GOSPEL READING:
Matthew 11:20-2420 Then he began to upbraid the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you."
Meditation: If Jesus were to visit your community today,
what would he say? Would he issue a warning like the one he gave
to Chorazin and Bethsaida? And how would you respond? Wherever
Jesus went he did mighty works to show the people how much God had
for them. Chorazin and Bethsaida had been blessed with the
visitation of God. They heard the good news and experienced the
wonderful works which Jesus did for them. Why was Jesus upset with
these communities? The word woe can mean misfortune, calamity,
distress, sorrow, sadness, misery, grief, or wretchedness. It is
as much an expression of sorrowful pity and grief as it is of
dismay over the calamity and destruction which comes as a result
of human folly, sin, and ignorance.
Why does Jesus lament and issue a stern warning? The people who
heard the Gospel here very likely responded with indifference.
Jesus upbraids them for doing nothing! Repentance demands change -
a change of heart and way of life. God's word is life-giving and
it saves us from destruction - the destruction of heart, mind, and
soul as well as body. Jesus' anger is directed toward sin and
everything which hinders us from doing the will of God. In love he
calls us to walk in his way of truth and freedom, grace and mercy,
justice and holiness. Do you receive his word with faith and
obedience or with doubt and indifference?
Most High and glorious God, enlighten the darkness of our hearts and give us a true faith, a certain hope and a perfect love. Give us a sense of the divine and knowledge of yourself, so that we may do everything in fulfillment of your holy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Prayer of Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226)
Psalm 48:2-8
1 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain,
2 Beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.
3 Within her citadels God has shown himself a sure defense.
4 For behold, the kings assembled, they came on together.
5 As soon as they saw it, they were astounded, they were in panic, they took to flight;
6 trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in travail.
7 By the east wind you did shatter the ships of Tarshish.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes for ever. [Selah]
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Even after miracles they did not repent, by Jerome (347-420 AD)
"Our Savior laments Chorazin and Bethsaida, cities of Galilee,
because after such great miracles and acts of goodness they did
not repent. Even Tyre and Sidon, cities that surrendered to
idolatry and other vices, are preferred to them. Tyre and Sidon
are preferred for the reason that although they trampled down the
law, still Chorazin and Bethsaida, after they transgressed natural
and written law, cared little for the miracles that were performed
among them." (excerpt from COMMENTARY
ON MATTHEW 2.11.22.1)
