Epiphany
January 21, 2017

Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:12-23

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.’ –Matthew 4:12-17

The writer of Matthew felt a strong need to establish Jesus’ credentials related to Jewish scripture and thought. It is interesting looking back over someone’s life and in hindsight seeing where all the puzzle pieces fit. Though not an exact science, it is often meaningful. Jesus learned much from the Hebrew prophets and John’s ministry; most likely understood from John’s death that Jesus’ death was imminent. Perhaps that is why he returned to Galilee and focused on training a cadre of disciples to carry on the work. One voice crying in the wilderness is not enough.

When I was a child, we laid on the flatbed of a truck on hot summer nights seeking relief from the day’s heat. The only light came from the moon and the stars in the sky and fireflies. I loved to watch fireflies. With all the lights in the city, it is rare for me to see a star anymore much less a firefly, but my faith tells me they are still there. In a world, plush with artificial light, it is important that we remember we are called to be the light of a world that may not see the truth of God’s love because of the flooding of the world with beams of lesser lights.

Prayer: Lord, help us be light to the world that is lost in darkness while at the same time blinded by artificial light. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.