Monday, January 6, 2003

After Epiphany
1st Reading: 1 Jn 3:22-4:6

Gospel: Mt 4:12-17, 23-25

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to settle down in Capernaum, a town by the lake of Galilee, at the border of Zebulun and Naphtali.

In this way the word of the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali crossed by the Road of the Sea, and you who live by the Jordan, Galilee, land of pagans, listen:

The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light; on those who live in the land of the shadow of death, a light has shone.

From that time on Jesus began to proclaim his message, "Change your ways: the kingdom of heaven is near."

Jesus went around all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and curing all kinds of sickness and disease among the people.

The news about him spread through the whole of Syria, and the people brought all their sick to him, and all those who suffered: the possessed, the deranged, the paralyzed, and he healed them all. Large crowds followed him from Galilee and the Ten Cities, from Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan.

Gospel Commentary

Yesterday's theme of light is deepened in today's reading. Jesus enters a world of darkness and suffering, overshadowed by death. How does he illumine this dark world? He goes around Galilee doing three things. He "proclaims the Good News of the Kingdom," overcoming the darkness of hopelessness and cynicism. He "teaches in the synagogues," overcoming the darkness of ignorance and meaninglessness by patient, enlightening explanation. He "cures every disease and illness among the people," vanquishing the darkness of human pain with new life and healing. We Christians, whom Jesus honors with the title, "the light of the world," are called to similar service on behalf of so many people of our time who still remain in the night of hopelessness, meaninglessness and death.

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