III Sunday in Ordinary Time / A
Lectio divina on Mt from 4.12 to 23
The Lord is my light and my salvation
Lectio divina on Mt from 4.12 to 23
The Lord is my light and my salvation
Invoking
O God, who founded your church on the faith of the Apostles, 'that our community, enlightened by your words and joined in the bond of your love, become a sign of salvation and hope for all those who by longing for darkness to light. Amen.
Read
12Quando Jesus heard that John was arrested, he withdrew into Galilee, Nazareth 13lasciò and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14perché what might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 15Terra of Zebulun and land of Naphtali on the way to the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles! 16 The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light for those who lived in the region and shadow of death light has arisen.
17Da time Jesus began to preach, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" .18 As he walked along the Sea of \u200b\u200bGalilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19E told them: "Follow me, I will make you fishers of men." 20Ed they immediately left their nets and followed him. 21Andando, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat, along with their father Zebedee, repairing their nets, and he called them. 22Ed they immediately left the boat and their father and followed him. 23Gesù traveled throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
A moment of silent reflection so that the Word can enter into us and enlighten our lives.
useful steps to meditation
Dt 33.9 to 10; Is 9.12; Mc 1,14.21, 6.17, Lk 3.20; 4,14.30-31; 5,1-2.10-11; 9 , 59, 14,26.33, 18.28 to 30, Jn 4,43.46, 6.1, 19.28, 21.1, 10.2 Mt, 11.23, 12.17 to 21, 15.29, 26 , 54.56; Es 3.1; Nm 34.11, Ps 103.3; Acts 10:38.
Understanding
Jesus begins his ministry after learning that "John had been delivered." It is a record that goes beyond the simple chronological sense: it is already a foreshadowing of the fate that awaits Jesus Himself The second notation "withdrew into Galilee and dwelt in Capernaum" not wants to give a simple geographical precision, but shows a fact that was one scandal to the religious expectations of the time. So much so that Matthew feels the need to justify the passage from the prophet Isaiah (8.23 to 9.1). The thinking was to say that the ad went away from the heart of Messianic Judaism: Jerusalem, takes off with a peripheral, generally despised and tainted by paganism, Galilee of the Gentiles (pagans) or people. But everything is a surprise, to Matthew the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy and the telltale sign of Jesus' messianism, a messianism universal decision that breaks with all forms of particularism. In the Gospel we find
Jesus calls to follow him through the everyday life. In the Gospels when we talk about following Christ, we have two locations: at the Sea of \u200b\u200bGalilee that of the first disciples on the mountain one of the twelve. The first group belongs to the call of the two pairs of brothers and Levi-Matthew, the second, the one on the call of the Twelve. A vocation to the of any context, is always to leave something for anyone to follow. To follow Christ means to accept that he really becomes the only Lord of life, letting shaped by his word, means to live as he constantly protested to achieve in everyday life the Father's plan.
Meditation
vv. 12-16: When Jesus heard that John was arrested, he withdrew into Galilee, he left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles! The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light for those who lived in the region and shadow of death light has arisen. The first three verses of this song begins with the recall of the Baptist imprisoned, as if to find a link of continuity with the Word to proclaim (cf. 2 Tim 2:9). And he starts at a location not recommended: Capernaum, a place where the border customs mingle easily (see 2 Kings 15.29; January 49.13).
located in Galilee, Capernaum we can call it a land of confusion and conflict (cf. Mt 4:15). Jesus comes into this place and updates the prophecy of Isaiah. This nation is nothing more than visiting a people who "sit in darkness" and "shadow of death" (Mt 4:16). That is, a static population, lost, unable to see each other, unable to relate. Yet even this marginal and marginalized people, God incarnate, Jesus Christ comes close in, and pitched his tent.
The Evangelist Matthew reminds us that in this place, the Galilee, began the evangelization of Jesus but also the start of his resurrection (Mt 28,10.16). The pitch a tent on the part of Jesus is a life style that he himself takes in the crowd and becomes a beacon that enlightens those who are in darkness (v. 16).
v. 17: From that time Jesus began to preach, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. "Repent" is the first word that Jesus said, that same word that he has experienced, that kind of change, to be thinking differently. Motivation is the nearness of the kingdom of heaven. Now close does not mean that what is coming in close, it means beginning to bear fruit. "The kingdom of heaven is at hand", it means that he is so close that his presence is indeed, begins to manufacture salvation, joy, hope, forgiveness, something in my life. The Kingdom of God is at hand means that God is near, God is in our life, God is not absent, so far as I can do that did not exist. Saviour God takes care of human poverty, the human condition. If God is at hand, welcome, orient your life, your journey towards Him Do not forget, do not neglect it because it is your salvation, because it is an offer of life that passes nearby. The long wait that the promises of the prophets have aroused in Israel is doing, God has drawn near to men with the strength of his royal will. Accept, therefore, the sovereignty of God on your life and trust the power of the Gospel that is proclaimed.
v. 18: As he walked along the Sea of \u200b\u200bGalilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Jesus is constantly moving, constantly moving among the people and an invitation to change their mentality always passes from the reality of life.
