Matthew 4:12-17
At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward 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 preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Earlier this week, I briefly mentioned the imagery of light, particularly the light of Christ that illumines the baptized, that is prevalent in many hymns for the Feast of
Epiphany or Theophany, the manifestation of God, the Holy Trinity. In Saint Matthew’s account of Jesus’s baptism, the voice from heaven declares, “This is my beloved Son,” emphasizing the illumination or revelation to the witnesses rather than to Jesus himself. We Orthodox prefer to call this event “theophany” rather than the simpler term, epiphany—because the word theophany, literally the manifestation of God, highlights the Holy Trinity: the Father’s voice, the Holy Spirit as a dove, and Jesus as the beloved Son. Jesus’ baptism reveals God and signifies the Holy Spirit’s eternal presence in humanity. This is what is emphasized in the troparion of the feast. Today’s Gospel from Saint Matthew provides the Old Testament context for where Jesus began His ministry. Isaiah 9:1-2 prophesies, “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.” This verse is from the section in Isaiah that describes the reign of a future righteous king over all nations. The land previously in “darkness” will now be filled with light. This prophecy is fulfilled through Jesus Christ, whose life begins His rule, drawing all people to Himself, not simply the faithful of Israel, as noted in John, Chapter 12: “Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out; and I, when I am lifted up from the earth [his crucifixion] , will draw all men to myself.”
Saint Matthew then at once states that Jesus began His ministry with a clear message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This concise, direct instruction
from our Lord tells us what we are to do and why. With the appearance of Christ, His ministry, His condemnation by the rulers of the world, His crucifixion, and His resurrection, we see the fulfillment of God’s plan. Through faith in Christ, we are delivered from darkness to the kingdom of His beloved Son, receiving redemption and forgiveness. Yet, the transition from darkness to the light of redemption and forgiveness begins with our response to Jesus’s call to repentance. It is crucial to understand that repentance does not simply mean regret. While it may be impossible to repent without feeling some regret, the difference between the two is significant. Regret focuses on us, while repentance turns us toward God, allowing Him to dispel our sins. Repentance is a divine gift, a hidden activity of the Holy Spirit that draws us closer to God. Our baptism signifies Christ’s embrace, leading us from self-sufficiency to a life of communion (Romans 6:3-6). In this new life, we hear the Father say, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.” As sons and daughters in the Son, we are called to continue the mission of Jesus in our own lives, witnessing the Kingdom of God transforming our world. Baptism sets us within the Body of Christ, drowning our limitations and refusals in the waters of divine mercy, opening a gap through which God can make Himself present through us. It has been said by a monk of our Church that the prayer of repentance is about reopening ourselves to God’s merciful love and accepting the consequences of our actions—God’s justice. It is the prayer of a responsible adult who acknowledges wrongdoing and seeks a deeper relationship with God.
Later today we will begin in this temple and conclude at the waters of Long Island Sound the Great Blessing of Water. A service at which we pray that the Holy Spirit will come down as He did on that day when Jesus entered the Jordan and sanctify the nature of all waters. As we pray: that this water may be a gift of sanctification, and a deliverance from sins, for the healing of soul and body, and for every good purpose.
And so, let this blessing of these waters serve as a reminder of our own baptismal waters, and to paraphrase from the prayer blessing the baptismal waters:
O Master of All, manifest thyself in this water, and grant that we who were baptized therein may be transformed; that we may repent—put away from ourselves the old man, which is corrupt through self-will—so that we may be clothed upon with the new man, and renewed after the image of him who created us: that being buried, after the pattern of thy death, in baptism, we may, in like manner, be partakers of thy resurrection; and having preserved the gift of thy Holy Spirit, and increased the measure of grace committed unto us, we may receive the prize of our high calling, and be numbered with the firstborn whose names are written in heaven, in thee, our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen.