I was recently struck during the Gospel reading on the Monday after Epiphany (Jan 6) that goes like this…
When Jesus 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."
Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
I’m not sure what struck me more—the word 'sea' that washed over me like a tidal wave, or the feeling in my heart when I realized just how much grief and passion Jesus must have experienced when He learned that John the Baptist had been killed.
The word 'sea' alone is enough to spark my curiosity. By definition, it refers to a body of water, smaller than an ocean, partially surrounded by land. But metaphorically, it can represent vastness, depth, and mystery. Ah, mystery—that’s it. The sea may be just a three-letter word, but in thought, it holds so much more than we can fully grasp. That’s why it hit me when I read it. The sea has a way of calming us, calling us, and ultimately drawing us out of ourselves.
The Sea
Since the middle of 2024, the Holy Spirit has been planting seeds in many of our hearts as The Light Project Core team. Funny, or punny enough, that's a fitting way to describe it, considering last year's theme was "One Tough Bloom." The Spirit began nudging us to explore, seek adventure, and—better yet—to go deeper into our calling. Little sweet signs started showing up, like seashells and books with sea- and shore-related titles. As we followed the Spirit’s lead into Scripture, we began to notice that a lot of the miracles and events during Jesus' ministry took place near the sea... on the shores.
Back to Jesus' Retreat to Galilee
I had never noticed before in this verse from Matthew that Jesus "retreated to live in Capernaum by the sea." I’d always focused on the miracles that happened publicly on the shores, but then it hit me—some of the most miraculous things happen in those private, ordinary moments. Maybe Jesus retreated to the sea for his own miracle. Maybe he needed the quiet of the sea to feel and process his grief over losing John the Baptist, to let the Spirit plant what was needed for the next chapter. After all, what follows is his preparation for a huge mission of preaching and healing!
St. Peter: Ordinary Life, Extraordinary Calling
This year, as we journey through Sacred Shores, I’m reminded of the call of St. Peter. An ordinary man, living a humble life as a fisherman, Peter encountered Jesus on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. And just like Jesus' retreat by the sea, this moment on the shore was more than just a place—it was the meeting of the ordinary and extraordinary. Peter’s life, just like ours, was about to be transformed by a call that was far greater than he could have imagined.
St. Peter’s journey is a reminder that we are all called to something bigger, even when we are in the midst of the ordinary moments of life. Jesus’ invitation to Peter was not just to follow, but to become part of something that would change the world. And as we reflect on the sacred shores this year, we can consider how our own ordinary lives can be transformed through our own encounters with Jesus, just as Peter’s was.
Baptism of the Lord & Ordinary Time
Today, we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord, an event that marked the start of Jesus' public work. The calling of Jesus is one of preparation, just as Peter’s was. Jesus went to the water to be baptized, and as we reflect on the sea and its mysteries, we are reminded that our own call to be disciples is a deep, sacred journey—one that begins with the waters of baptism and continues through the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life.
Prayer on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: Almighty ever-living God, who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him, solemnly declared him your beloved Son, grant that your children by adoption, reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, may always be well pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
As we embark on this journey through Sacred Shores this year, let's reflect on the quiet places where Jesus met His disciples and how those shores became the birthplace of extraordinary callings. May we find the sacred in the ordinary, and may we be open to the adventure that the Holy Spirit has in store for us this year, one moment at a time.
Comments