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Christ Calling the First Disciples:
Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria,
San Pedro Bautista, Candelaria,
Philippines
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Isaiah 9:1-4
Inaugurating Hope
When gloom spreads wide upon the land,
And darkness from a firebrand
Spews forth in ways unthinkable,
Each speech and tweeted syllable
Anathema to who you are,
Hear this: No help comes from afar,
But from the news no news feed brings,
Which peasants, workers, queens and kings
Alike have known from age to age:
The Lord of light will e'er upstage
Pretenders to the throne of grace,
So all might see, and all embrace
A world where light for all might shine,
And where God's people still align
Themselves with those called "least of these,"
Thus multiplying love that frees.
Scott L. Barton
But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
+ + +
Matthew 4:12-23
Waste Not, Want Not
Two brothers picked, and then, two more,
And when those pairs both come ashore
It's almost like, in these first calls,
He wastes not, wants not, by this haul,
Where with economy of words,
He's quickly gathered up one third
The crew! Who knew he's in a rush?
But with conviction, now, he's flush,
For when he sees John's likely fate,
It's time to fish, not just cut bait!
He doesn't stop to analyze,
(Or these guys' qualities apprise)
He simply calls; they simply go;
And not just there, or long ago,
But even now he calls all kinds:
His love is now for hearts and minds.
Scott L. Barton
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
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