Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, 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.”

– Matthew 4:12-17 (NRSV)

Even though Jesus “withdrew” to a small fishing town, following the news of John the Baptiser’s arrest, when the people of Galilee had met Jesus, they had “seen a great light”. Such was the experience of being around Jesus that he could not withdraw secretly – his identity as the son of God shone out through him. It did so to such an extent that immediately following the passage, when Jesus called his first disciples who were fishermen in the little town of Capernaum, they immediately “left their nets”, “left the boat and their father”, and followed Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22).

May the light of Christ shine in our hearts this week, drawing us to Christ, the Son of God.

Revd Claudia Coustas

Chaplin