Tuesday, 26th Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Zechariah 8:20-23 & Luke 9: 51 – 56
Reflection Date: September 28, 2021
The Gospel relates to the journey of Jesus to Jerusalem.
It consists of four parts:
- Beginning of Jesus' decisive journey towards Jerusalem
- Samaritans' refusal to receive Jesus
- Violent reaction of James and John and
- Admonition of Jesus on Christian discipleship.
Luke has spent nearly ten chapters on the journey of Jesus to Jerusalem, clearly indicating that Jesus was sent for people of all walks of life. Jesus continues His ministry of preaching, healing,g and spreading of the Kingdom of God even during His journey.
Moreover, the journey to Jerusalem is a journey towards suffering, humiliation, passion and death but then it also leads to ultimate salvation through His death on a Cross. This journey was undertaken as part of God's plan for our salvation and redemption.
Nevertheless, the refusal of the people of Samaria albeit Samaritans, marks the beginning of Jesus' suffering. To this rejection of Jesus, James and John became impulsive and in human terms, they wanted to take revenge on them. The immediate reaction of James and John was to destroy the Samaritans with fire. This impulsive response of the disciples reveals their incomprehension of Christ and Christian discipleship.
In a very characteristic fashion, using this occasion of impulsive behavior, Jesus admonishes His apostles that true Christian discipleship does not mean showing our intolerance, fanaticism and violence but patience, understanding, and love. Only love can transform or overcome the forces of evil. Over the centuries, Christianity has stood to the rough weathers of persecution because of the Christian faith, hope, and love that the Christians have manifested through their trying moments.
May we become true disciples of Jesus who are patient, understanding and rooted in hope.
Joseph Cardozo SJ | Contributor
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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