Feast of St Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.

"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." (Matthew 11: 20 - 21).

Tuesday 13th July 2021, in the 15th Week in Ordinary Time is also the feast of St Henry II. (973 - 1024). German. Crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1014 by Pope Benedict VIII as Emperor Henry II. He was a powerful man of the world, a man of war and international politics. He became a saint.  It shows that anyone can become a saint. Henry used his wealth and power to promote the Kingdom of God by supporting missionary work. In spite of his cares of the earthly Roman Empire, his gaze was on Heaven, the eternal Kingdom.

In our key Scripture for today, Jesus taught that those who have received more are expected to give more. Chorazin and Bethsaida received more of Jesus teaching and miracles but both cities were obstinate when it comes to belief and repentance. Henry received the Good News of salvation from his mother. He turned his heart and mind to Jesus and became a great saint.

Why was Jesus stern in His reproach of Chorazin and Bethsaida?
Both cities saw many miracles and heard countless sermons of Jesus. They locked up their hearts in unbelief. Unbelief is very dangerous. Look around the socioeconomic landscape today and see for yourself what unbelief can produce. Where there is unbelief, there can be no repentance. Robbers who are caught red-handed in their crimes have sworn that they are innocent.

We are Chorazin. We are Bethsaida. Let us come before Jesus with humility and have our sins washed away in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The merciful love of Jesus is waiting to give us a new mind and a new heart.

"If souls understood what treasures of love are freely given to those who approach Me in the Sacrament of My love, My churches would be filled day and night, and unable to contain the multitudes drawn to them. But the Evil One has schemed and plotted to cover the mystery of My presence with a dark veil of neglect, of irreverence, of forgetfulness, and of unbelief. He has obscured the mystery of My real presence, and so My faithful, beginning with My priests, have walked away from Me, one after the other, even as they did when first I spoke plainly of Myself as the living Bread come down from heaven to give life to the world." (IN SINU JESU page 226).

"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com