On those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death

TUESDAY 7 JANUARY (Mt 4,12-17.23-25)

The Evangelist Matthew, after his victory over the devil in the desert, starts the mission of Jesus, with complete fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. In it is said not only that the light comes to illuminate the darkness of the earth, but it is also revealed who the bearer of this light, which is light of truth, justice, peace, reconciliation and forgiveness, is: “First he degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the end he has glorified the seaward road, the land West of the Jordan, the District of the Gentiles. Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness; for there is no gloom where but now there was distress. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, As they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as men make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, And the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames. For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, From David’s throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains By judgment and justice, both now and forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this!” (Is 8,23-9.6). Who brings light to the region of darkness is the Christ, the Messiah. Jesus is the wonderful counselor, the powerful God and the Father forever. Prince of Peace. Jesus is the true light that comes to illuminate every man. He is the truth to make every child of Adam truth. He is life that is made life of those who live in the region of death. Jesus is the Eternal God, the eternal Light God, the eternal Life God, the eternal Love God given to us by the Father in the flesh. Whoever sees Jesus sees a man, but that man is God, he is the Son of God and he is the Eternal Word of the Father. This divine and eternal essence escaped men yesterday and escapes even today. Today much more than yesterday, because of a universal satanic will against him and his essence.

When he 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, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

How do we enter the light, the truth, grace, justice and eternal life which is Christ Jesus? Through conversion. But it is not a matter of moral conversion: from disobedience to obedience, from sin to repentance and return to the covenant and from injustice to justice. Conversion is theological and applies to every man, just, unjust, holy, sinner, believer and unbeliever. The required conversion is the passage from Moses to Christ, from the Old Covenant to the New, from the Word of God given to the fathers to the Word of Lord Jesus, from the blood of the goats, bulls and calves to the blood of Christ Jesus, but also from the priesthood according to Aaron to the priesthood according to Christ the Lord. Conversion must be full, radical, total, perennial and with no turning back. One cannot remain in the Old and assume something of the New. He must pass into the New, leaving the Old. The old holiness is no longer needed. Today the new sanctity is needed, the one that is the fruit of obedience to the Word of Jesus. If Moses is to be converted to Christ, every other man must be converted. Jesus is the only Prince of peace and the only King of the kingdom of God. For this reason conversion to Christ is obligatory if one wants to enter into his light, truth and life.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, arrange that every man is converted to Christ, his eternal light.