Reproaches to Unrepentant Towns

Today's Reflections

                                                

Reproaches to Unrepentant Towns

Lk 10:13-16

[Jesus said to his disciples,] 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.”

WOE TO YOU. We generally see Jesus as a very loving, merciful person. We are devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Divine Mercy. So when Jesus utters words of condemnation for Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, we may be surprised, even a bit scandalized.

Jesus is not only merciful but also fair and just. He worked miracles and preached the good news to the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. It is only fair and just to expect their gratitude. Instead, they took him for granted and did not heed his call to repentance. Jesus may very well exclaim about them: “What an ungrateful breed of people!”

For this reason, on the day of reckoning, judgment will be less severe for Tyre and Sidon, pagan towns who have not witnessed the mighty deeds of Jesus.

We Christians have received countless graces. Let us remember: “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more” (Lk 12:48).

Show your gratitude to God

by living fully the Christian way of life.