Fifteenth week in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 7: 1-9; Matthew 11: 20-24
I often hear people say that they have brought someone back to the Catholic Church; they have brought someone to faith. One of the
joyful occasions one can experience as a follower of Christ is when you share
the gospel with someone, and they believe. One of the saddest occasions one can
experience as a follower of Christ is when you share the gospel with someone, and
they do not believe. The followers of Christ experience both the joy of conversion
and the sadness of rejection. Jesus experienced the same thing, and he recounts this experience
of disbelief and rejection in today’s gospel.
Movement from Admiration to Transformation: Jesus denounces those who do not
repent. The cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were
shoreline cities, and Jesus called His first disciples from there. Bethsaida is
the hometown of Philip, Andrew and Peter. Jesus is displaced with the inhabitants of
these cities because of their failure to repent despite the many miracles done
at this village. People marvelled and wondered at the miracles performed by
Jesus. They did not move from wonder to change of hearts. They were not open to
move from amazement to repentance. They got struck at the level of admiration.
Jesus does not expect amazement and admiration but repentance and
transformation. At times, we are drawn
to God, expecting incredible things to happen. Jesus is not a magician, he is
mentor of life and life promoting habits. Change of heart ushers miracles. By citing the
examples of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, Jesus makes plain that those who
have received more, should produce more and more is expected from them. God expects
from people according to the opportunities they have been blessed with.
However, our experience tells us, the most blessed people and who claim to be
God’s people are often the hard-hearted.
Our Takeaway
1. Miracles do happen in life. Spiritual maturity consists
in moving from admiration to transformation of life.
2. To whom more is given, more is expected.
3. Am I drawn to God expecting miracles or spiritual
nourishment.
Wilson SVD
Divine Word Missionary
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