Today’s gospel is one that I really haven’t spent too much time with, but I did find some poignant nuggets to chew on.
· Days to be taken up fulfilled
· Resolutely determined to journey
· Sent messengers ahead to prepare His reception
· They would not welcome Him
· “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”
· Jesus turned and rebuked them
· They journeyed to another village
When it was time and all His preaching, teaching, and healing were accomplished, Jesus resolutely decided to journey toward the Father’s ultimate love. The word “season” has become quite popular in spiritual speak to remind us that everything in this world is cyclical and timed and has a rhythm and a beginning and an end. Jesus’ time in this world was coming to an end and so He was resolutely determined to do the Father’s will by laying down His life so that He could be raised from the dead and destroy all slavery forever. He sent messengers ahead to get things ready for His arrival in Samaria. The Samaritans rejected Him because He was simply passing through so they didn’t feel the need to host Him. Those messengers sent ahead to ready us for His arrival and His coming into our lives have visited us, and we have the option to welcome Him or to reject Him. He wants to dwell in us, with us, and for us and we can choose to host Him or not. When we do host Him, He stays, and then we get to be those messengers sent ahead to prepare others for His arrival and their reception of Him. There will always be those zealous lovers of Jesus that want to “call down fire from heaven to consume” anybody that disses Him, however, Jesus rebukes that kind of display and He simply will not go where He is not welcome. He will never force Himself onto anyone and that is why we need to be excellent stewards of His presence. People will welcome Him if we persevere in love, kindness, mercy, joy, peace, and forgiveness.
Let’s be resolutely determined to journey toward love while carrying the presence of Jesus with great care. Jesus can handle rejection and does not need us to go spouting off on the people He loves so dearly even if they do not know it yet. We simply move on with Him to the next village carrying His presence with great care. Jesus knows what He’s doing and we get to be the messengers that prepare the way for others to receive Him. How cool is that? It is well with my soul.
Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 456
Reading 1 ZEC 8:20-23
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
There shall yet come peoples,
the inhabitants of many cities;
and the inhabitants of one city shall approach those of another,
and say, "Come! let us go to implore the favor of the LORD";
and, "I too will go to seek the LORD."
Many peoples and strong nations shall come
to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem
and to implore the favor of the LORD.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
In those days ten men of every nationality,
speaking different tongues, shall take hold,
yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say,
"Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."
There shall yet come peoples,
the inhabitants of many cities;
and the inhabitants of one city shall approach those of another,
and say, "Come! let us go to implore the favor of the LORD";
and, "I too will go to seek the LORD."
Many peoples and strong nations shall come
to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem
and to implore the favor of the LORD.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
In those days ten men of every nationality,
speaking different tongues, shall take hold,
yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say,
"Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."
Responsorial Psalm PS 87:1B-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. (Zec 8:23) God is with us.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
R. God is with us.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon
among those that know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:
“This man was born there.”
And of Zion they shall say:
“One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD.”
R. God is with us.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
“This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
“My home is within you.”
R. God is with us.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
R. God is with us.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon
among those that know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:
“This man was born there.”
And of Zion they shall say:
“One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD.”
R. God is with us.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
“This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
“My home is within you.”
R. God is with us.
AlleluiaMK 10:45
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 9:51-56
When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.
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