Woe to you, Chorozain! Woe to you, Bethsaida!

Jesus began to reproach the cities in which he performed the most miracles, because they did not repent: “Woe to you, Chorozain! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tire and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in repentant clothing and ashes. Therefore, I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you ascend to heaven? You’re going to hell! For if the mighty works, which were done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. Therefore, I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of the children of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee

If miracles had happened in Tire and Sidon … they would have repented long ago. People often sigh: if I had conditions, if I had health, if I had time – then I would do something. And they lament: I had no chance of achieving this or that, I was not given a chance; please someone: at least give me a chance. And in general, they consider the blame for their life failures for the lack of chances, i.e. the lack of opportunities, the lack of opportunities, the lack of the economy, etc.

Let’s be clear: if the Lord God is really calling a person for a direction, for performing certain tasks – he will always give him opportunities for it. If one can say with one’s hand on one’s heart that one does not have these possibilities – it simply means that God is not calling them for those tasks. Of course, with a sensitive heart and a careful look, we see a lot of tasks around us that need to be done – but that doesn’t mean that they are all for us. But on the path of their vocation, everyone gets every chance; the unfortunate thing is that not everyone uses them properly. The Lord Jesus strongly condemns those cities that have missed their chance. That chance was his presence in Bethesda and Capernaum, which made it possible to hear the teachings of Christ and to see the miracles that had taken place there. It was a chance to receive the Gospel and convert. Unfortunately, a personal encounter with Christ, his rather long stay there, and extraordinary events have become a missed opportunity for the people there. Are we taking proper advantage of Christ’s presence in our midst: his presence through faith in our hearts?

Let’s ask: Who cares today about the salvation of their souls? Who is afraid of the judgment of the Lord Jesus today? We should realize and take this seriously traditionally that we must not be indifferent to what will happen after our death, that we must not be indifferent to how we use the gifts we receive from the Lord Jesus. We say that the Lord God is good. Yes, he still offers us his gifts today, but he is also waiting for our answer. However, this means that in humility and love we fulfill our obligations that he expects of us. Let us realize that God is omniscient and cannot bear only a kind of tinsel, superficiality. We must not waste in this way of life the graces offered and given. Otherwise, let us rightly expect a harsher punishment and Jesus: “Woe!”

We also see a lot of sin, evil, offense in our surroundings. Something is public, something is secret. He is in trouble and problems in our family like on a stormy sea. But where should ones be saved, if not in the family ?. Problems and difficulties breed sin again and again. How beautiful it is that there is at least someone in the family who will calm it down without big words.