From Nazareth to Capernaum

January 6, 2025 - Monday after Epiphany

Matthew 4:12-17; 23-25

Two significant events stand out in today’s Gospel: (1) Jesus moves from Nazareth to Capernaum, and (2) His remarkable ministry of healing and teaching. For this reflection, I will focus on the first — Jesus establishing His ministry base in Capernaum.

Matthew tells us that Jesus was still in Judea, in the southern part of the Holy Land, when He heard about John the Baptist’s arrest. Herod Antipas feared that John’s growing influence might incite a revolt, which ultimately led to John’s imprisonment. Ironically, the same threat — the growing popularity of Jesus among the people — would later lead to His arrest and crucifixion. Fame can be dangerous, especially when it challenges those in power.

Jesus’ move from Nazareth to Capernaum is significant. Nazareth, a small village in the hills, had an estimated population of about 100 people, most of whom were related to one another. Capernaum, by contrast, was a bustling town on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, with a population of around 10,000. One might wonder if Jesus left Nazareth to escape the criticism of His own clan, who may have struggled to accept His shift from carpenter to preacher and healer. Yet, even when He returned, the skepticism of His relatives remained. They questioned how a carpenter’s son could presume to become a rabbi.

Matthew offers a deeper theological explanation for the move. He connects it to the prophecy of Isaiah, which speaks of light dawning in the land of darkness. Historically, after Israel entered the Promised Land, Capernaum and the surrounding area belonged to the tribe of Naphtali, while Nazareth was in the territory of Zebulun. However, during Isaiah’s time, this region had fallen to the Assyrians, who replaced much of the local population with foreigners. By Jesus’ time, the area was a diverse mix of Jews and Gentiles living side by side. It was to this mixed population — Jews and Gentiles alike — that Jesus brought the light of the Gospel.

Both Matthew and Mark emphasize that Jesus’ ministry began in Galilee and would later be reignited there after His resurrection. There is, however, a key difference between the two phases of His ministry. Initially, Jesus focused primarily on “the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” with a few notable exceptions. After the resurrection, however, the mission of the Church that began in Galilee extended to the whole world, fulfilling Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations.

Today, “Galilee of the Nations” remains symbolic of our ongoing mission. There are still countless people living in spiritual darkness who have yet to encounter the light of the Gospel or experience the reign of God in their lives. The call to bring the light of Christ to others, both near and far, continues to challenge and inspire us.