Daily Reflection – 10/4/19
Sacred Scripture
Jesus said to them, “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. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.'” Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”( Luke 10: 13-16)
Reflection
Today we see another side of Jesus in the Gospel. Often we see him as the miracle worker, curing the sick, raising the dead. But now we see the flipside of these miracles: Christ demands a response from the people who have witnessed them. It´s not enough that people stare in wonderment at Our Lord´s mighty deeds. Those deeds, among other things, prove his divine origin and the truthfulness of his message.
How many of those people actually changed their lives after the encounter? How have I responded to God´s grace and favor in my life? Have I taken God´s graces for granted?
How often have you thought: I would really have liked to hear Jesus preach in person? Do you think it would make a difference in your spirituality, in your holiness, if you could actually have heard Jesus preach or see Him perform His miracles? Do you wonder how these towns could have rejected Him?
When we think of the people that rejected Jesus, we have to remember that we have something they didn’t have. We have the gift of the Holy Spirit. They might say “can you imagine what it would be like to have the indwelling of God? Can you imagine what it would be like to share in the divine nature? Is there anything you couldn’t believe? Is there any way your life could ever be the same?”
So we have to wonder. The unrepentant towns saw mighty deeds and they didn’t repent. But don’t mighty deeds pale in comparison to having the gift of the Holy Spirit. If Christ pronounced woes against them for their unrepentance, then what would he pronounce against us if we aren’t moved to conversion?
Repentance is the goal of miracles. Repentance means turning away from what separates us from God and clinging to Him with all our heart. Every day is an opportunity to catch so many miracles happening within and all around us: the miracles of breathing and the continuous beating of our heart, the miracle of friendship, forgiveness and all the beauty of creation. all these and many more invite us to become closer to God.
May we all become more sensitive and become more grateful to God’s reaching out to us. May we always be appreciative of what we already have rather than what we wish.
Prayer of The Day
Jesus help me see that your obedience to Pilate on Good Friday was part of your obedience to your loving Father in heaven. Let me understand that obedience to legitimate authority is a means of growth in humility and holiness.
