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Gospel Reading for July 16, 2024 – Matthew 11: 20-24
SHORT-LIVED
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 nether world. 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.”
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The people of Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. Sulfur and fire rained over them.
On July 16, 1990, Luzon was hit by a powerful earthquake with a surface wave magnitude of 7.8 and produced a 125 km-long ground rupture that stretched from Dingalan, Aurora to Kayapa, Nueva Ecija. An estimated 1,621 people were killed. During times like this, people tend to call on God and most of us suddenly realize how big God is and how very small we are in this place called Earth.
The people in Chorazin and Bethsaida, upon experiencing Jesus’ mighty deeds should have recognized God’s power and love, and repented. We need not experience such catastrophes like the raining of sulfur and fire that happened in Sodom and Gomorrah to be reminded of this. Repentance is SHORT-LIVED when it is out of fear. When the fear is gone and everything goes back to normal, a lot of people start to live like they did before. For repentance to be lasting, we need to recognize the mighty works of God in our lives – the many times we were saved from danger; the many times he provided food on the table; the many times we were able to rise above our weaknesses; the many sunrises and sunsets he made us experience; the family and friends he gave us to experience his love; the pets that give us joy; his creation around us that support our lives; and so on and so forth. If we only live a LIFE OF GRATITUDE to God, repenting will not be so difficult to do.
Thank you for your great love, O Lord! Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, pray for us sinners!
