Serious words of the Lord Jesus.

Pride is an unfortunate and evil characteristic of man. It is even worse when a believer adopts it. It is not rare for a superficial believer to think it is enough to go to Mass or the sacraments, but their other life says otherwise.
More than one priest has wondered about the behavior of the “pious” who let those around them know they are the “best.” Even some dare to say that they have heaven assured. Yes, perhaps they attend Mass more than others and even approach the sacraments, but only to be noticed and seen for what they are by the world and those around them. And yet their private life, their interior life, is terrible. These find it very difficult to renounce the error of their ways. Pride makes them unhappy. And if someone were to reprimand them, it would be a living hell.

As we are, so will our towns and villages be. Therefore, the Lord Jesus also said in the Gospel: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!” (Mt. 11:21).

We know that the Lord Jesus often stayed in these towns and performed many of His miracles there. These cities were inhabited by Jews who were overly confident of their salvation. They thought they were Abraham’s seed, God had given them the Law through Moses, and therefore they did not accept the doctrine of repentance. John the Baptist dedicated the words to them: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 3:2). And elsewhere, John says: “O generation of vipers, who has shown you how to escape the wrath to come? Bring forth, therefore, fruit worthy of repentance! Do not presume that you can say: For I say to you: God can raise children to Abraham even from these stones. The ax is already laid to the roots of the trees! And every tree that does not bear good fruit will cut down and throw into the fire” (Matt. 3:1-10).
God, Himself, comes in the person of the Lord Jesus and proves His mission by miracles. But even this did not move their hearts, which remained hardened. That is why Jesus calls to them: “Woe!”

We must realize, and it is self-evident and logical, that the greater the grace of God, the greater the responsibility of those who reject it. Naturally, therefore, they must also expect more severe punishment. This was true then, and it is true today.
Let us ask: Who today is concerned about the salvation of his soul? Who today fears the judgment of the Lord Jesus? In practice, we should take exceptionally that we must not be indifferent to what will follow our death and 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 offers us His gifts today, but He is also waiting for our response. This means, however, that we fulfill the duties He expects of us in humility and love. Remember that God is all-knowing and will not tolerate mere tinsel or superficiality. Therefore, we must not squander the graces offered and bestowed upon us by such a way of life. Otherwise, let us rightly expect even more severe punishment, and Jesus’ punishment: “Woe!”

We see much sin, evil, and scandal in our surroundings too. Some of it is public and some secret, but it is a profound lesson for us to repent for ourselves voluntarily, our dear ones, for unbelievers, and hardened sinners. There are many possibilities and ways. But, unfortunately, in the pursuit of good, even believers often commit follies, and suddenly even the interest is gone.

When someone close to us fails to fulfill their religious duties, be it a daughter, a husband, or a son… let us try to make sure that we, at least, do not cast the Lord Jesus out of our family. Let us pray, give thanks, and forgive them as well. We do not have to tell them. Let us do it in silence and be sure that God will be in our hearts as if on an island.