Today is Thursday the 7 January, in the season of Christmas.

The community of Taizé sing: La ténèbre n’est point ténèbre. ‘Our darkness is never darkness in your sight. The deepest night is clear as the daylight.’

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 4:12-17

Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by 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 proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Where today do you notice a people sitting in darkness? . . . Where is God in this darkness?

Repent isn’t the only translation of that Greek word ‘metanoia’. The Greek can also mean, change your mind; change how you see things . . .

In these darker days of winter, where do you notice glimmers of light? . . . What is God wanting to show you?. . .

Where is the kingdom of God coming near to you? . . .

As you listen again, how is Matthew seeing the effect of Jesus on history?

The invitation is there, to see God at work in the world, even in the midst of darkness. Ask God for that grace of ‘metanoia’ – to see as Jesus sees.