Christians forget to direct everything and everyone to Jesus; we might even talk more about founders or institutions or ecclesiastical laws than about Jesus himself. It’s as if we left him aside. May your central axis be Jesus Christ and don’t fall into religious and institutional fanaticism.
2. Light. Jesus reminds you that your life is light. In a world of darkness, where everything is confusing and where things are often not clear, you must be the light with your presence and your example. Knowing that you are a child of God transforms you into a light for others, but to take care of that light in you, you must nourish it through prayer, the sacraments and helping others. Every light can be extinguished, but you can spark your life from these three axes: prayer, sacraments and charity.
3. Healing. Today you are also invited to heal, to relieve pain and suffering – not playing the healer, of course, but helping others. Remember that you can help your brothers and sisters, knowing that you can always do something for others. Work more to heal wounds than to cause wounds in others.
Never forget that something good is on the way!
God bless you, be with you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
