THE WORD
Is 7,1-9 / 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.”
IN OTHER WORDS
‘BLESSED’, said Jesus in his opening speech on the Mount. His audience was taken aback when he declared blessed (repeated seven times) those considered unfortunate: the poor, the mourning, the hungry and the persecuted. Blessedness therefore can be attained in any state of life. Jesus’ goal is for everyone who follows him to live a blessed life.
WOE (repeated seven times) is the opposite of BLESSED. Jesus condemned the religious leaders saying, “Woe to you” because of their hypocrisy. In today’s Gospel, Jesus said “Woe to you” to
Chorazin and Bethsaida - Jewish cities situated at the northern end of Genesareth Lake. Also condemned was Capernaum, the city where Jesus grew up. In these places, Jesus preached the Kingdom accompanied by his “mighty deeds,” his miracles. Unfortunately, despite their privilege, they neither changed their lives nor repented from their wrongdoings.
God is doing wonders in our lives every day. Are we aware of all his blessings? Are they helping us to change our lives? At the Final Judgment, Jesus will gather all nations and separate people from one another. On his right will be “those blessed by the Father” on his left “those who are cursed into the eternal re”. On which side will we be? Metanoia is not only a change of heart but a change of attentiveness, especially for others.
- Fr. Xene Sanchez, SVD | Congo, Africa
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
