They Left Everything Behind to Pursue Jesus.
Gospel Reflection for January 5, 2026
“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.” (Mt. 4:12-17, 4:23-25 NABRE)
The people in today’s Gospel took great lengths to find Jesus and to follow Him. Many who heard His teachings and witnessed the miracles He wrought came to believe and have faith in Jesus. As such, they traveled far distances to pursue the Lord, seeking His Word and receiving healing.
May the proclamation, “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” stir within us this same desire to seek Jesus and His Kingdom, and to bring to Him our burdens and sufferings.
The vast crowds of people all prioritized Jesus in their lives. They left their homes and their work behind, and stopped everything that they were doing and everything that they had going on, in order to travel to see Jesus. Rather than focusing on worldly cares, the people pursued Jesus and His Kingdom, trusting in Him for their needs.
We are all called to live with the same profound faith. We are called to prioritize our Lord and to seek after Him above all else. When we are burdened or experiencing suffering and pain, we must bring it to Jesus, trusting in Him to heal us and having faith that He is present with us amidst our pain.
Jesus is our “Great Light.”
May we strive always to pursue the Lord and to live not for the cares of the world, but for the Kingdom of Heaven. Like the people in today’s Gospel, may we, too, leave everything behind to follow Jesus.
“But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” (Mt. 6:33)