The Great Light in Darkness

The Gospel from Mt. 4:12-17, 23-25

        When he heard that John had been arrested, Jesus withdrew to Galilee. He left nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen.

        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. 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. And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

Reflections:

In our individual lives and in our history, we have all experienced how our dark moments are illuminated when a person of the hour comes along. In the Philippines, after the murder of Ninoy Aquino, the country was plunged in great darkness, but when Cory Aquino announced her candidacy, the light of new hope shone on the country, culminating in our famous EDSA peaceful people power revolution.

In the absense of light, there is darkness. Every individual might be suffering from pains, trials and problems but GOD himself showed us that when darkness comes,  great light will follow. See, we experienced everyday the great light during daytime and darkness during night time. That's how magnificent GOD is, if you are experiencing darkness now, surely great light comes after.

The coming of Jesus into the scene when he stays in Capernaum casts an even greater light of hope on people who have been sitting in darkness and dwelling in a land overshadowed by death. Jesus brings light by his person and by his ministry of teaching, proclaiming the gospel and healing.