A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
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.
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus leaves Nazareth and goes to live in Capernaum by the sea. He did this, Matthew says, to fulfill what had been said through Isaiah: 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. Once there, while walking along the sea, he called Peter and Andrew to be “fishers of men.” They left their nets and immediately followed Jesus. He also called James and John. From there, Matthew tells us that Jesus “went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.”
God, help me through your grace to make certain that I understand the truth of today’s readings. In doing the will of the Father, your Son’s purpose in proclaiming the Gospel and curing every disease relate to each other. Bound through love of you, Jesus’ preaching was a way of curing people of illnesses, and his miraculous healings were a way of proclaiming the Gospel. Through this, and ultimately through laying down his life to save us from sin and death, people were restored to you: As Isaiah says in the first reading: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.”
Help me remember, Lord, the truth of the Gospel today. Don’t let it be in vain that I hear but fail to take in your Word. As I receive you in the Eucharist, Lord Jesus, give me the strength not to be brought down in this present land overshadowed by death but to dwell in the kingdom of your light and salvation.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.