The Danger of unwilling to repent

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 26th Week :  Friday*

*Gospel : Lk 10:13-16*

*First Reading : Bar 1:15-22*

*The Danger of unwilling to repent*

*1) Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!*

The Gospel of the day begins with these words 

Woe means a feeling of great pain or sadness

Woe is also a phrase that is used to warn somebody that there will be trouble for them if they do something or do not do something.

So on the one side Jesus is very sad about Chorazin and Bethsaida and on the other side Jesus warns them about the great trouble that they are going to face 

So first of all unwillingness to repent ultimately makes Jesus very sad and sorrowful

*2) Less Tolerance in Judgement*

Jesus also highlights the danger of unwillingness to repent in terms of tolerance 

*It will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.*

No one can escape the judgement of the Lord. On the judgement day  the Lord's tolerance will depend on ones willingness or unwillingness to repent 

If the tolerance is less in judgement one can expect a severe judgement from the Lord 

*3) One gets the status of Netherworlds*

Netherworld, "place beneath the earth," comes from nether, "down or below."

 It is the world of the dead. It also known as Hades, Hell, Scheol, infernal region, underworld.

Unwilling to repent finally leads a person to the netherworlds and there one is condemned for suffering

*4) Mighty Works becomes useless*

This view is very clear from the words of Jesus

When one shows unwillingness to repent ones own life  then whatever mighty works performed, they become useless 

So unwillingness to repents blocks the grace of God, and we feel unable to experience of the mighty works of the Lord

*5) Very bad picture about the cities*

Three cities are mentioned today's Gospel

Chorazin,  Bethsaida and Capernaum

All these three cities are mentioned in the context of their hardness of the heart 

These names also in the context gives us a very negative impression about the cities 

Even today the negative impression is always present in these cities 

*6)  Am I ready to Repent?*

The Unwillingness to to repent makes Jesus very sad and painful, it blocks the way to the mighty works of the Lord, and cuts a very bad impression about our attitude 

So the question is am I ready to repent from my old ways to new ways which consists the values of Jesus. 

What are the blocks for my genuine repentance??

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*