Memorial of St. Jerome, priest and Doctor of the Church

Today's Mass Readings

In today’s Gospel, we encounter a Jesus that we do not normally encounter. We encounter a stern Jesus who pronounces words of woe and condemnation upon those cities that have not accepted him and his proclamation of the Gospel. Even though it makes us uncomfortable to encounter such a stern Jesus, it would be good to give some consideration as to why he says what he says.

First of all, his stern words point to the importance of our encounter with him. When we reject him, we also reject the God who sent him for the salvation of human beings. And so, in rejecting him we are also rejecting that salvation that he came to bring. Another thought that comes to mind is what is said in the Book of Genesis, that God creates us human beings in God’s own image and likeness. When God created us in this image and likeness, God had someone particular in mind, Jesus himself. And so, when we reject Jesus, we also are rejecting our own true selves. The possibility of losing out on these things certainly warrants a stern warning.

We should remain strong in hope, however, both for ourselves and for any people we know in our lives who seem to reject Christ. Jesus never gives up on us and continues to work on all of us throughout our lives, with a constant call to conversion. And in today’s world, many who seem to reject Jesus are not really rejecting him, but one or another of many false images of him that have arisen.

Reflection by Fr. Aquinas Keusenkothen, OSB