As he went around all the towns and villages, Jesus was, whether consciously or unconsciously, fulfilling Isaiah's prophetic promise: "with your own eyes you will see your teacher." The Gospels insist that Jesus spoke openly, as he himself affirmed before the High Priest: "I have spoken openly for all the world to hear. I have always taught in the synagogues and in the Temple where all the Jews gather" (John 28:19-21).

While mentioning the synagogues and Temple, Jesus also emphasizes his universal mission: "for all the world to hear", and so at his Ascension he sent his disciples to all nations to preach the good news of salvation.

Matthew notes that Jesus' ministry was twofold: preaching the good news and "curing every sickness and disease." As we continue the public life of Christ in the Church and its mission to the world, we engage both in a ministry of preaching and of healing. We understand healing in a wider sense than the curing of bodily diseases. All work for justice and peace, for solidarity and reconciliation is a work of healing for our wounded society and world that all may know that this is the way we are to walk, as Isaiah proclaims.