Monday after Epiphany
Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
How Long Will the Night Last?

Today’s Gospel unfolds in two parts. The first introduces Jesus’ ministry in Galilee with Isaiah’s prophecy, while the second summarises his mission of teaching, preaching, and healing.

After John the Baptist’s mission ended, Jesus moved from Nazareth to Capernaum, a modest fishing village along the western shore of Lake Gennesaret. Unlike the prominent cities of Tiberias or Magdala, Capernaum’s significance lay in its position on the “Way of the Sea,” a major trade route, making it a border hub of cultural and commercial exchange.

Matthew interprets Jesus’ relocation through Isaiah’s prophecy: “The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:1-2). Galilee, despised by Jerusalem’s Jewish leadership as a semi-pagan region of unrefined and rebellious people, becomes the site where the light of Christ first shines. Jesus’ choice to begin his mission here highlights God’s preference for the marginalised and excluded, fulfilling Isaiah’s vision of salvation reaching the distant and outcast.

Jesus’ call to repentance (v. 17) challenges us to radically transform our thinking and actions. It is not about small improvements but a profound shift from darkness to light, from death to life. Only by embracing this change can we experience the “kingdom of heaven”—a new way of living rooted in Christ’s word.

In verse 23, Matthew summarises Jesus’ mission: teaching as a light for all, preaching hope, and healing the sick. These actions demonstrate God’s love in tangible ways, teaching disciples how to create a renewed people and society.

As followers of Christ, we are called to face life’s storms with courage, extend hope to those in desperate situations, and bring the light of Christ into the world. His mission continues through us, creating a new dawn for those in darkness.

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