God’s terrible punishments

Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” (Matthew 11: 20-24)

Jesus harshly reproaches those who are not converted despite His many miracles. Today many think that, in order to educate well, parents and teachers should never correct their children and pupils, much less punish them. The teaching of the Word of God is very different, reminding us that God is infinite Mercy and yet he will punish those who deserve it. Jesus threatens the city of Capernaum with a punishment worse than that of Sodom. We should shudder at the thought that Sodom was destroyed by God for sins of impurity against nature (homosexuality), sins that were so often practiced as to be considered a normal part of life.