Matthew 4:12-23
Jesus Begins His Ministry
TEXT:
Matthew 4:12-23
Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee
12-14 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15-16 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles— the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
18-22 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.”Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus Ministers to Crowds of People
23 Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
REFLECTIONS:
This text begins with a grief so deep it compels Jesus to move and find a new home. Then, Jesus finds some guys who have been outcasts their whole lives, and invites them to be a part of his inner circle. He tells them that their new job is going to be all about repeating that invitation to other people. So, out they go, finding others whose grief and pain is also deep, and they offer hope with their words and healing with their actions.
I’m reminded of all the times I have been in a dark place, wishing for the world to be different, praying that my circumstances would change. Often, the only hope I experienced came through relationship. Friends and family who reminded me I wasn’t alone. Doctors who were patient enough to learn and prescribe the right medicines. Counselors who had compassion to make sense of my thoughts and emotions. Solutions born out of relationship, rather than outside of relationship.
This week, may you find that even in your darkest moments, you are not alone. And as you encoutner others who need to be reminded of the same, may you find that you already have all that you need to offer hope, healing, and an invitation into the inner circle.
PRACTICE:
Outward Mindset Application
Think of something you could learn from someone at Church at the Park in order to better fulfill your responsibilities. Ask someone with knowledge for time to provide you advice or instruction this week.
Pathways Toward Centeredness
Sensation (loving the world through our senses): This week, experiment with reflecting through color. Find 30 minutes of quiet time to think about the bits of life that are bringing you joy, as well as pain. As thoughts arise, try representing them on paper with pencils, crayons, or markers.
Questions for Relection
Think of a time in which you have felt at your lowest. Who and what did you rely on for your strength? When you notice someone in need of help, what things do you feel most equipped to offer in support? (Listening ear, resources, problem solving, compassion, etc).
You’re Invited!
One of our community practices is to gather every Sunday morning for prayer, friendship, and conversation about the week’s Scripture text. Doors open at 10:30am for coffee and donuts. Our circle begins at 11:00am. We’d love to see you there! The Open Table (@ The old DMV) 2640 N Portland Rd Salem, OR 97301
“Liturgy” refers to the habits and practices humans use to form community around shared values and meaning. At Church at the Park, we desire to be a community of practice, becoming people who see the world through the eyes of the marginalized, making meaning through the lens of pain and suffering, and committing ourselves to non-violence in a wounded world. This weekly email is intended to provide pathways of practice for becoming the type of people who embody these values.
Many of our reflections on each week's text come from other sources. If you're interested in reading more of what inspires us, here our our two favorite reflections.