Our readings today begin with the story of Moses, and how his mother hid him as a baby, but he was discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter, who raised him as his own. Unlike his fellow Hebrews, held captive as slaves in Egypt, Moses had a pretty good life. But he did not forget where he came from, which led him to the next part of the reading, as an adult, visiting his kinsmen. When he witnessed the mistreatment of a Hebrew, Moses took justice into his own hands and slew the Egyptian.
No, Moses did not get away with murder. In fact, when he again tried to take justice into his own hands and confront the two Hebrews quarreling, they turned on him, calling out his self-righteousness. We have to assume the Hebrews reported him to the Egyptians, as Pharaoh put a price on his head and Moses fled for his life.
The part we don’t read today is the conversion of Moses. God calls him to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt. Moses accepts the role and puts his former life behind him, becoming the great conduit between God and His people.
The Gospel, of course, gives us the greater conduit, Jesus Christ, son of the living God, true God and true man. He has been sharing the word of God, teaching the people, healing them of their infirmities and their sins. He has called them to repentance and change. They too often have answered with indifference. They did not leave behind their former ways, as Moses did. They saw the revelation of God and went about their lives.
Note that Jesus knows exactly what is in the hearts of people in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. He called them to conversion. He offered them everlasting life, while preserving their gift of free will. They chose not to convert. I do not believe Jesus is cursing them with “Woe to you.” Woe can mean sorrow, misery, misfortune, and it seems Jesus might be saying, “I feel sorry for you” or “I pity you.” The path to heaven, to glorious everlasting life with God, is through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Those who choose not to follow Jesus, not to repent and convert, are destined for a dark path that leads down to the netherworld. The choice is offered to us, too. As long as you are alive, it’s not too late to accept Jesus, to convert to being a follower, to repent and believe and follow the Gospel. Jesus calls us again and again. Let us pray for the strength to answer, “Here I am, Lord. I come to do your will.”
Nuestras lecturas de hoy comienzan con la historia de Moisés, y cómo su madre lo escondió cuando era un bebé, pero fue descubierto por la hija del Faraón, quien lo crió como si fuera suyo. A diferencia de sus compañeros hebreos, cautivos como esclavos en Egipto, Moisés tuvo una vida bastante buena. Pero no se le olvidó de dónde venía, lo que lo llevó a la siguiente parte de la lectura, como adulto, visitando a sus parientes. Cuando presenció el maltrato de un hebreo, Moisés tomó la justicia entre sus propios manos y mató al egipcio.
No, Moisés no se salió con la suya con el asesinato. De hecho, cuando nuevamente trató de tomar justicia en sus propias manos y confrontar a los dos hebreos que peleaban, se volvieron contra él, denunciando su propia justicia. Tenemos que tomar por hecho que los hebreos lo informaron a los egipcios, ya que Faraón puso precio a su cabeza y Moisés huyó para salvarse la vida.
La parte que no leemos hoy es la conversión de Moisés. Dios lo llama para sacar a los hebreos de Egipto. Moisés acepta el papel y deja atrás su vida anterior, convirtiéndose en el gran conducto entre Dios y Su pueblo.
El Evangelio, por supuesto, nos da el conducto mayor, Jesucristo, hijo del Dios vivo, verdadero Dios y verdadero hombre. Ha estado compartiendo la palabra de Dios, enseñando a la gente, sanándolos de sus enfermedades y sus pecados. Los ha llamado al arrepentimiento y al cambio. Con demasiada frecuencia han respondido con indiferencia. No dejaron atrás sus caminos anteriores, como lo hizo Moisés. Vieron la revelación de Dios y siguieron con sus vidas.
Tengan en cuenta que Jesús sabe exactamente lo que está en los corazones de las personas en Chorazin, Betsaida y Capernaum. Los llamó a la conversión. Les ofreció la vida eterna, preservando al mismo tiempo su don del libre albedrío. Eligieron no convertirse. No creo que Jesús los esté maldiciendo con “Ay de ustedes”. La aflicción puede significar dolor, miseria, desgracia, y parece que Jesús podría estar diciendo: “Lo siento por ti” o “Te compadezco”. El camino al cielo, a la gloriosa vida eterna con Dios, es a través de Jesucristo nuestro Señor.
Aquellos que eligen no seguir a Jesús, no arrepentirse y convertirse, están destinados a un camino oscuro que conduce al inframundo. La elección se nos ofrece a nosotros también. Mientras estés vivo, no es demasiado tarde para aceptar a Jesús, para convertirte en un seguidor, para arrepentirte y creer y seguir el Evangelio. Jesús nos llama una y otra vez. Oremos por la fuerza para responder: “Aquí estoy, Señor. Vengo a hacer tu voluntad.”
Mike Karpus is a regular guy. He grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, graduated from Michigan State University and works as an editor. He is married to a Catholic school principal, raised two daughters who became Catholic school teachers at points in their careers, and now relishes his two grandchildren, including the older one who is fascinated with learning about his faith. He also has served on a Catholic school board, a pastoral council and a parish stewardship committee. He currently is a lector at Mass, a Knight of Columbus, Adult Faith Formation Committee member and a board member of the local Habitat for Humanity organization. But mostly he’s a regular guy.
Feature Image Credit: James Wheeler, www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-pathway-surrounded-by-fir-trees-1578750/
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