The Sea of \u200b\u200bGalilee is meant to represent the chaotic life, not ordered. In this Jesus called chaos passes, and two brothers, Simon, which in Hebrew means "obedient listening", which will receive the new name, Cephas', Stone, Peter (cf. Jn 1:42), on which, together with eleven with the Community, the Lord build His Church (16.16 to 18). We can see this pair of brothers in a totality. The two in the Bible and the beginning of a multitude.
The evangelist notes that these two brothers were fishermen. Here there is no intent to describe the social condition, but life.
v. 19: And he said unto them: Come after me, I will make you fishers of men. " If we first heard an imperative: "Repent." Now I listen to another, "Follow me." The conversion is to bind to Jesus, to become his disciples. It is not the first time in the Bible that we hear this formula stylized vocation in which echoes the relationship between the master to the disciple at the Jews (cf. 1 Kgs 19.20-21).
The promise to make them "fishers of men" is intended to indicate their apostolic office: making disciples or others be themselves masters. The sentence could also be an allusion to Jer 16.16: "Behold, I will send many fishermen to catch them."
The essential feature of this call is to be with Jesus, sharing the experience of Jesus in John's Gospel we read: "If one wants to serve me, follow me and where I am, there also will my servant" (12:26).
Jesus passes from our daily life today and start calling. Do not ask us to leave our everyday life, but to transform it. The disciples continue to be fishermen, especially fishers of men.
is the conversion that speaks to our heart, metanoia, change that mentality that translates into a vital impetus to the novelty, rather than a penance of mortification in the past.
v. 20: Immediately they left their nets and followed him. The voice of Jesus Christ calls to follow him is similar to that with which God had called her in the Old Testament prophets constituted as his spokesman in front of his people Israel.
Discipleship becomes a permanent condition, the full realization of the desire of the disciple. Peter will one day be interested in a reward (Matthew 19:27), but Jesus was a fundamental law for his disciples: "Whoever of you does not renounce all his possessions, can not be my disciple" (Lk 14:33 ).
The word "immediately" shows this condition: the readiness is full of joy and no regrets. Today we would say: wait, think, do not rush, etc.. Paul writes, "time is short, from now on those who have wives live as though they had none, those who mourn as though they wept, and those who enjoy as if they enjoyed, those who buy as though not buying, and those who use the world as if they had no dealings fully , because it passes the scene of this world "(1 Cor 7.29 to 31). In the same verse, Matthew takes the same action is another, more expressive," followed him. "It is not a simple or go join him, but to indicate a relationship of discipleship: Jesus is the Master, their disciples, and He is the first, their followers. In practice have made it clear from the outset their relationship and were living in an increasingly deep; to follow in the gift of self, the humiliation, of persecution and death.
v. 21: Going further, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat, along with their father Zebedee, repairing their nets, and he called them. It repeats the same thing with two other brothers. This time, Matthew tells us that they were with their father. These were ordered (katartizontas) networks. This verb is used here in a material sense, but we can catch him in a spiritual sense as a "sort the souls." Matt also suggests how the activity of the sons of Zebedee can be transformed by communion with the Lord as Simon and Peter are no longer fishers of fish, but of men, so James and John are no longer officers of networks, but of souls. Beyond this, what is important to stress that the act of the disciples and reveals the exact nature of the conversion from the Baptist announced and implemented by the Lord: metanoia, change that mentality more than the job.
Although this pair of brothers is called by the Lord. Call the verb in this verse is used, is intended to indicate the calling of the disciples and others, even "naming". Naming someone in biblical language is to possess (see eg. The first cc. Genesis).
v. 22: And they immediately left the boat and their father and followed him. Even James and John immediately abandon the work, their lives (the boat and their father) and join Jesus have experienced something bigger, an extraordinary, a force that attracted them to leave what they were used to. We can say that at that moment they experience God and his Kingdom. Certainly not full because it concerns the future, but when someone converts to devoting himself to follow Jesus, then the kingdom of God begins to be realized. The passage of Jesus, his call "must be prepared as a runner, with muscles tense, waiting for the signal to its place of departure, with front of him clear the path to overcome, gaze fixed on the goal "(W. Trilling).
v. 23: Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people. The passage started "moving" and thus ends. The disciple's life is in constant motion with Jesus The word must be spread throughout the Galilee and go.
