Lk. 10:13-16: “He who listens to you listens to me”

Jesus raises a lament and a warning against cities that witnessed his miracles, but were not converted. It is not a speech of condemnation, but a call of love because God gives us signs, opportunities, and words to move us to conversion. The reproach to Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum is due to the fact that, despite seeing his works and miracles, they did not convert and because those who receive more have greater responsibility. Capernaum had been the “city of Jesus,” his mission center. But the lack of conversion makes her “go down into the abyss.” It is a warning against arrogance and indifference because it is not enough to be close to the sacred, but it is a matter of allowing oneself to be transformed, and it must be demonstrated with words and with the witness of one’s life.

Jesus affirms that whoever listens to his disciples listens to him, and whoever rejects him, rejects the Father. This gives great value to the mission of the Church and thus the envoy participates in the authority of Christ. Whoever welcomes the humble messenger of the Gospel is welcoming Christ himself.

Today we can ask ourselves: How do we respond to the gifts God has given us? How do we listen to and welcome the signs that come our way in our daily lives?