Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 7th January 2023

Having celebrated the Solemnity of the Epiphany yesterday, we have but two days of Epiphanytide before being plunged into the inappropriately designated Ordinary Time on Monday. For a feast that is so important, the Epiphany should either have retained its Octave, and the same goes for Pentecost, or we should have continued referring to the weeks between now and Lent as the Sundays after the Epiphany, so as to have a proper point of reference. Life is difficult enough, and at times extremely boring, without have to put up with the abomination of Ordinary Time. Forgive the rant, it’s been a long day and I feel strongly about it!

 

​Our Gospel passage today takes us to Matthew, (Mt 4: 12-17, 23-25), where we find that John the Baptist has been arrested and Jesus is back in Galilee. However, he has moved now from Nazareth to Capernaum, “a lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali.” This town will become the centre of his activity, as prophesied by Isaiah:

“Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali!

Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan,

Galilee of the nations!

The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light;

on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death

a light has dawned.”

These words remind us of the Epiphany and that Jesus is the Light of the world. Wherever he goes he brings the light of God’s grace and the hope of salvation. In fact, this is the moment in which he begins his own preaching with the message, similar to that of John, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.” Jesus preaches a Gospel of repentance, preparing his hearers for the kingdom of heaven.

 

​Matthew then gives us a summary of the beginnings of Jesus’ ministry.

“He went round the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness among the people. His fame spread throughout Syria, and those who were suffering from diseases and painful complaints of one kind or another, the possessed, epileptics, the paralysed, were all brought to him, and he cured them. Large crowds followed him, coming from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judaea and Transjordania.”

We note how Jesus travelled throughout the whole of Galilee, often in hostile territory, always beginning in the local synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and healing the sick and those in any need. He quickly becomes famous and large crowds begin to follow him round, crowds that arrive from well beyond Galilee. It’s clear that he is going to need the help of disciples and, eventually, apostles. The Gospel story is about to begin.