They would long ago have repented

Gospel: Mt 11:20-24

JESUS began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “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. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And 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. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

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Jesus mentions cities where most of his miracles have been done. Although Chorazin is not very familiar, Bethsaida is known to be the origin of three apostles, Peter, Andrew, and Philip, and the place where Jesus healed a blind man. Jesus names Capernaum, where he settled and started his ministry upon the arrest of John the Baptist.

When Jesus says “Woe to you!” he does not condemn these cities or reject them as hopeless. Jesus serves a stern warning, as he grieves over the blindness of these people whom he has personally known. Their problem is their unwillingness to repent from their sinful ways. They refuse to open their minds to the good news that Jesus is offering them. They reject Jesus after he delivers a discourse on the bread of life.

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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.