What is the significance of January 15? This date is memorable to me. Why? I rather keep you in suspense. Nevertheless, there are certain historical events which we would never forget. Like December 7, 1941 the day when the Japanese bombed and attacked Pearl Harbor. September 11, 2001, the collapse of the Twin towers that cost the lives of more than 2000 Americans.

There is an historical incident that was reported by Matthew that signaled the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. What is this? The Arrest of John the Baptist. This means that the role of John the Baptist which is to prepare the people to welcome Jesus, the Messiah has ended. He (the Baptist) had always pointed to Jesus as the "Lamb of God" and his principle in life: "He must increase, I must decrease!" have to be in tangible and must be lived in reality by him.

How did Jesus do it? He left his hometown Nazareth and decided to settle down in Capernaum by the sea in the region of Napthali and Zebulun. It is considered to be the region of "Galilee of the Gentiles" (or the "uncircumcised"). It is a place inhabited by the Jews who intermarried with the pagans, thus the whole population is generally despised by the Jews and branded to be "impure people". Remember that Naphali and Zebulun are the two of the Ten tribes of Israel who settled in the North and mixed with outsiders or pagans. The Jews in the south especially the Judeans avoid mingling with them.

Matthew writes that when Jesus decided to start his ministry there, it fulfills the prophesy of Isaiah which says: "The people who sit in darkness have seen the great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen." (Mt 4:16). He (Matthew) loves to quote a passage in the Old Testament to show that his Gospel is the Gospel of fulfillment. God has fulfilled his promises through his Son Jesus Christ. Indeed, the Good News that Jesus brings and proclaims has brought light and hope to people there who live in darkness of sin and unbelief. Indeed, Jesus is the "Anointed One" of God, whose nature is to save us from sin and bring us to the "Light of God". He first invites people to repentance when he says: "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand". According to Fr. John Fullenbach, SVD, Repentance implies that:

1. to turn away from our sins, and to turn towards Christ; making Him our absolute value in life. Allowing him to enter into our life.
2. To accept our dependency on God, that is, to accept that without God , we can't do nothing. It is accepting that our ultimate security in life lies in God alone.
3. To allow the "Holy Spirit" to well up within us which is to make the "fruits of the Spirit" conspicuous and tangible in our life.
4. To look at reality and people the way God looks at them.

Jesus as He has started his ministry, he accepted his limitations. In the face of an enormous task ahead of him, he called his first disciples in two's who happened to be brothers (Peter and Andrew, James and John). I am strongly convinced that Jesus believes in "partnership" and "teamwork". He considers them as his partners in the fishing of men. And when Jesus called them, they left everything (their boats, fishing nets and their father Zebedee in the case of James and John.)

What does this Gospel pericope or account would like to inspire, convict and challenge us today? First, it tells us to be aware and sensitive to the significant events in our life. These events might be the "signs of the times" for us wherein God is telling us of something. Like Jesus, the arrest of John the Baptist was a sign of him to start his Public Ministry. As we reflect the signs in our life, we must also allow the sacred scripture to guide and direct us. Jesus decided to start it in Capernaum to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah which is the region of Naphali and Zebulun. Second, we have to always repent our sins because they are the obstacles that prevent the Kingdom of God to come into our lives. And the first stage of repentance is to approach the sacrament of reconciliation with the resolve to turn away from our sins and try to be good to people. Third, we have to be convince that whatever task that we do in our life, we need people as partners and collaborators. We must try to work with people...We need each other, thus we must believe in "team work". Remember this, championships are won because of teamwork.

Postscript: I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the parishioners who have answered the Parish survey. We might be late but it is better than later or never. For sure, the diocese wont fire me because of you, we are all on this together. As the saying goes: "One for all, all for one". Let us keep working together. Remember: We are two parishes but one community.

BACK TO LIST