A reading from the gospel according to Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.
13 He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
14 that 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,
16 the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.
17 From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
23 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.
24 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.
25 And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

Reflection:

1. The gospel reading above is about the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus which occurs right after His temptation in the desert. Verse 12 speaks of the arrest of John the Baptist but the whole of chapter 4 does not tell us the reason why he was arrested. We will have to wait until chapter 14 before we can know that he was arrested, imprisoned and beheaded because he told Herod of his sinful act of marrying his brother’s sister. Yet we learned in John 3:30 that John mentioned that he must decrease and Jesus must increase. Therefore, the arrest of John was a signal that Jesus will now start His own public ministry.

2. Verse 12 mentions of Jesus’ withdrawing into Galilee. It is not that He is afraid of Herod because he might also arrest Him but in fact, He was going into the territory of Herod to start His public ministry there. We have to understand that Galilee is located in the northern part of Israel which is quite far from Jerusalem, the epicenter of Judaism. At that time, Galileans were looked down upon as second class citizens, not only because of its remoteness but because of the influence of Gentiles in their life. Obviously, we see Jesus seeking the lost, the least and the last of the children of Israel.

3. Verse 14 asserts that what Jesus did was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah. This is actually a recurrent assertion in the gospel of Matthew: the fulfillment of what had been said in the Old Testament. In short, Matthew wants to tell us that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s plan.

4. Verse 16 speaks of light as seen by people who sit in darkness. Going back to Galilee and the whole northern region of Israel, the people there were considered the lost tribes and therefore, they were living in darkness. Hence, with Jesus teaching there, light or rather the Light (with a capital L to refer to Jesus) had come to them.

5. Verse 17 shows us Jesus proclaiming the gospel of repentance, the same gospel proclamation of John the Baptist. He also points out that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand which means it can be experienced right now and right here. In other words, He tells us that He is the Kingdom who is now with us; that if we accept Him, we can already be living under His dominion and not under the dominion of darkness.

6. The next two verses reveal that Jesus did not only preach but He also cured many kinds of illnesses. In other words, Jesus does not only bring enlightenment but complete restoration of both body and soul. So to those who feel lost or in confusion, those who are in pain or suffering, Jesus is here to give total freedom.

7. The last two verses mention that Jesus became famous throughout the region and large crowds followed Him. Let us take note that His ministry has just started but instantly, He became sort of a celebrity. Later, we would see that many of His followers left and during His arrest and crucifixion, even His closest friends were nowhere to be found. Indeed many people are easily attracted to something new and exciting but when the going gets rough, only the toughest people remain.

*****

The ministry of Jesus began in a time of great darkness, both spiritually and socially. The Gospel reading above tells us of Jesus’ arrival in Galilee, a region described as “the land of the shadow of death” (v. 16). It was here, amidst ordinary people and their struggles, that the light of Christ began to shine. This passage reveals the transformative power of Christ’s presence and His call to follow Him into a life of purpose, healing, and hope.

Light in the Darkness
The people of Galilee lived under Roman oppression, burdened by fear, poverty, and uncertainty. Yet, in the midst of this, Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy:
“The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (v. 16).

Jesus is the Light of the World, and His presence dispels the deepest darkness. No matter how heavy the burdens we carry or how hopeless our circumstances feel, His light brings clarity, peace, and hope. If you’re feeling overwhelmed today, remember that Christ’s light shines even in the darkest moments. Turn to Him, and let His love illuminate your path.

The Call to Repent
Jesus’ first message to the people was simple but profound:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (v. 17).

Repentance is not merely feeling sorry for our sins; it’s a radical change of heart and direction. It’s a decision to turn away from what separates us from God and move toward Him with faith and obedience.

This call to repentance is an invitation to experience the fullness of God’s kingdom—a kingdom where healing, peace, and justice reign. It begins with surrendering our lives to Christ and trusting Him to lead us into a new way of living.

Have you responded to His call? Jesus invites each of us to leave behind the old and step into the new life He offers.

A Ministry of Healing and Hope
As Jesus traveled through Galilee, He preached, taught, and healed every disease and affliction among the people. News of His power spread, and people came from all over to experience His healing touch.

This demonstrates the compassion of Christ. He doesn’t merely call us to repentance and leave us in our brokenness; He restores and renews us. Whether we need physical, emotional, or spiritual healing, Jesus meets us where we are and offers wholeness.

Do we need healing today? Let us bring our burdens to Him. He is still the Great Physician, and His love is limitless.

Lessons for Us
1. Embrace the Light: Jesus’ presence is transformative. No matter how dark life may seem, His light brings hope and direction. Let us trust Him to guide us.
2. Respond to His Call: Repentance is the first step toward experiencing God’s kingdom. Let us turn to Him with a sincere heart and let Him lead us into a new beginning.
3. Seek His Healing: Jesus cares about every aspect of our lives. Whether we are struggling with sin, sickness, or sorrow, He offers healing and restoration.
4. Share His Light: The light of Christ is not meant to be hidden. Like Jesus, we are called to bring hope and healing to those around us through our words and actions.

The dawn of Christ’s ministry in Galilee marked the beginning of a kingdom without end. That same kingdom is available to us today. Step into the light, embrace His call, and walk in the fullness of His grace.