Deeds Of Jesus…Are We Ignoring Them?

“Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. ²¹“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²²But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. ²³And you, Capernaum,

will you be exalted to heaven?
No, you will be brought down to Hades.

For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. ²⁴But I tell you that on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.”-Matthew 11:20-24

Deeds Of Jesus

Over the course of his earthly ministry, Christ performed many deeds and miracles. He healed the blind, raised men from the dead, and turned water into wine. Yet scripture tells us in Luke 4:24 that he was not welcome in his hometown. This fascinating. After all if people were witnesses to these events wouldn’t it be easier to believe?

In a way the paradox of believing in the savior went back to the time Christ walked the Earth. In the Gospel from today’s Mass our Lord has some harsh words for those who witnessed his deeds and yet lack belief.

Christ, Jesus, Religion, Mosaic, Easter

What About Us?

This is great, but what about us? How does this apply to us today? The answer is pretty simple. In a special way we are witness to his deeds. By virtue of our baptism were were raised from death to life by his power. We witness the miracle of the bread and wine being transformed to his body and blood at Mass. We see his deeds passed on through the pages of sacred scripture and the writings of the early church fathers. The fact the his church is still here, and thriving in some parts of the world, is also a testament to this. He is still moving his people, and through them is performing supernatural deeds.

Are we showing the world the great change that Christ has made in us? Or are we like the towns mentioned in today’s Gospel reading? Those towns are now destroyed and only portions have been excavated. Jesus says that Sodom, the town destroyed in Genesis, would even be around if it chose to believe.

We have a choice to make every day. Are we going to follow Jesus, or are we going to go our own way? To go our own way is to sin and brush Jesus to the side. In effect we are acting like the towns mentioned in the Gospel. It doesn’t matter how involved your parents are in the church or who they are. You are the one that has to choose to follow Christ and believe what he says.

Pray. Reflect. How have our actions denied Jesus?