“And when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he retired in to Galilee: and leaving the city Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capharnaum on the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and of Nephthalim; that it might be fulfilled which was said by Isaias the prophet: ‘Land of Zabulon and land of Nephthalim, the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people that sat in darkness hath seen great light: and to them that sat in the region of the shadow of death, light is sprung up.’ From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say: ‘Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
Jesus, knowing that His time had not yet come, retreated into Galilee to soften the animosity that was brewing in Judah. The arrest of John aligned with Jesus’ nearly being killed in Nazareth (4:14-30), showing that those that work for the kingdom should prepare themselves for rejection, scorn, and exile, none of which affect your love: “Into whatsoever house you enter, first say: Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you” (Luke 10:5-6), for love is not measured in how it is received, but in how it is given, and if you live an entire life bearing no tangible fruit, but have done all things with God’s love, you have lived a beautiful life. Jesus goes into Galilee, where the Old Law had first been forgotten, and was divided between children of Israel and Gentile people. It was a place that thirsted desperately for the love of God, whereas the people of Nazareth felt themselves to be in a stable place, not in need of the Gospel message. By this there is an example to sow love in the places where it is most needed; there is always need, but it is of Christian prudence to see the places in which hearts most ache and there plant love, that love may grow and be fruitful: “The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few” (Matthew 9:37). Who, asks the Lord, is willing to step up and lay down their lives for love? To give up everything, to renounce all that they have and are, and live entirely for the sake of Love Itself? “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Ah, look at the knowing eyes of Jesus, who sees the people that were first taken into captivity, and He goes to them to bring His sweet words, “Thy lips are as a scarlet lace: and thy speech sweet” (Song 4:3), that their hearts may be freed and enkindled. He seeks the deepest, darkest places of your heart, that He may plant the seeds of love, that they may grow into beautiful flowers: “Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates with the fruits of the orchard” (Song 4:13). They sat in darkness, because without the light of faith, they cannot come to a realization of how loved they are, and so their hearts remain isolated and dark, their minds not illuminated by the words of God nor by His affection: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45), and Jesus’ Sacred Heart, so overflowing with love, speaks words of love into the darkness of Zabulon and Nephtali. A heart without the love of God lives in death, for it is focused on passing, temporal love at best, if not being consumed by passion or even hate. There are three lights that illumine the heart: The first is the Sun of Day, the light that is the love of Jesus, but in the nights when He seems far and absent, the moon that is Mary is the light that keeps hope and protection when the fears of the night prowl around. Finally, there are the stars, which are the saints, each sparkling in their own unique fashion, yet serve as guides on the way of love, their relationships with God being able to provide insight into how your own can become more intimate: “Be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). These are all here to love you, to be the people that help bring you to a full expression of God’s love: “Behold threescore valiant ones of the most valiant of Israel, surrounded the bed of Solomon” (Song 3:7), this bed being the place set aside for you in your heavenly homeland: “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:3). Christ then preaches a simple message, St. John the Baptist’s message, being a smooth transition from the last of the prophets to the message of Christ, showing that love and truth grow in a way that is smooth and gradual. Just as Church tradition had the teaching of the Apostles and grew like a tree, with connecting dots reaching ever more into the love of God, so too does He bring you to a deeper understanding and love of Him through enticements, bringing you to a place where you are fully yourself. He will correct you, pruning you like a rose bush, but “Whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself” (Proverbs 3:12). Jesus also says, “Do penance,” that is, leave all of your sinful ways, primarily to attain the rewards of heavenly love: “For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Sin keeps the heart from God’s love and arises from a place in the heart that was unloved or loved poorly, and by turning from the things of this world to a life entirely oriented to the love of God, you receive love in abundance, that your heart may be healed and by His grace you may depart from the yoke of sin to the burden of love: “For my yoke is sweet and my burden light” (Matthew 11:30).