Mt 4:12-23 (or 4:12-17)
12When [Jesus] heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:
15“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,/ the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,/ Galilee of the Gentiles,/ 16the people who sit in darkness/ have seen a great light,/ on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death/ light has arisen.”
17From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
18As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. 19He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20At once they left their nets and followed him. 21He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, 22and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. 23He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.
Great crowds followed him: Many people come to Jesus. They follow him and listen to him. Why? He brings a message of hope—there is hope, we can change, we can alter our attitudes and our situations. Jesus also proclaims a message of healing. We are forgiven. We can forgive. We can find meaning in our sufferings. We can share bread and kindness and live. Jesus gives us his Father. We have a loving Father who cares for us and awaits us. He knows us and is near to us. He is Father of us all.
Even in a society where apathy, cynicism, and indifference reign, the message of hope, healing, and faith can still be relevant. Sometimes it is the only message we need.