Matthew 11:20-24

Exodus 2:1-15a

Psalm 69:3, 14, 30-31, 33-34

Matthew 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.

And as for you, Capernaum:

Will you be exalted to heaven?

You will go down to the netherworld.

For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom,

it would have remained until this day.

But I tell you, it will be more tolerable

for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are the Lord of history and direct all things. I trust in your loving care to guide me to a good end. Enlighten my mind today to know your will and the path I need to take. Guide my decisions so that I may extend your reign in the world.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Leading Up to the Kingdom: In the Gospel, we are reading from the two chapters in the Gospel according to Matthew that lead up to the seven Parables about the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13:1-53). The narrative of Matthew 11-12 highlights the division between the disciples who follow Jesus and those who reject his teaching – those who refuse to repent (Matthew 11:20-24) and the Pharisees who have hardened their hearts and begun to plot Jesus’ death (Matthew 12:14). Jesus mentions three cities in Galilee – Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum – who all have experienced and seen his mighty deeds. He also mentions two Gentile cities outside of Galilee that were not privileged to witness his mighty deeds – Tyre and Sidon. If they had seen what the Galileans had seen, they would have repented from their sins. This all speaks to us – how are we receiving the message of Jesus to repent? How are we reacting to the mighty deeds of Jesus accomplished in our lives through the sacraments? Are we no better than the people of the Galilean towns?

2. Moses and Jesus: In the Liturgy of the Word, the Gospel of Matthew is read alongside the first five books of the bible – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Just as Moses is credited with these five books, Matthew organizes the sermons of Jesus, the New Moses, into five long discourses. As the New Moses, Jesus reenacts experiences from Moses’ infancy – just as Pharaoh sought to kill the baby Moses, so also Herod sought to kill the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:13-18). Just as Moses departed from Egypt, so also Jesus will be brought forth from Egypt (Matthew 2:15). “By applying this Exodus motif to the Christ child, Matthew shows that Jesus now embodies Israel’s sonship relationship with God. As the representative of Israel, Jesus will relive the Exodus story in his own life. Just as God’s people were called out of Egypt and brought to the Promised Land in order to evangelize the nations, soon Jesus will be called out of Egypt to bring Israel’s worldwide mission to completion and extend God’s salvation to all the earth” (Sri, Dawn of the Messiah, 146).

3. Dominicans and Franciscans: There were two religious orders founded in the twelfth century. The Dominicans were founded by Saint Dominic in 1216. The Franciscans were founded by Saint Francis in 1209. The two religious orders produced two of the greatest medieval doctors of the Church. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) was a member of the Dominicans, and Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (1221-1274) was a member of the Franciscans. The charism of the Dominicans is to contemplate and to transmit to others what they have contemplated. The charism of the Franciscans is to imitate the life of Christ, poor and humble, as Francis did. The Dominicans tended to emphasize the intellectual life and the pursuit of truth. The Franciscans emphasized the heart and the pursuit of love. Bonaventure’s spirituality emphasizes the journey of our soul towards God, integrating intellectual understanding with mystical union. Our deep love for God is essential for spiritual growth, and this love should be expressed through acts of service and compassion.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I hear your invitation to repent and change my mindset. I seek to conform my thoughts and my will to you. I want to imitate you and share in your life to the full. Help me to see your mighty works in the Church and the world today.

Living the Word of God: Today, in the Liturgy of the Word, we hear the voice of God and learn about his Son’s mighty works. God asks us to respond to him, not by hardening our hearts, but by opening up our hearts to his grace. Let us fully place our trust in the Lord. Unlike the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida, let us repent and accept the Power and Wisdom of God into our lives. Unlike the people of Capernaum, among whom Jesus made his home, let us truly welcome Jesus as Messiah and Lord and allow him to reign in our hearts and homes.