Mt. 11: 20-24 is Today’s Reading. It is a direct threat to the comfortable:
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.”
We know the miracles He performed. They were recorded and attested to by men who died in agony to tell us, without renouncing, the truth they had seen. Since we know that so many suffered such pain, rather than recant what they knew to be truth, we are held to the same standards as the actual eyewitnesses to Jesus in Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum.
We will believe and obey, or be treated worse than those in Sodom.
All Christians say they believe that. But, only those who do what Jesus said is necessary to “have life in you” are most fully obedient. We must look at the miracles we say we believe and ask God for the strength to curb our vanities so that we may believe and obey John 6: 53. “If you do not eat My Body and drink My Blood you do not have life in you.”
We must obey to be saved. How do we obey that? There is only one way. We must do what is necessary to receive Catholic Communion.
