In today' gospel, Jesus declares himself in the synagogue as the Messiah, framing the purpose of his messiahship in terms different from what others have believed and thought. His words are exact: the good news of love for the poor, the blind, the captives, and the oppressed. Thus, Saint Paul, in 1 Cor 14:1, encourages us to make love our highest goal.

Saint John continues his teaching about love in today's first reading, urging us to love one another. He writes, "Beloved if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us."

Today's gospel taken from Mt 4:12-17, 23-25 reminds us how Jesus commenced his ministry traveling around Galilee to preach and present himself as the truth that men and women should seek. The gem of that ministry was his words and actions in the spirit of inclusiveness.

Today's gospel highlights John's testimony about Jesus as the focus of divine attraction. Understand that the peak of John's ministry had coincided with Jesus' baptism. We notice from other accounts how the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended, and the Father spoke clearly, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased" (Matt 3:17).

Saint John's gospel puts a different spin on incarnation from Matthew and Luke. Matthew and Luke accentuate the historical and human context of Jesus' birth, and John highlights the spiritual benefits of the Immanuel.