Tuesday, 07-18-23
PRI Reflections on Scripture | Tuesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time
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Gospel
Matthew 11:20-24

Jesus began to reproach the towns
where most of his mighty deeds had been done,
since they had not repented.
"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.
And as for you, Capernaum:

Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.

For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom,
it would have remained until this day.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

Reflection
When we see someone we love doing something that’s destructive, we do everything we can possibly to get their attention, to see what they're caught up in. What we see in Jesus is that kind of temperament. He is really deeply, deeply concerned about these people.

And yet I'll say to them, you're going to be absolutely destroyed if you don't change your way of life. It doesn't mean that He isn't merciful. It simply means that He is intense in His desire that we change from that which destroys us.

Closing Prayer
Father, when we face things in ourselves, and then are those that we love and we want to change them. Give his patients, but also give us commitment and the wisdom to know how to lead them out of darkness into the light. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.