“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!” (Matthew 11:20-24)
Biblical reflections by Mauro Leonardi*, priest and writer
Jesus often says in the Gospel that people deemed unworthy, sinful, impure will precede those who consider themselves righteous to Heaven. In this case he makes the same point referring to some cities: the focal point of all the Lord's reflection lies in recognition, in acceptance. Paradise is not about being perfect, but about welcoming the love of Christ as you are and being embraced and transformed by it. Hell is not the transgression of rules but the rejection of God's love, the presumption of possessing the Truth, of not needing anything or anyone, condemning oneself to a destiny of loneliness and fear.
From the Gospel according to Matthew 11:20-24
At that time, Jesus began to rebuke the cities in which most of his wonders had taken place, because they had not converted: «Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles that occurred among you had occurred in Tire and Sidon, they would have converted long ago, dressed in sackcloth and sprinkled with ashes. Well, I tell you: on the day of judgment, Tire and Sidon will be treated less harshly than you.
And you, Capernaum, will you perhaps be raised up to heaven? You will fall to hell! Because if the wonders that occurred among you had happened in Sodom, it would still exist today! Well, I tell you: on the day of judgment, the land of Sodom will be treated less harshly than you!
* Mauro Leonardi (Como 1959) has been a priest since 29 May 1988 and has lived in Rome since then. He spends many hours of his day as a priest and prefers building bridges rather than raising walls. For years he has been writing stories, articles, essays and books that revolve around the relationship between man and God. Author of the blogLike Jesus. Abelis (Lindau) is his latest novel. The volunteers of the Gionata Project thank him for wanting to share these reflections on the Word with us.
