Matthew 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.
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for those in Indonesia.
"The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"
"At the beginning of his preaching Jesus takes up the words of John the Baptist although with a different meaning; in his ministry the kingdom of heaven has already begun to be present." - NAB Commentary on Matthew 4:17
This has been a message that has fallen on deaf ears. We know that God is love, and we know that Jesus is God. The message that Christ gives us today is a message of love. Today's message is a true reason for conversion:
"You need to stop using drugs, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"
"You need to stop having premarital sex, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"
"You need to drive safely, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"
It is time to look at your own life, look at where true conversion is needed and rejoice in The Truth, for the Kingdom of God is at hand! Take care and God Bless.
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