FaithICS

=**Monday, January 5, 2015 Gospel **=


 * Matthew 4:12-17,23-25 **

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:

Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px;">“Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px;">He went around all of Galilee, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px;">teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px;">and curing every disease and illness among the people. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px;">His fame spread to all of Syria, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px;">and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px;">and racked with pain, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px;">those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px;">and he cured them. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px;">And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px;">and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

This gospel passage is about how God cured everyone with sicknesses or diseases. He was powerful enough to do it, and the Syrians started to bring everyone sick to Jesus. It is also about how He cured the possessed, lunatics, and paralyctics. After He cured all these kinds of people and taught in their synagogues proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, His fame spread. Everyone also started to follow Him. This passage also explains that light will arise on His troubled people. He says that His kingdom is still there for the people that are willing to change their ways to doing what Jesus wants us to do.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px;">Summary **

Jesus is teaching us important things in the gospel of Matthew 4:12-17 and 23-25. He is teaching us that He will shine a light upon all the people who need His help. His goal is to change the people who haven't done what He wants us to do as His children. Jesus is also teaching us that if you turn away from Him, there is still a chance for you to change and get into Heaven, our ultimate goal. He explains that by saying, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Lastly, Jesus is teaching us that He is powerful enough to cure any disease and that we need to help people as He did. He went all over the world, such as Galilee and Syria. After curing all these diseases, people were shocked of His power and then started to follow Him. Sometimes in our daily lives, we go against God's teachings. The problem is that we don't realize we are doing it. Instead of making decisions that aren't what Jesus would do, we need to follow His footsteps. We need to remember small things in our daily lives, such as helping others.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px;">Reflection **

People can live out the teaching of Matthew 4:12-17 and 23-25. We can do it by helping other people. Jesus showed us how to help others by curing the sick and people with a disease. We can do things to help, such as feeding the poor and giving hope to the sick. We can live this gospel out by walking in Jesus' footsteps and not turning away from Him. We always need to think what Jesus would do. For example, we need to follow the Ten Commandments. Lastly, we can live it out by teaching other people about Jesus. For example, we need to spread the word that God is the true Messiah. These examples show people living the message by us being like God and doing what He would do. Jesus always does the right thing even though no one is perfect. We need to be like Jesus by doing all these great things He did for other people. For example, He died for our sins. We need to repay Him for dying for us. We need to live this message because if we don't, we won't get to our main goal, heaven.

Lord, help us to follow in Your footsteps and always do the right thing. Teach us to help and serve others as you did to Your creation. Help us to spread Your love and compassion for others. Shine a light upon the troubled and the people that need Your guidance. Help us proclaim Your heavenly gospel and spread the good news. Show us the ways to service others as you did. Shape us into a loving and caring person that You showed us how to be. Guide us into Your sacred place, the Kingdom of Heaven.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px;">Prayer **