January 26th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Matthew 4:12-23

¹²Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ¹⁵“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— ¹⁶the 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.” ¹⁷From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
¹⁸As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ¹⁹And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” ²⁰Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. ²²Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
²³Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Reflection
So, let's get started Jesus. Let's get started and make it all happen. Let's gather some people together and go. Let's go do this thing, Jesus. John the Baptist is under arrest and that's your cue, Jesus, to get started. You have been announced by John the Baptist as the One and by God as your Son, so now let the Light shine. A Light of deliverance and salvation. But a Light that is so different from what the world expects that people are still confused today.

Jesus, you came to deliver through your Light all people. All people, not just a Chosen race of people but all people. Jesus, you came not as the physical conqueror of worldly kingdoms or to defeat powerful political enemies of a few, but you have come to save the people, all the people, from sin, death and the devil. Yes, Jesus, you have come to grant everlasting life to all people who believe and are baptized. You, Jesus are not what this world expected, but you are certainly what this world needs.

The despised, the rejected, the poor, the sick, the hungry, the sinful, the blind, the lame, the people with any and all levels and forms of barriers to the life that God had intended for all people are the very people that you have come to save. All the people!

So, as a disciple, I know you have come to me before you even met me. I know you have come to me and into my life before I was even born. You, Jesus, have come for me and I know it! So, when you call me to go; I go. When you call me to follow; I follow. It's that plain and it's that simple. No wonder the first disciples got up and left when you called. You had been with them before they even knew you.

It's time to go... it's time to follow... it's time to learn the teaching that only you have to offer.

Yes, Jesus, it's your time. Yes, Jesus, you are the Light of the world. Yes, Jesus, you are the Messiah that has come to grant eternal life.

That's so much more than some powerful ruler of a country. That's so much more than the king of worldly nations. That's so much more than many expected yesterday or even today.

Prayer
Lord, teach me your will and your way. Open my eyes and the eyes of those who seek something less than what you really have to offer. For you are much more than one that will save us from the Romans, you are much more than someone that will straighten out the corruption of the Temple, you are much more than one who heals... You, Jesus are the One to save all the people from sin, death and the devil. You, Jesus are the One to grant all people eternal life. Yes, Jesus you are so much more than I can imagine... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen