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.
Repent
1. Settled. Jesus was clear about His mission in this world. After hearing about John, He went to the region where He was meant to be. This serves as a reminder to us all that there is a proper moment for everything. A Seminary teacher once advised, “These eight years here are your formation period. Don’t rush; Jesus spent 30 years preparing for just three years of ministry.” Today, remember not to skip necessary steps. Understand that each phase has its own timing. Don’t take on responsibilities that aren’t yours yet—focus on what truly belongs to you at this stage and take responsibility for what you must do now.
2. Overshadowed by death. Even now, there are “regions of death” that linger in your heart—mistakes from years past that you haven’t forgiven yourself for, which continue to weigh you down. There are failures that once discouraged you and still hold you back from trying again. These “regions of death” can also exist in your thoughts, undermining your confidence and making you feel incapable or hopeless. It’s time to bring light to both your life and your aspirations.
3. Kingdom of heaven. Jesus teaches that His very presence is the Kingdom of Heaven. Encountering Him prompts transformation in your life. Allow God to touch your heart, so your life may be transformed. Once God has touched you, you’ll touch the lives of many, because through Christ you will reach and inspire the hearts of 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.
