Christ Lutheran Church

Matthew 4:12-23
12 Now when Jesus[a] heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles—
16 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.”

17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”[b]

18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 Jesus[c] went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news[d] of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

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Sunday, January 25th, 2026

Christ Lutheran, on this cold, snowy day, as you are probably curled up in a blanket with a hot cup of coffee reading this, take a pause. Before you read my sermon, pause long enough to notice your breath. Notice the way air enters your body without permission or effort. Notice how God has already met you here in that breath. The world teaches us to brace ourselves, to tighten our shoulders, to stay alert for the next piece of bad news. God invites us to breathe. 

Many of us are carrying a lot right now. Some of that weight comes from things happening in our own lives, and some of that weight comes from what we see unfolding around us. There is real pain happening in our nation. Minneapolis, in particular, is holding a lot of grief right now. Violence, death, fear, exhaustion, have left their mark on their streets and collectively in our spirits. Many of us feel caught between the cycle of anger and numbness, between hope and despair. Darkness does not always look dramatic, though. Sometimes darkness looks like fatigue, cynicism, or the temptation to look away.

Into that reality, the Gospel does not offer denial. Scripture never pretends that darkness is not real. Matthew tells us plainly that Jesus begins his public ministry after John has been arrested. Fear, violence, and political oppression already shape the landscape. Jesus does not wait for safer conditions or calmer times. Jesus steps directly into the tension. 

Matthew writes that Jesus withdraws to Galilee and makes his home in Capernaum, a place described as “Galilee of the Gentiles.” This region sat on the margins. It was politically controlled, religiously dismissed, and economically strained. People there knew what it meant to live under watchful eyes and heavy hands. Matthew connects this moment to the words of the prophet Isaiah: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.” This light does not erase the darkness. This light shines within it. 

That distinction matters, because the light of Christ arrives while the wounds are still open. The light of Christ tells the truth and refuses to abandon those who suffer. God’s reign comes near in neighborhoods like Minneapolis and elsewhere, where people feel forgotten, targeted, and systems and trust are broken. Light shines not because suffering disappears, but because God refuses to abandon the places where suffering exists. 

Jesus does not stay in one place delivering speeches, he walks along the sea and calls ordinary people by name. Simon Peter and Andrew cast their nets because fishing is how they survive. James and John mend nets because broken tools mean hunger. Jesus meets them in the middle of their work and exhaustion. He does not wait for them to become brave or certain; he calls them as they are. 

“Follow me,” Jesus says, “and I will make you fish for people.” That call does not remove them from the world; it sends them deeper into it. Following Jesus doesn’t mean escaping the darkness, it means carrying light into places that desperately need it. This matters in our nation and world today. The light of Christ gives us courage to stay present and to love our neighbors whose experiences differ from our own, whose suffering is greater than our own.  It calls us to show up with humility and persistence even when change feels slow and the darkness is thriving. Jesus forms us into community because the light multiplies when we share it together. 

The good news of hope for us today doesn’t promise instant solutions, but it does promise Christ’s presence. Christ’s light shines for us because God is faithful. Christ’s light shines through truth-telling, justice seeking, and loving our neighbors. Christ’s light shines brightly so that we are not alone as we do these things we are called to do. 

So, CLC, breathe. Breathe knowing that God’s kingdom has come near. Breathe knowing that Jesus walks our streets and knows our pain. Breathe knowing that light has already begun its work. Breathe with me and then let’s get to work shining our light for those who need it. 

We follow Jesus not because darkness is gone, but because light is here. It’s us. 

Amen.

 

 

Prayers of Intercession for third Sunday after Epiphany 2026

As God’s beloved children united in Christ, let us pray for the church, the whole human community, and the well-being of the earth.

A brief silence

Holy One, you entrust the message of the cross and the mission of the gospel to the church in every land. Guide the newly baptized and deepen the faith of all who follow Christ. Lord, in your mercy,

C: Hear our Prayer

Holy Creator, you lavish creation with splendor, and we praise you for the gift of life. Teach us to live as wise stewards, sharing the earth’s resources with all inhabitants of this planet. Lord, in your mercy,

C: Hear our Prayer

Holy Judge, your power is love, and you judge the nations by the measure of Christ. Free any who are unjustly accused or wrongly condemned. We pray for those in authority that they may govern in ways that all of God’s children are treated with dignity. Lord, in your mercy, 

C: Hear our prayer

Holy One of Love, you care for our children, our elderly, and any who are ill in mind, body, or spirit. We pray especially for Mary Kay, Marilyn, Amy, Brenda, Ryan, Aurin, Don, Leslie, Larry, Harvey, Greg, the family of Ernie Rademacher, the family of Rob Drake, those on our ongoing prayer list and those we name in our hearts. Lord, in your mercy,

C: Hear our Prayer

Holy Giver, you gather, forgive, and shape us as disciples of Christ. Nurture in us a spirit of patience and respect, that we may love one another as you love us. Lord, in your mercy,

C: Hear our Prayer

Into your hands, almighty God, we place all for whom we pray into your eternal care, through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. 

Amen.