The Mission of Jesus

Matthew 4: 12-17

Jesus Begins to Preach

¹² When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³ Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— ¹⁴ to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁵ “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
    the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
    Galilee of the Gentiles—
¹⁶ the people living in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
    a light has dawned.”

¹⁷ From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Matthew 4: 23-25

Jesus Heals the Sick

²³ Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. ²⁴ News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. ²⁵ Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Today's Gospel  moves us quickly from the Birth of Jesus, with the star and references to LIGHT, to the actual place and mission of that LIGHT as Jesus begins his work of teaching, proclaiming the Good News and healing We are still in the Christmas Season, but we now begin to see what the Birth of Jesus means: healing from our weaknesses and sins, repentance, and salvation through the death and resurrection of the once-child, now God-Man, Jesus.  While we might still have our Christmas decorations and creche on display, the meat of the matter is their deeper significance.. May we remember it as we enjoy them this final week, and, as Mary did, ponder it in our hearts.

Bro. Rene