Today Jesus warns three towns where He spent much of His time evangelising: Chorazin, Bethsaida and especially Capernaum - all in the northern province of Galilee. Jesus says that if He had done in the pagan towns of Tyre and Sidon what He had done in these predominantly Israelite towns, they would have converted long ago. Even Sodom, the biblical image of the very worst in immorality, would have done better.

However, let us not smugly sit in judgement on these people. It is important for us to realise that, as frequently happens in the Gospel, Jesus is primarily speaking to us today. If many non-Christians had been given the opportunities that we have received through our membership of the Christian community, they could very well be living much more faithfully and generously than we do. Let us ask ourselves as honestly as possible: To what extent are we listening to God's word? How much of it do we try to understand? And how much of it is reflected in our lifestyle? Are we clearly and obviously followers of Christ and His way?