Thoughts for the Day

Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

‘Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.’

From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

After being thrown out of Nazareth by the authorities, Jesus moves to Capernaum. This was a fishing village in north-west Galilee on the great highway from Damascus in the north to Egypt in the south. Matthew links this to a prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 9.1-2), who calls it 'Galilee of the Gentiles'. When the Assyrians removed the ten tribes of Israel after defeating them they had re-populated much of the area with non-Jews. This, together with its place on such a busy highway, made it a more cosmopolitan place than Nazareth. Perhaps Jesus felt that his message would have a greater chance of being received here, and of course this is where he called his first disciples.

Watching a programme on television this week I was amused to see a couple looking to buy a house somewhere rural, who rejected one place because there were no street lights! The coming of street lights to such villages has often been contentious, but there is no doubt the difference it makes, as I would remember each autumn when I went up the hill to the church in Manorbier only to remember that I had forgotten to take a torch!

The appearance of Jesus in a largely gentile area, who comes preaching the same message as John the Baptist, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near' would have been like shining a strong light in the dark. Those who are drawn to that light, both then and now, are offered hope and eternal life.

Lord Jesus You came into our world
like a strong light
piercing through the darkness
to show us the way to go.
Help us always to keep that light
in our mind's eye,
and to follow where it leads.
May we not be afraid of the darkness
for You have overcome it,
and have given us hope for the future.
Amen.