REPENT AND FOLLOW
Listening to the Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth.
Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Listening to the Word
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:
“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.”
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. 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.
Reflection
In the Gospel of Matthew 4:12-23, we see Jesus beginning his public ministry after the arrest of John the Baptist. He doesn't stay in his hometown but moves to Capernaum, a busy crossroads near the sea. This move fulfills an ancient prophecy that "the people living in darkness have seen a great light." For us today, this reminds us that Jesus always goes where he is needed most—into the messy, busy, and sometimes dark parts of our lives to bring hope and direction.
Jesus’ first message is simple but powerful: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." In our Filipino context, we often think of repentance as just feeling sorry for our sins, but the original meaning is much deeper. It means to change our way of thinking and to turn our hearts toward God. Jesus is inviting us to look at our lives differently and to realize that God's presence is not far away; it is right here, waiting for us to notice.
The Gospel also shows us how Jesus chooses his first disciples. He walks along the Sea of Galilee and calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John. These were not powerful leaders or religious scholars; they were simple fishermen doing their daily work. This tells us that God calls us in the middle of our ordinary routines—whether we are at the office, in school, or at home. You don't have to be "perfect" to be called; you just need to be willing to listen.
What is most striking is the response of these fishermen: "At once they left their nets and followed him." They didn't make excuses or ask for more time. Following Jesus requires a bit of courage to let go of our "nets"—the things that keep us tied down or distracted from our true purpose. In our busy lives, what are the nets we need to set aside so we can focus more on what God is asking us to do?
Finally, we see Jesus traveling throughout Galilee, teaching, preaching, and healing every disease. He didn't just talk about love; he showed it through his actions. As followers of Christ, we are called to do the same. Being a Christian isn't just about going to Church on Sundays; it’s about bringing healing, kindness, and the "light" of the Gospel to our families and communities every single day.
Reflection Questions
Gospel Reflections
Allowing Jesus to Change Us
Who Is Jesus for Me? From Encounter to Mission
