Rejoice, Repent and turn out your light

Thursday January 31st, Matthew 4: 12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is the message we are to bring to the world, the Kingdom is near. God is never far off, God is never outside our reach and more importantly, we are never outside God’s reach. The presence of Christ is good news for the world. In times past, Zebulun and Naphtali were given the good news in Isaiah that their time of shame and exclusion is over. The darkness they considered a way of life had come to an end and in them, and even through them, light would shine. Today that same good news comes to those whose lives are down trodden, stand up, rejoice, the kingdom is near and the darkness if over. It is sometimes hard to see that when you are busy shining your own light, but don’t worry, the batteries will soon give out and then you too will be able to see the glory of God.