From the Gospel acclamation: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 11:20-24)
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.”
Jesus compares towns he visited to the pagan cities of Tyre and Sidon, known in his time for their wickedness. Seeing the miracles Jesus performed in these cities, its people remain unrepentant, failing to turn to the Lord. The Gospel acclamation expresses it in this way: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Unlike the people of Tyre and Sidon, who did not see the mighty deeds Jesus performed, the people of and Bethsaida did. Because of that, they are accountable for having witnessed God present among them and yet remaining hard of heart. We hear Jesus firmly say to them—and to all who fail to acknowledge and follow Jesus as the Son of God: “Woe to you!”
God, the pronouncement of these words of Jesus echoes throughout time to all who would hear them. Having called the people of his day to repentance and faith, he does the same today. Give me the grace to see how you work in the lives of your people throughout any given day. In the celebration of the Eucharist, there is no less the presence of Jesus than in the days when he walked the earth. He is present body and blood, soul and divinity, at the altar in the consecrated bread and wine. In this timeless moment when heaven is brought down to earth, strengthen my faith and call me to turn to you more and more. “Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised,” the psalmist sings, “in the city of our God.” Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.