Word to the Wise
Monday, January 6, 2020 - Monday after Epiphany, or Jan. 7
[1 John 3:22-4:6 and Matt 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 Zebulon and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: Land of Zebulon 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 [reach and say, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." [Matthew]
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Years ago, when I was in initial formation as a Dominican, one of my brethren had a sign on his door that said: REPENT!*" At the bottom of the sign, by the asterisk, was printed: "If you have already repented, kindly disregard this message!" The message seems simple enough but very broad! We begin to learn its implications a little later on in the Gospel According to Matthew when Jesus goes up a mountain, sits down, and delivers "the sermon on the mount." If we find ourselves challenged in our time by what he says in that sermon, we cannot "kindly disregard" the message of repentance.
The Christmas/New Year euphoria has come and gone and we are back to the everyday challenge of living our faith. Liturgically, our attention is being directed to the beginning of Jesus' ministry, which seems to have been "triggered" by the arrest of John the Baptist. John preached a form of repentance but Jesus went much further by healing and casting out demons. The message of repentance is accompanied by the mercy of healing, which gave and still gives hope. If all we do is preach repentance and fail to help those who repent with the problems they were battling before their conversion, we are neglecting a vital part of Jesus' message and ministry. Without the actions of mercy and healing, people will soon "kindly disregard" the message. Our baptismal call joins us with Jesus as he begins his public ministry. Repentance is a ongoing process that disciples of Jesus must show in person and manifest by lives of mercy and healing. AMEN