Reproaches to unrepentant towns
http://graceandspace.org
Lk 10:13-16
[Jesus said to them,] 13“Woe
to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done
in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have
repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ 16Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
Reflection:
Woe
to you, Chorazin! Why would Chorazin and Bethsaida be condemned? Great
deeds, miracles, have been performed among the people, but still they
are not converted. Their hearts remain hardened. With the arrival of
God’s kingdom proclaimed by Jesus, what is needed from them is
repentance. But they take everything for granted.
Capernaum
is no better. The descent of the town to the netherworld is an allusion
to the prophet Isaiah’s taunt-song against the king of Babylon: “How
have you fallen from the heavens… yet down to the nether world you go to
the recesses of the pit!” (Is 14:12, 15). God always triumphs over the
arrogant and humbles or humiliates them. Clearly, Jesus’ call to
repentance that is part and parcel of his proclamation of the kingdom
brings with it a severe judgment for those who reject it.
How many good things
have you received from the Lord?
Have you acknowledged these divine blessings
by repentance, renewal of heart,
commitment to the Lord, and service to his people?
No comments:
Post a Comment