Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
Today we remain celebrating the mysteries of Christmas, even though most of the world has moved into ordinary time. For most people, the Christmas tree and decorations have come down. Yet the Church continues to celebrate the coming of Jesus.
The Gospel reading for this day shifts to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. The reading begins with hearing that his cousin, John the Baptist, had been arrested. The Gospel says that Jesus left Nazareth and went to Galilee. In Galilee, Jesus begins His ministry of preaching and teaching. Jesus began his preaching by calling the people to repent! He told His listeners that the kingdom of heaven was near.
Word of Jesus’ power and preaching spread throughout all of Syria. Jesus also healed the sick, cast out demons and ministered to the people according to their needs. People from many cities and towns came to see this man, Jesus! They came to hear Him preach and to be healed. Can you put yourself into this scene of the crowd gathered around Jesus? What are you hoping to see or to experience? Are you hoping that Jesus will heal you of an affliction? Or do you simply want to see Him for yourself and you want to hear Him preach and teach?
Today we also can gather at Jesus’ feet. We can simply listen to what He may have to say for us. Or we might wish to tell Him what we need and hope for. Do we trust that Jesus will listen to us? Do we believe that Jesus will heal us in some fashion? Today, may we pray to place our hope and our trust in Jesus. He will not fail us!
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