Scripture:
Reflection:
The prophets Ezekiel, Isaiah and Jeremiah renounce the evil deeds of Tyre and Sidon. We need not to go into the debaucheries of Sodom and Gomorrah. Still, Jesus says the final judgment will go better for them than with the towns of Bethsaida and Chorazin.
The towns of Bethsaida of Chorazin receive a mere glance in the Gospels. Jesus obviously had been to these towns and performed great miracles. The people witnessed miracles, but did not repent.
Brothers and sisters, the condemnation of these two towns underlies a message. Perhaps we can turn to the last line of John’s gospel. “There are also many things that Jesus did, but if I were to describe them individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written” (Jn 21:25). Jesus performed many great deeds that we believers are unaware of. What we do not know about Jesus far outweighs what we know about Jesus.
Hard sciences are the sciences pertaining to the natural or physical, studying the universe with experiments and making theories. We have all seen the beautiful view of the Hubble telescope and the universe beyond us. These sciences, although we still know very little and look out at the vastness of the universe is a finite science. Our study of Christianity and the person of Jesus is an infinite science.
The Gospels give us no insight into the deeds and miracles Jesus performed in Bethsaida and Chorazin, but deeds and miracles happened there. May this scripture passage encourage us to plumb the depths of Christianity and the person of Jesus who infinitely loves us and desires our salvation!
Fr. Phillip Donlan, CP, is the Associate Director of Ministry at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, California.