Gospel: 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.
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Reflection:
When does the Kingdom of heaven comes to
us? It’s when we have a personal relationship with Jesus. Personal relationship
with Jesus means that He becomes our friend, our savior and the rock solid
foundation of our life. When Jesus is an integral part of our lives the Kingdom
of heaven is already within us even while we are still in this world.
To many of us heaven is the literal heaven
that we all know about. It’s upstairs in the skies where God, His angels and
other Holy companions are located. And we would only be able to go there after
we die. But it’s very much possible for all of us to have a taste of heaven
while we are still alive in this world if only we would learn to abide by the
teachings of Jesus.
Jesus in our gospel preached to the people
of His time to repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. And who is the
Kingdom of Heaven that is at hand? That Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus is talking
about is no other than Himself. Jesus was literally offering Himself to the
people of His time to have heaven.
Many listened to this call of repentance by
Jesus that’s why they followed Him and their lives were never the same again.
They felt heaven in the company of Jesus, they were fed by Jesus, they were
healed by Jesus they were given hope by Jesus; they were forgiven of their many
sins and so forth.
How about you? Will you listen to this call
of repentance by Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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