Jesus has been baptized by John in the Jordan and has overcome the temptations of the devil in the desert. We might expect that now he will go forth to Jerusalem to proclaim the Gospel. But today we learn that, no, instead he withdraws to Galilee. Matthew explains this surprising move as the fulfillment of a prophecy of Isaiah, which is also part of today’s first reading.
Isaiah had been speaking about an experience of darkness burdening the people of God. This darkness refers to both the hardships of being persecuted and the self-imposed burden of sin. The prophet proclaims a day when all darkness is dispelled: “The people who walked in darkness / have seen a great light; / upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom / a light has shone.” Matthew sees darkness in the contradictory experience of John the Baptist, who has been arrested by Herod. There is also darkness in Herod himself, who is living in an adulterous relationship with his brother’s wife.
But now a new light has come, appearing in “Galilee of the Gentiles.” For those who are experiencing the darkness of hardships like John the Baptist, a new hope has arrived in Jesus Christ. For those in the darkness of sin like Herod, Jesus offers light to guide them back. This breaking of new light into the darkness reminds us of the creation story in Genesis, where the Spirit of the Lord hovered over the dark abyss and then God said, “Let there be light!” In Jesus, a new light, a new creation has come!
But why in Galilee? In Jesus’ time, Jerusalem was the place to be. If he wanted the most impact, he should go straight to the Temple in Jerusalem, the center of Jewish life. Why withdraw when the time has come to shine? By beginning his ministry in Galilee, Jesus shines his light in an area which is along a major trading route, “on the way to the sea.” It is an area where various people from all walks of life and from different nationalities pass through and congregate. While Jerusalem is the center of everything Jewish, Galilee is on the edge of a broader world. Jesus initiates his public ministry in a place more suited to the universality of his message.
What sort of light does Jesus offer? After quoting Isaiah, Matthew immediately tells of the content of Jesus’ preaching: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” To scatter the darkness of sin, Jesus offers the light of repentance.
The second reading gives us a concrete example of the darkness of sin and the light that repentance offers. There are rivalries brewing among the members of the Corinthian community. Factions have formed based on from whom they received the Gospel and who had the better testimony. The darkness of pride and self-centeredness is causing disruption among the members of the community. St. Paul sees the need to intervene. The Corinthians are looking at the messengers and losing the message – and thereby losing Jesus Christ. They are judging the Gospel by worldly standards, specifically, according to the celebrity status of their evangelists. They are emptying the Cross of Christ of its meaning. Paul exhorts them to repent of their worldly ways and to be united in drawing near to Christ. The darkness of their sinfulness has been overcome, not by Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, but by the light of Jesus Christ.
Another aspect of the light of the Gospel is discipleship and mission. Immediately after preaching repentance and the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus calls his first disciples. To repent is to welcome the Kingdom – and this Kingdom is not about just one person but is communal. Isaiah’s prophecy describes the “abundant joy and great rejoicing” of a whole people – the very “people who walked in darkness.” When the first four disciples hear Jesus’ invitation to come follow him, they rejoice. Leaving behind their boats and nets and loved ones is not a cause for sadness because they have found joy in the Light of Christ.
As the first month of the new calendar year draws to a close, let us continue to seek the light which Jesus Christ offers us. Every moment is an opportunity for conversion and mission, an opportunity to welcome the light and to dispel the darkness of sin. When we genuinely seek him, we can joyfully proclaim today’s Psalm response: “The Lord is my light and my salvation.”
In what areas of my life do I still walk in darkness, and how is Jesus inviting me to let his light in? How can I live repentance not just for myself, but as a witness that draws others closer to Christ? Am I willing to leave behind my own “nets” – attachments, pride, or fears – to follow Jesus more faithfully?
Excerpt from The Anawim Way, Volume 22, no. 2. More information about The Anawim Way may be found here.