In both readings today we are reminded of faith and trust in God.
In the first reading the prophet Isaiah reminds King Ahaz of Israel’s covenant with God and that Israel must rely on the Covenant and God’s continuing protection.
In the Gospel reading Jesus denounces the cities in which he had preached and performed many of his miracles. Despite his many great deeds, very few received his message and repented in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. Jesus tells them that, if his great deeds and miracles had been performed in Tyre, Sidon and Sodom, the people in those places would have listened and repented.
We may no longer worship false gods and images, as the ancient Greeks and Romans did; but we do have many gods in our lives- money and success, power and prestige, the approval of others and our own self-esteem, sex and drugs – the list goes on. The evil one is very good in turning what may be good in itself into idols to replace God in our lives. In pursuing these, we may be shutting out the voice and values of Christ in our lives..
Despite the many good things and talents God has given us, we can forget about him in our pursuit of these false gods and values. We can be so attached to our own will and “success” that we forget God’s will and values.
Let us heed the warnings in today’s readings that we may discern God and his actions in our lives, repent and keep his commandments.