Fr. Mike’s Daily Homily for Friday of the 26th week in Ordinary Time Cycle I
Theme: The Word of God demands repentance and conversion
By: Fr. Mike Lagrimas
St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Diocese of Novaliches
Homily for Friday October 1 2021
Friday – Week 26
October 01, 2021
Lk 10:13-16
“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, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
The Gospel reading today is frightening. Jesus mentions the names of three towns in Galilee: Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. We can say that these are His favorites, for this is where He has done a lot of preaching and miracles. But the Gospel today may not be considered Good News because Jesus is addressing, not blessing, but ‘woes’ to these towns.
Chorazin was near the Sea of Galilee, just three or four kilometers north of Capernaum. Bethsaida was on the north-east shore of the Sea of Galilee. This was the hometown of some of the disciples. These towns are now gone. They do not exist anymore.
The third town mentioned is Capernaum. It is situated on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is often mentioned in the Gospels because this is the center of the missionary work of Jesus. He always goes back here after doing His mission in the surrounding towns and villages. At present, Capernaum lies in ruins, and was never rebuilt.
These towns suffered this terrible fate because they have not heeded the message of salvation and the call to conversion. They were so fortunate that Jesus frequented their towns, preaching and doing lots of miracles in their presence. But they just did not mind the Lord’s teachings. Jesus says that if the pagan cities of Tyre and Sidon had witnessed all that he had said and done in these towns, they would have repented long ago.
This should give us an important lesson and warning. We are all familiar with the teachings of Christ. But many of us do not realize that the Word of God demands repentance and conversion, that it calls us to a new life in Jesus. This explains the existence of the phenomenon called split-level Christianity. There are many people who love to be called Christians, but their lives are not in accord with the teachings of Christ. They refuse the call to conversion. Definitely, at the judgment seat, the Lord will say unto them, “Amen, I tell you, I do not know you!”
Furthermore, Jesus said: “Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” He is addressing this to His disciples whom He is sending on mission. He is reminding them that the message they proclaim is not their own, but God’s. Hence, those who listen to them, listen to Jesus as well. And those who reject them are also rejecting Jesus and the heavenly Father who sent Him.
This should remind those entrusted with the mission of proclaiming the Gospel that they must be faithful to God’s word and courageous in proclaiming it. And second, they should always realize that they have to proclaim, not what people want to hear, but what God wants His people to hear.
The words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy should guide us: “For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry” (2 Tim 4:2-5).
Fr. Mike Lagrimas
St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Diocese of Novaliches