YOU WILL GO DOWN TO THE NETHERWORLD

Jb 38,1.12-21; 40,3-5; Ps 138; Lk 10,13-16
5 OCTOBER

Jesus reveals to the city of Capernaum that it will have the same fate as that of Babylon, the superb and arrogant city. Instead of acting as a true instrument in the hands of God to correct peoples with mercy and compassion, it had become superb, arrogant, wicked and cruel. It had placed itself above God and that is why it was precipitated into the underworld. When a heart lets itself be governed by pride, it dies to its humanity. It becomes ruthless, without any compassion and devoid of any mercy.

How the oppressor has reached his end! how the turmoil is stilled! The Lord has broken the rod of the wicked, the staff of the tyrants That struck the peoples in wrath relentless blows; That beat down the nations in anger, with oppression unchecked. The whole earth rests peacefully, song breaks forth; The very cypresses rejoice over you, and the cedars of Lebanon: “Now that you are laid to rest, there will be none to cut us down.” The nether world below is all astir preparing for your coming; It awakens the shades to greet you, all the leaders of the earth; It has the kings of all nations rise from their thrones. All of them speak out and say to you, “You too have become weak like us, you are the same as we. Down to the nether world your pomp is brought, the music of your harps. The couch beneath you is the maggot, your covering, the worm.” How have you fallen from the heavens, O morning star, son of the dawn! How are you cut down to the ground, you who mowed down the nations! You said in your heart: “I will scale the heavens; Above the stars of God I will set up my throne; I will take my seat on the Mount of Assembly, in the recesses of the North. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will be like the Most High!” Yet down to the nether world you go to the recesses of the pit! (Is 14,4-15).

Every man is stupid, ignorant; every artisan is put to shame by his idol: He moulded a fraud, without breath of life. Nothingness are they, a ridiculous work, that will perish in their time of punishment. Not like these is the portion of Jacob, he is the creator of all things; Israel is his very own tribe, Lord of hosts is his name. You are my hammer, my weapon for war; With you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms. With you I shatter horse and rider, with you I shatter chariot and driver. With you I shatter man and wife, with you I shatter old and young, with you I shatter the youth and maiden. With you I shatter the shepherd and his flock, with you I shatter the farmer and his team, with you I shatter satraps and prefects (Jer 51,17-23).

Nothing is more pleasing to the Lord than humility. But when are we really humble? When we see ourselves as God’s work, instruments of God and servants of the Lord; when we are clay in his hands, so that he can make of us what he wants. The humble is a listener of the Word of his God. Corazìn, Bethsaida and Capernaum go to Jesus, ask miracles to Jesus, but do not listen to Jesus. They do not get converted to his Word. They are superb and arrogant, egotistical and overconfident cities. There is no place for them in the kingdom of God. Their condemnation will be severe. If God has punished the pagan nations with great justice, he will punish these cities with great justice. The justice of the Lord is related to the gifts of grace, ministries, charismas and every other charisma received from our God. Who has received the Gospel, will be judged according to the Gospel and who has received the gift of the episcopate will be judged according to this gift. The same is valid for every other sacrament.

“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, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.'” Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

To whom much was given, much will be required. Many miracles have been given to these cities. Jesus revealed to them that he was a true prophet of the living God. They will be judged according to this wealth offered them. Only God can judge. Only he understands and knows.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints ensure that we do not despise even one single gift from God.