The Gospel presents the beginning of Jesus’ public life as an event rooted in history. Matthew does not describe merely a geographical movement, but the fulfillment of the Scriptures. Upon learning of the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus goes to Galilee and settles in Capernaum. The evangelist is careful to indicate the place, because there the word of the prophet Isaiah is fulfilled: the promised light rises upon a people who lived in darkness.
We therefore propose five points that can help you meditate and pray with this Gospel, based on the podcast (https://youtu.be/6MscEPbIJ5M), with subtitles that you can select in the language you prefer.
- Jesus returned to Galilee
Jesus had gone to be baptized in the Jordan and then spent forty days in the desert of Judea. Now, after the arrest of John, He makes the decision to return to Galilee. This region holds a particular place in the history of Israel. It is a land marked by invasions, a mixture of peoples, and religious fragility. By beginning His mission there, Jesus shows from the outset the breadth of the Kingdom He comes to proclaim. Matthew presents this movement as a return, a withdrawal, in obedience to God’s designs announced in the Scriptures. The mission of the Messiah begins where hope seemed weakest.
- Darkness and light
When the prophet Isaiah speaks of darkness, he refers to the concrete condition of a people wounded by oppression, loss, and death. The light that appears is not a new idea or an abstract doctrine. It is the presence of Jesus among them. Wherever He arrives, history changes direction. The light does not immediately eliminate all darkness, but it inaugurates a new time, in which it is already possible to walk guided by God’s promises. This is what happens as well with every person who welcomes Him.
- “Repent…”
Jesus’ first proclamation takes up the call to conversion from the preaching of John the Baptist, but now with His own authority. The nearness of the Kingdom is not only temporal, but personal: the Kingdom is near because Jesus, the King, is present. The call to conversion is born from this closeness. Before the Lord, life must be reordered. Today. This is not a merely external adjustment, but a response to God’s action already at work.
- The call and the response of the first disciples
By the sea, Jesus calls simple men, fishermen who are at work. The Gospel does not describe long explanations or negotiations. What matters is the encounter between Jesus’ word and the readiness of those who hear it. Leaving the nets to become fishers of men means allowing a new belonging to be established. Discipleship begins with this first step, which opens a path still unknown, but entrusted to the word of the One who calls.
- The mission of Jesus
The Gospel concludes by presenting Jesus in constant movement. He teaches in the synagogues, proclaims the Kingdom, and heals the sick. These three aspects do not appear separately. Teaching enlightens, proclamation summons, and healing concretely manifests the arrival of the Kingdom. Jesus’ action reveals that God does not remain distant from human suffering, but enters into it in order to restore and gather.
Steps of Lectio Divina
Reading (lectio):
Read Matthew 4:12–23 attentively, observing the places, the verbs, and the actions of Jesus.
Meditation (meditatio):
Where today do you recognize the darkness that awaits the light of Christ? Which word of the Gospel calls for a concrete response?
Prayer (oratio):
Present your life to the Lord as it is. Ask for the grace to hear the call and to walk according to the Kingdom.
Contemplation (contemplatio):
Remain in silence before Jesus who passes by and calls. Let His presence bring order to your heart.
Action (actio):
Take on a concrete gesture of discipleship this week, responding to the word you have heard.
Until next week.
Shalom!
Click below and select the subtitles in your language.
