FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
THE WAY FORWARD IN CHRIST
(Part 179)
OUR CALL AND MISSION – 5
January 6, 2020
Today’s gospel: Matthew 4:12-25
Today’s gospel about the beginning of Jesus’ Galilean ministry is a reflection of what is happening and what is needed in today’s world.
First, the world is in the darkness of sin and evil. We have “people who sit in darkness” and “those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death” (v.16). We live in a world dominated by the culture of death. There is growing apostasy. People are dying in their sins. Unheard of evils have come upon the world, such as transgenderism, infanticide, drag queens. Much confusion has arisen even within the Church.
Second, the solution remains the same. It is repentance and turning to faith in Jesus. Jesus himself emphasized what was needed. “From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (v.17). But today, people, even within the Church, are turning to other things, such as political correctness, addressing social issues, promoting the brotherhood of all men and equality of all religions. But unless people repent of their sins and turn to Jesus in faith, there will be no change in the darkness all around.
Third, people need to hear the good news of salvation in Jesus in order to be able to believe in him. For this to happen, the gospel needs to be proclaimed. For this to happen, there needs to be evangelizers. Jesus himself put together a core team that would continue on after him. He first called ordinary fishermen. “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (v.19). Those called need to respond in a decisive and committed way. “He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.” (v.22). The kingdom is to be the highest priority, even before family and livelihood.
Fourth, those called need to carry on what the ministry of Jesus was about. “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.” (v.23). These works are about Christian formation, evangelization and mission, and total human liberation. These works are to be done in every place, to the grassroots at the peripheries, to the ends of the earth, to be able to reach everyone.
With the above, then we can see positive change in the world, dispelling the darkness, overcoming sin, changing people’s lives for the better, bringing peace and justice. Just as then, people “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.” (v.24). We too need to bring people to meet Christ and be set free.
This is the work of Jesus. This is the work we have been called to do. It is the most important work in the world today.
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