The words of Jesus, “Woe to you, Chorazin, and Bethsaida,” sound very harsh. But Jesus is giving a concerned warning. It is a fearful warning of what could happen to someone driving in the wrong direction on the interstate. Drivers honking their horns and flashing their lights are trying to say, “Stop! Turn around! Now!”
Are they commanding the person driving in the wrong direction to turn around? No. They are warning them very excitedly to turn around. It’s an alarm that nothing else is more important. Great harm can happen if they don’t change direction.
No matter how many miracles Jesus performed, His benevolent, generous acts failed to change some people’s hearts. They continued to live the way they did before Jesus entered their towns.
“Woe to you” expresses Jesus’s sorrowful pity for people and sometimes for us. It is the deep sorrow a parent carries when their child is addicted to drugs or destructive behaviors. A child can forget all the good the parent did for them. It’s hard for the parents to imagine what could happen to their son or daughter if they continue down a dangerous road.
Gospel Challenge:
Jesus is never angry with us when we abuse His gifts and refuse to repent for our sins. Instead, we console the heart of Jesus whenever we examine our conscience in His Truth and allow His love and mercy to change our lives forever. So, have no fear of turning around. Remember, Jesus calls us “Friends” even when we don’t deserve it. Remember, Jesus always sees what is best in us, even when we don’t. Seek Him out.
June 17, 2026, Matthew 6:1-6,16-18 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061726.cfm Intention Is Everything I always wanted to be a diocesan priest in the Diocese of Peoria. However, this desirechanged
June 16, 2026, Matthew 5:43-48 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061626.cfm Mercy Found – Thanks, St. Anthony One day, my sister Bev and I were walking. She had a bag
June 15, 2026, Matthew 5:38-42https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061526.cfm Keeping Your Honor We want to keep our honor, but how important it is to stay connected to the heart
June 14, 2026, Matthew 9:36-10:8 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061426.cfm Faith Is All About Relationships. Every day, I pray before the Blessed Sacrament for people who have asked for
Tuesday, 15th Week in Ordinary Time July 16, 2024
Fr. Rick’s Two-Minute Homily for Tuesday, 15th Week in Ordinary Time
July 16, 2024, Matthew 11:20-24
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071624.cfm
Woe!
The words of Jesus, “Woe to you, Chorazin, and Bethsaida,” sound very harsh. But Jesus is giving a concerned warning. It is a fearful warning of what could happen to someone driving in the wrong direction on the interstate. Drivers honking their horns and flashing their lights are trying to say, “Stop! Turn around! Now!”
Are they commanding the person driving in the wrong direction to turn around? No. They are warning them very excitedly to turn around. It’s an alarm that nothing else is more important. Great harm can happen if they don’t change direction.
No matter how many miracles Jesus performed, His benevolent, generous acts failed to change some people’s hearts. They continued to live the way they did before Jesus entered their towns.
“Woe to you” expresses Jesus’s sorrowful pity for people and sometimes for us. It is the deep sorrow a parent carries when their child is addicted to drugs or destructive behaviors. A child can forget all the good the parent did for them. It’s hard for the parents to imagine what could happen to their son or daughter if they continue down a dangerous road.
Gospel Challenge:
Jesus is never angry with us when we abuse His gifts and refuse to repent for our sins. Instead, we console the heart of Jesus whenever we examine our conscience in His Truth and allow His love and mercy to change our lives forever. So, have no fear of turning around. Remember, Jesus calls us “Friends” even when we don’t deserve it. Remember, Jesus always sees what is best in us, even when we don’t. Seek Him out.
Love Your Neighbor!
Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
pastor
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