MY daily reflection and prayer:
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Thirtienth Week in Ordinary Time
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Luke 9:51-62
When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him; but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village. As they were going along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But he said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lorf Jesus Christ.
***
LET us focus on the Gospel today, especially on James and John’s reaction to the Samaritan and how did Jesus guide them. We may be surprised to read and listen two of Jesus’ disciples praying for the destruction of a Samaritan village. What happenned with them and why?
At the time, as we know it well, the relation between the Jews and Samaritan was not in harmony. They hated each other and they had been divided for centuries.
It’s why when Jesus wanted to pass through Samaritan territory, the people there would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. In such situation, James and John said, “Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?” We see here, even after living with Jesus for almost three years, James and John still fell into their temper tantrums.
Thanks to God, Jesus rebuked them for their lack of toleration. He guided them to love those who rejected and abused them.
With this experience Jesus also wanted to teach us that he would face rejection and abuse for reconciling everyone with God and one another. So instead of destroying those who hated him, he offered friendship and mercy. Even, he would die on a cross that Jew, Samaritan, Gentile and all people might be reconciled with God.
As Jesus Christ so today we are called to seek our highest good for everyone not only for our friends but also for our enemies. We realize that today mutual love understanding is much needed. It seeks the highest good of both our neighbor and our enemy.
We easily tear other people down in our minds. We also have a strong tendency to tear others down with our words. We criticize others destructively, out of anger, frustration, and self-righteousness, just like James and John. May Jesus Christ change our heart to love others than to destroy them.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist, while adoring Jesus Christ we pray that we are able to love those hate us. How do we treat those who cross us and cause us trouble? Do we seek their good rather than their harm?
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you call us to follow you. Grant us the grace to put aside everything that might keep us from doing your will. May we love those cause us trouble now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
