Matthew 4:12-17 2024/01/28 Osaka Church
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
The prophet Isaiah prophesied, seven hundred years before Jesus came.
“In Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light; and upon those who sat in the region of the shadow of death, light has dawned.”
True to his prophecy, Jesus proclaimed, “The kingdom of God is at hand”’ from the region of Galilee where he was born and raised. He showed himself to be the “Kingdom of God” itself, the Light that pierces the “darkness” of “the region and the shadow of death” the Savior (Messiah) Christ. Into the space between death and darkness where we were trapped by ourselves shined a Light, a great Light. That Light reveals to us the way of life that was previously hidden in darkness. If we continue to live in sin, if we continue to live in a way that makes ourselves the ultimate purpose of our lives, and thereby try to make up for the communion we have lost with God by communion with the world, That Light reveals to us the unnaturalness, misery, and transience of such a way of life. No one in their right mind can stand that light. No, we can’t bear to see ourselve exposed. Just like the thousands of pigs possessed by evil spirits that fell off the cliff into the sea, we too will self-destruct in our madness. The coming of the kingdom of God will be accompanied by judgment, and this is the true meaning of falling into hell. Those who do not finally seek Christ, the love of God who rescues us and guides us, will turn their backs on that Light and remain in eternal darkness and hell.
However, God’s light shines even into hell. Nothing can block God’s Light. Even after the decisive end, that Light will continue to offer hope that it’s not definitively over. As St. Isaac of Syria says, “Even those in hell are not separated from the love of God.”
He perished in madness himself, and his followers, those who consider belief in God humiliating, still struggle within themselves. This happens because “the kingdom of God is near,” and those who hate the light are extremely sensitive to it.
For those who hate light, “this time” and “now”’ are nothing but the “end” where this world, their lives, and everything else will tumble into nothingness. However, for those who love light, the “end” is an exciting beginning. God is no longer intimidating and looking down on us humans. He, being who He is, revealed this Himself. God is already in the darkness as light. God became man. Moreover, it was in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city of Capernaum, where people were busy with business, passions, and schemes, that God proclaimed, “The kingdom of God is at hand, repent!” In the midst of people’s weaknesses, the One who knows them well is calling out to them. To run to the light, to turn to communion with God, is to run to this One, Christ. To know Him, to love Him, to follow Him, and to live with His body, His life, which He offered on the cross for us. It is about jumping into a life where we share His Body and Blood. A life of sharing is a life of love. In this light, it is no longer a moral obligation to love, to renounce oneself and endure suffering for the sake of love. These are not qualifications to enter heaven. It is joy itself, heaven itself.
Finally, let me introduce a story of St. Silvan of Athos.
Elder Silwan prayed without ceasing for the dead who were tormented in hell, separated from God. When one of the monks said with satisfaction, “Atheists will be burned in eternal flames,” the elder was perplexed and said: “Are you happy when you go to heaven and look down and see someone roasting in the fires of hell? Love can never endure that. You must pray for everyone.”