The WORD in Other Words by Fr Glenn Paul Gomez SVD (Philippines) Friday Week 26 Ordinary Time, Bar 1:15-22, Lk 10:13-16
How many times did we feel frustrated because of the stubbornness of a person who did not want to change for the better‘?
During the time of Jesus, the center of his Galilean ministry was an area called “evangelical triangle” or the three towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. Jesus performed many healing and other miracles in those places.
In today‘s Gospel, Jesus expresses his exasperation for the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. The people in those three towns did not want to accept Him and his teachings nor wanted to express sincere regret about their wrongdoing. Thus, each one of them received Jesus’ “woe”!
Even in medieval times, Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were associated with the Antichrist. People believed that the Antichrist “will be conceived in Chorazin, be born in Bethsaida, and begin to rule in Capernaum.”
It is understandable that Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
