After John the Baptist's captivity, Jesus flees to Galilee to delay his passion and preach to more people.
Matthew writes that Jesus fulfills a prophecy with this action: "...the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen." The Fathers are clear that this darkness is a spiritual darkness of sin. The people were sitting in darkness, signifying that they were awaiting deliverance. They did not know what to do, but expected their direction from without. How many times can we find ourselves in a circle of repeated sin, needing an initiative from God to break us out?
One interpretation of this passage uses the names of the places:
Nazareth is interpreted 'a flower,' Capernaum, 'the beautiful village;' He left therefore the flower of figure, (in which was mystically intended the fruit of the Gospel,) and came into the Church, which was beautiful with Christ's virtues. It is by the sea-coast, because placed near the waves of this world, it is daily beaten by the storms of persecution. It is situated between Zabuloin and Naphtali, i.e. common to Jews and Gentiles. Zabulon is interpreted, 'the abode of strength;' because the Apostles, who were chosen from Judaea, were strong. Nephtali, 'extension,' because the Church of the Gentiles was extended through the world.
Also in this passage Jesus announces the imminence of the kingdom of Heaven. The kingdom of heaven is a major element in the Gospels, and even in the Old Testament. It is the reign of God over his chosen people, and - through them - over the whole world. In this kingdom are the saints, who acknowledge God as Lord by knowing and loving Him. It is a kingdom which was threatened by sin, and which stood in need of saving action from God. It is this saving action that Jesus proclaims as imminent. Rather than a nationalist uprising, the kingdom makes a humble beginning on this earth in the form of a spiritual movement.
Lord, come to us and break us out of our circles of repeated sin and death. Shine your light in and through us to reach the whole world. Do not let us reject your kingdom, but lead us to its fullness. Come Lord Jesus!
Mary, star of the sea and morning star, make us - like you - a window through which the Lord's light is magnified. Make our experience of the Church as beautiful as it should be. Reign over our hearts as Queen and so hasten the coming of God's kingdom!
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