Matthew 4:12-23

Meditatio (Reflecting)

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Oratio (Responding)

This passage may seem to be a simple narative about movements and actions of the various players at that time. However, there is a major thing happening here. This passage marks the official beginning of Jesus’s Ministry. St. Jerome, writing about the line, says “Mystically interpreted, Christ begins to preach as soon as John was delivered to prison, because when the Law ceased, the Gospel commenced.” Before this moment the law consisted of the teachings of Moses, the Sages, and the centuries of prophesy. The kingdom before this time consisted of the kingdom of David. David was annointed by god and his son Solomon inherited his kingdom, and Solomons mother became the queen of the kingdom. and this tradition was repeated until the moment of todays reading. John’s preaching, represented the fullfillment of all of the law and the prophets. That old tradition of queens would be completed in Mary, and Jesus would be the last of the Davidic Kings. And, Jesus would also be the new annointed king of the new kingdom of heaven. The old dividic kingdom has come to an end, and Jesus begins anew. This is what all of the Old Testament was pointing to, all of what the prophesies fortold, and all of what all of the people of isreal were waiting for. But instead of hearing the preaching of John, and heeding his warnings, and seeing the fullfillment of all prophesy in Jesus Christ, the pharisees instead rejected john, imprisoned him, and eventually martyred him. The pharisees, ultimately rejected the law, and the prophets, chose themselves instead, and would eventually kill their king too. This moment marks the point were the new covenant will begin, and this new covenant will be proclaimed via the gospel. The gospel is the way and the truth and the life, in a word it is Jesus. This gospel is the new teaching is the “kingdom of heaven,” and it is indeed now at hand. But how can heaven be at hand? Well Jesus is remaking the davidic kingdom in himself. Jesus’ life death and resurrection built this new kingdom. It did not exist before this point, and that is why Jesus is our saviour, he created a place for us to be with him in eternal happiness, and he showed us the way to live so that we will be invited into eternity with him, and he open the gates, so that we could enter upon our deaths. This is why it is at hand. Because it lies before us, the invitation is real, and the oportunity for eternal happiness simply waits for our assent. What an incredible gift that Jesus has placed at our feet, you simply need to bend down on your nees and pick it up. The old is over, and the new has begun, and we should indeed repent in the light of this new covenant and promise. The gates of heaven are now wide open to you, if you simply repent, and humby ask for gods forgiveness, and eternity of happiness awaits.

Contemplatio (Contemplating)

Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.

Resolutio (Resolving)

Oh lord, help me to repent of my evil ways, to reject the tempations and allurments of this world, and to choose you above all things, amen.