Verse 23 along with vv. 24-25 are the summary of Jesus's ministry in Galilee and indicate their effectiveness. Jesus is the Servant of Yahweh who "took our infirmities and loaded of our diseases "(see Is 53.4). The disciple of Jesus is the one that moves with the teacher to teach, proclaim, heal, along the shores of Galilee today because the whole world once again become healthy.
The Gospel in the mind of the Church Fathers
While reading the Gospel, dear brothers, we have heard: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mt 3:2). The kingdom of heaven is Christ who, as everyone knows, is the knowledge of good and bad, and the judge of all causes. So we prevent God with the confession of sin before the court and purify the soul from all his mistakes. And do not put serious risk every care to correct us from sin and we must do penance, especially when we realize that the reasons for our failures will be called to account. Recognize, beloved, how great is the love of God for us in wishing that we repair our guilt before trial, so in fact the proper court before exercising a warning always pressed the severity. Therefore, beloved, our God demands of us a river of tears, so that by repentance we fix what we lost through negligence. God knows that man is not always persevering in goodness: a common flaw in acting or speaking in the wrong, so he taught us the way of penance, which rebuild what was destroyed and repair errors. So the man, to be sure of forgiveness is always moaning about his guilt. However, although the human condition is so sick because of his many wounds, no despair, because the Lord is so generous that loves to bestow gifts to all in need of his mercy. But maybe someone says, "Why should I fear, I do not do anything wrong? Listen, in this respect, what does the Apostle John: "If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 Jn 1:8). So no one deceives you, dear: the worst sin is to not recognize their own sins. Whoever confesses his sins can be reconciled with God through repentance, while the sinner is no longer worthy to be commiserate with those who feel they have to repent of. Therefore, I exhort you in the words of Scripture: "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God" (1 Peter 5:6). And since no one is without sin, there is nobody who is not penance: if someone is presumed to be innocent, for this is to blame. There are those who blame the milder, but no one is perfect, certainly there is no difference between one or the other, but no one is immune from blame. So, dear friends, those who have offended God most seriously ask for forgiveness with greater confidence, then who is not guilty of serious sins, to pray not to fall for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. (From " Speeches by Saint Caesarius of Arles, bishop).
The word is near the kingdom of heaven, does not express, I think, the sense of a shortening of time. For the kingdom is not to be observed, neither will say: Here it is, here it is, there he is (Luke 17.20 s), but it indicates that the relationship with this same kingdom that is in the interior disposition of those it are worthy. Fact: The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21). (Maximus the Confessor, Chapters Two hundred )
Surrender [of Christians] consists of detachment from life itself and to receive the sentence of death, so as not to trust more in ourselves (cf. 2 Cor 1:9). This begins when we become strangers to the things outside, such as possessions, the vain glory, human habits, attachment to useless things. This showed us the holy disciples of the Lord, such as James and John, who left their father Zebedee, and the same boat on which their livelihoods depended. (Basil the Great, wide Rule 8 )
Some questions for personal reflection and comparison
I am convinced that the passage of Jesus calling me to conversion as a first step by selfishness the love of God and neighbor?
Faced with all joy and sadness all I ask, "Who am following now?
What does it mean for me to follow Christ?
I am an employee of Christ?" I have become aware of this responsibility?
Praying
The encounter with God is both easy and difficult: even when necessary and impossible, hidden and yet offered, it's like a gift that man has only to see taken. But this is difficult, indeed it is so difficult that the real fight is not in going to seek God until you find one, but to see him when he arrived and is already present. We try to detect the presence Lord's, reviewing the experience of the Psalmist (Ps. 26)
The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear
?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life:
whom shall I fear?
One thing I ask of the Lord, that will I seek
:
dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty
the Lord and to behold his temple.
I am sure the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living
.
Wait for the Lord, be strong,
it strengthens your heart and hope in the Lord.
contemplative act
Let illuminated by the light of Jesus, the incarnate Word of the Father who goes from our daily lives. We respond immediately to his word to become his permanent home and new "fishers of men."
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