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“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.” Matthew 11:21–22
Chorazin and Bethsaida were Jewish towns that Jesus visited
frequently to preach and to perform many “mighty deeds.” They were
located just north of His city of residence, Capernaum. Tyre and
Sidon were pagan coastal cities northeast of Chorazin and
Bethsaida, in modern-day Lebanon, and were towns known for their
immoral living. Though Jesus did not spend much time in those
cities, He did visit them at times. During Jesus’ first recorded
visit there, recall His encounter with the Syrophoenician woman who
begged Him to heal her daughter (Matthew 15:21–28). The Gospel
passage quoted above took place prior to Jesus making that
journey.
Why was Jesus so harsh toward the towns He spent so much of His
time in. Why did He rebuke Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum? To
answer this, it’s important to remember that Jesus spent most of
His time preaching to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.” In
other words, His primary mission during His public ministry was to
share the Gospel with those who were descendants of Abraham and had
been entrusted with the Law of Moses, the teachings of the prophets
and the liturgical rites. For that reason, Jesus not only preached
with perfection to these people, He also did miracle after miracle.
And though there were many who did believe in Him and became His
disciples, there were many others who were indifferent or who
flatly refused to believe in Him.
Today, Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum could be seen as symbols
of those Catholics who were born and raised in the faith and were
given good formation by their parents and others. Many parents
whose children have gone astray from the faith wonder what they did
wrong. But the truth is that even Jesus Himself was rejected,
despite His perfect preaching, perfect charity and undeniable
miracles. And the same happens today. There are many who, despite
being raised within the holy faith given to us by Christ Himself,
reject that faith and turn a blind eye to the Gospel and the
Church.
Jesus’ rebuke of those towns should echo today in the minds of
those who, despite being given so much in regard to a good
upbringing, have rejected God. Of course, that rejection is not
always absolute and total. More often, it is a rejection in
degrees. First, the rejection comes in the form of missing Mass.
Then moral compromises. Then a lack of faith. And eventually
confusion, doubt and a complete loss of faith sets in.
If you are one who has started down the road of becoming more and
more lukewarm in your faith, then the rebuke of these towns by
Jesus should be understood to also be directed at you in love.
“Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required…”
(Luke 28:48). Therefore, to those who have been taught the faith
well, much is expected. And when we fail to live up to that which
is demanded of us by God out of love, a holy rebuke is exactly what
we need.
Reflect, today, upon whether the rebuke Jesus issues toward these
towns is also issued toward you. Have you been blessed with a good
formation in the faith? If so, have you done all you can to help
nourish that faith and grow in your love of God? Or have you
allowed your faith to dim, to become lukewarm and to begin to
wither and die? If you have been given much, have been raised in
the faith and have been privileged with good examples in your life,
then know God expects much of you. Answer that high calling that is
given to you and respond to God with all your heart.
My passionate Jesus, You poured out Your heart and soul through
Your preaching to the people of Israel. Although many accepted You,
many others rejected You. I thank You for the privilege I have been
given to hear Your holy Word preached to me. Help me to respond to
You with all my heart so that I will be counted among those who
listen and believe. Jesus, I trust in You.
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Featured image above: Day of Judgement via flickr
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