Reflection for January 6, Monday after Epiphany: Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

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:

In the midst of darkness light gives hope, it gives us something to hold on and to look forward. This is how the prophet Isaiah depicted Jesus in his prophecy in the Old Testament. In the New Testament the light became a reality in the person of Jesus.

Jesus called for repentance among the people. He proclaimed the gospel and healed people with their spiritual and physical sickness.  Jesus is still the same yesterday, today and in the future. He is still the light of our lives today, He still cures us with our many sickness. And He still calls us all to repent from all of our sins.

Let us not make the mistake of finding our light and hope in this world. For this world will certainly not give us true light and hope. This world may give us temporal happiness. But to say that we rest our hope and happiness in this world is a big mistake that we must not commit.

Let us discern the voice of Jesus who always calls us to follow Him. Let us make Him the hope and light of our lives today and onwards. We will never go wrong if we choose to hear the voice of Jesus who always calls us to repent and permanently walk away from all of our sins. – Marino J. Dasmarinas