The Sunday Gospel [January 23, 2011]
Matthew 4:12-23 (or 4:12-17)
The Beginning of Jesus’ Galilean Ministry
12When [Jesus] heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:
15“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,/ the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,/ Galilee of the Gentiles,/ 16the people who sit in darkness/ have seen a great light,/ on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death/ light has arisen.”
17From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 18As 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. 19He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20At once they left their nets and followed him. 21He 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, 22and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. 23He 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
“From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” ~ Matthew 4:17
During the time of Jesus to say the kingdom of heaven (or God) is at hand meant God’s reign was being experienced in the present. For the evangelist Matthew it was also a process event beginning with the birth of the Messiah and culminating in the return of Jesus in glory. The kingdom of God is in our midst right now. It is within us and among us. It is being experienced and expressed by those who follow Jesus. Does my life reflect what Jesus wants me to do? Am I preaching hope and redemption to the lost? Have I taken the cudgels for the poor and marginalized in our society? Am I willing to follow Jesus wherever he leads me? These are just some questions the gospel today is asking us.
"We must remember that if holy cheerfulness is missing in our life, we shall bring few souls to God. The reason is because, from our external sad behavior, few souls will fall in love to follow Jesus Christ. If, however, we will show holy cheerfulness, we will attract others to follow Christ, the source of true cheerfulness." ~ St. Vincent Pallotti
12When [Jesus] heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:
15“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,/ the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,/ Galilee of the Gentiles,/ 16the people who sit in darkness/ have seen a great light,/ on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death/ light has arisen.”
17From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 18As 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. 19He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20At once they left their nets and followed him. 21He 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, 22and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. 23He 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
“From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” ~ Matthew 4:17
During the time of Jesus to say the kingdom of heaven (or God) is at hand meant God’s reign was being experienced in the present. For the evangelist Matthew it was also a process event beginning with the birth of the Messiah and culminating in the return of Jesus in glory. The kingdom of God is in our midst right now. It is within us and among us. It is being experienced and expressed by those who follow Jesus. Does my life reflect what Jesus wants me to do? Am I preaching hope and redemption to the lost? Have I taken the cudgels for the poor and marginalized in our society? Am I willing to follow Jesus wherever he leads me? These are just some questions the gospel today is asking us.
"We must remember that if holy cheerfulness is missing in our life, we shall bring few souls to God. The reason is because, from our external sad behavior, few souls will fall in love to follow Jesus Christ. If, however, we will show holy cheerfulness, we will attract others to follow Christ, the source of true cheerfulness." ~ St. Vincent Pallotti
Note: The Reflection is from Bro. Abel Navarro (you can visit his blog at http://myblogabelnavarro-abel.blogspot.com/)
Thank you for posting my reflection in your blog. You have a very nice blog. Are you a website designer Rean? God bless and more power to your ministry.
ReplyDeleteThank you sir.. I'm currently working as a Systems Admin.. but i know a bit about web designing.. blogger has integrated many tools.. we'll just have to explore it and incorporate it in our blog.. take care..
ReplyDelete