Reproaches to Unrepentant Towns

Today's Reflections

 

                               

 

     

Reproaches to Unrepentant Towns 

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Mt 11:20-24

²⁰[Jesus] began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. ²¹“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 in sackcloth and ashes. ²²But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ²³And as for you, Capernaum:/ ‘Will you be exalted to heaven?/ You will go down to the netherworld.’/ For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. ²⁴But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

Reflection:

If the mighty deeds done in your midst. The greater the graces we receive, the greater also is our responsibility. From those who have received much, much is expected in return. Thus, Jesus “began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented.”

We, Catholics, have received so much from God. In the Church, Jesus has left all the necessary means for our salvation and sanctification. He has provided them to us in abundance. Yet, we often neglect to read prayerfully the Bible, and we do not take advantage of the sacrament of Penance. So many Catholics regard participation in the Sunday Eucharist more as an obligation than as a feast of grace. And how about the countless daily graces we receive? Have we responded to them and thanked God for them?

May we respond generously to God’s graces

so that we will not merit Christ’s reproach.