God comes to us every day
“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.” (Mt 11:20-24)
As many as three Apostles came from Bethsaida - Peter, Andrew and Philip (cf. Jn 1:44), and yet the Lord Jesus said: "Woe to you, Bethsaida!"
And from Capernaum came that centurion, of which the Lord Jesus said with admiration that he had not found such great faith in anyone in Israel (cf. Mt 8:10). And yet, compared to Sodom, Jesus said, Capernaum was worse. Were there not even eight righteous people in Capernaum who were in Sodom?
Let us recall, that in general the people of Galilee showed a lot of interest and kindness to the Lord Jesus. Crowds listened to him, and because many believed in him, he did many miracles.
However, we must remember that Jesus does not accuse the Galileans of not believing in Him, but of lack of conversion. Many Galileans believed in Him,
but hardly anyone converted. This is the temptation that very often we succumb in it: we would like to reconcile dirt with purity and death with life. We would also like to believe in God and not turn out from our sins.
This attitude is just as absurd, as if someone declared loyalty to his wife and at the same time did not give up his mistress. Or as if someone had a mouth
full of words of love for their homeland, but in fact they were guided by private interests and selfishness. We must not delude ourselves: If I believe in God, but sin reigns in my life, I do not belong to God, but to that other master. Jesus says to such person: "woe to you!" Jesus says, this "Woe to you!" not to condemn, but to call with great force for conversion.
How many more miracles, signs, words of the Gospel, prayers, and successfully resolved matters? How many moments of consolation in suffering, the presence of close and loving people, good days at work, holidays, moments of peace and joy? How much more evidence do we need to convince ourselves of thepresence of a watchful and loving God in our everyday life? It is easier to focus on what we lack, than to focus on the blessing of everyday life as at something that we deserve. We no longer pay attention to it and we demand more and more. God comes to us every day with His faithful love.
To convert is to be persuaded and attracted by His love.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george