THE WORD
1 Jn 3,22-4,6/Mt 4,12-17.23-25
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.” 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. His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
IN OTHER WORDS
In a museum in Hamburg called “Dialog im Dunkeln” the visitor sees nothing. He is guided by blind persons as they walk thru dark rooms and corridors. Without eyesight, the blind person’s other sensory faculties are awakened by various scents, wind, temperature, sounds and textures. After this unusual museum visit, the visitor feels grateful for the gift of sight and how light makes the world colorful and beautiful.
Light enables us to see beauty and truth. Without light we cannot enjoy all God’s remarkable creation. Light eliminates our fears, gives reassurance and creates a feeling of peace. Children are usually afraid of the dark. Adults turn on night lights to deter crime. Light is also the source of life. Without the sun, no plants and animals will survive.
Light’s attributes make it a potent religious symbol. Prophet Isaiah used it: “People sitting in darkness have seen a great light” (Mt 4:16). Jesus himself used the metaphor of light: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have light of life” (Jh 8:12) and “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”(Mt. 5:14-15). Light signifies truth, life and goodness, while darkness is associated with ignorance, death and evil. However, this light-darkness vis-à-vis good-evil schema cannot simply be applied to judging people. All of us have both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. Let us figth battles with darkness by being a light to others. Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light. May the light of Christ shine in our lives and reflect inside us its beauty and power to inspire others.
- Fr. Simon Boiser, SVD | Hamburg, Germany
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
