Isaiah 8:23-9:3; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17; Matthew 4:12-23 (4:12-17).
The news of John's arrest was for Jesus a sign that the time had arrived to begin His ministry. Matthew informs us that before proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom (Matt. 4:23), Jesus left Nazareth and moved to Capernaum (Matt. 4:13). The town was located on a major ancient highway that connected Egypt with Syria. It had a larger and more diverse population. It had its synagogue built by a Roman centurion, a tax booth run by Matthew, and a contingent of Roman soldiers. Why did Jesus move there?
According to Luke, before Jesus went down to Capernaum he was rejected in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-31). However, Matthew sees in Jesus' move to Capernaum the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali along with parts of Galilee was seized by the Assyrian Empire in the eighth century BC. The prophet uses powerful metaphors to describe that tragic event: it was a time of darkness and death (Is. 9:1). But, neither darkness nor death would overcome: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone" (Is. 9:2). Jesus is "the light of the world" (John 8:12). By coming to our world, He has dispelled our darkness.
"Repent" (Matt. 4:17). It means to turn around and to go the right way. And what is the right way? The one that leads us back to God. It is a new way of thinking. What kind of way of thinking? That unites instead of dividing (1 Cor. 1:12). "For the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 4:17). With Jesus of Nazareth, God has arrived to reestablish His sovereignty over the world disfigured by sin. Wherever Jesus comes, sickness is healed, sin is forgiven, bondage is broken, death is defeated, and abundance overflows. Jesus is the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus left behind his past, proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom, and established His own spiritual family. Every disciple of Jesus needs to follow the same pattern. Peter and Andrew left behind their profession and James and John their father and family business (Matt. 4:18-22). Paul, for the sake of Christ, left behind his past as a Pharisee and persecutor of the Church (Phil. 3:4-8). All of them proclaimed the Gospel and continued to 'build' Christ's spiritual family. But, establishing a united family is not easy. The letters of Paul to the Corinthians give us a glimpse of Paul's experience in this regard. The Corinthians, whom he deeply loved, caused him a lot of pain and many tears. Today, we hear about quarrels and division among them (1 Cor. 1:10-16). But, today we also hear about quarrels and division among us.
Jesus proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom and the apostles proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ. Neither Jesus nor the apostles merely proclaimed it with words, but always demonstrated its transforming power. But what drew people to the Church was the testimony of Christian unity and love. "See how they love each other" (Tertullian), the Gentiles in the first centuries commented about Christians. Divisions and quarrels among us are among the greatest obstacles to evangelization. It is time for us to repent and follow the right path. "What unites us is much greater than what divides us" (Blessed John XXIII), because the One who unites us is Jesus Christ. He was crucified for us and we have become united with Him through the sacrament of baptism (1 Cor. 1:13).