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.”
As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.
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.
REFLECTION
"When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee"
The last few Sundays we have been hearing the story of John the Baptist and his role preparing the way for Jesus.
Today we read about his arrest, and how Jesus moved to Capernaum after this. The Gospel pivots its point from John the Evangelist towards Jesus' mission.
In another Gospel, St. John the Evangelist relates how John the Baptist said of Jesus: "He must increase; I must decrease." (Jn 3:30). How his mission had finished so Jesus' would start.
So a transition begins. Jesus moves to a province, not a big city. The lands of Zebulun and land of Naphtali were part of the northern kingdom of Israel which was invaded by the Assyrians, and their inhabitants sent into exile. They are people that had suffered greatly, and Jesus preaches amongst them first.
How interesting that both the prophet Isaiah and St. Matthew regard this region as a place of "the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light". He also picks his first apostles from fishermen of this region instead of men of priestly lineage from a big city.
How wonderful is God who looks after the ones that need Him the most first; people who longed for God and were open to listen and follow Him.
Is there light in the world, or are we still sitting in darkness? Can the Holy Eucharist bring light into God's people? Are our priests holy? Are they guiding us towards God?
Join us to pray the PAPA Prayer for Priests so our priests persevere in their holy vocation and shepherd us away from darkness and instead bring us closer to God everyday.
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