Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
Chorazin and Bethsaida saw mighty deeds done in their midst and had an opportunity to respond. But it seemed that they continued to indulge in ideas about their own self-sufficient greatness. They didn't get the message and repent. Jesus was clear about the ramifications of that failure. They weren't better off for having seen Jesus do such things. Without a corresponding response they were actually at greater risk of judgment. They thought of themselves of pleasant, modern, places, and felt the presence of Jesus as one more sign of their significance. But other, seemingly much worse places, that did not have the opportunity to respond to Jesus, were actually at less risk of judgment.
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.
Tyre and Sidon would be judged on the basis of what they had been given, and held accountable only to respond to the grace that they did in fact receive. But from the one who received more, more would be expected (see Luke 12:48). Our own situation is closer to Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum than it is to Tyre and Sidon. Jesus has come among us and revealed himself to us. We can't just sit around patting ourselves on our backs assuming that just because he has been around us that we are ready for judgment. We are often tempted to suggest that we are good to go, saying "We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets" (see Luke 13:26). But to this, if we don't add actual repentance and relationship, Jesus will respond, "I do not know where you come from" (see Luke 13:27). We can't simply to exonerate ourselves by comparison with those who have not had the opportunity to respond to Jesus or offer as justification for ourselves that at least Jesus was somewhere nearby and that we noticed him. There are stakes. What was meant to be a great blessing for us can become the greatest liability if we don't allow ourselves to be transformed by the presence of Jesus in our midst.
Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me.
And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.
The apostles and their successors were given the authority to teach in the name of Jesus himself. Our opportunity either to respond or to exercise complacency comes primarily through the Church founded by Jesus. But this might well be the place where it is the easiest to take Jesus for granted and to make out of religion a comfortable routine with no teeth, no actual possibility of challenge, or of any danger to our status quo.
Although we probably can't bring ourselves to envy Job, it is still impressive the lengths to which God himself went in order to fully open Job's heart, leading him beyond his tacit understanding and stock answers to a genuine revelation. We can be confident he will do so for us as well if we continue to pursue him.
Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again;
though twice, I will do so no more.
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