Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”

Gospel Reading: Luke 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.

In a world filled with violence and revenge, today’s gospel reading has a very important message. On his journey to Jerusalem, Jesus decided to travel through Samaria, a territory which was not friendly to the Jews. Even more importantly, Jesus wanted to stay in a Samaritan village, but he was not welcomed because he was going to Jerusalem. In their anger, the two disciples wanted to bring down “fire from heaven” to destroy the village. How often do we hear the same retaliatory remarks because someone has not welcomed us? It is easy to respond with hatred and a desire to kill when we are not welcomed. This response is so often the first response when someone snubs or rejects us. Our first response is often one of violence.

Because someone rejects us, we want to respond with violence. But Jesus calls for us to be tolerant of others, to respect their views and to take a peaceful position. Jesus’ eyes were already set of Jerusalem and his final destination. He knew his journey would lead him to the cross and on that journey he would be rebuffed by not only Samaritans, but by his fellow Jews. He knew that he would be crucified for the very people who rejected him and still he went to the cross for their salvation. It was the love of Christ for all of man that allowed him to be tolerant of the hatred. When we are rejected, we too must keep our eyes on the cross. We must not respond with violence, but with love and compassion. We must understand that we too are journeying to Jerusalem and the cross. If we retaliate with fire, we will lose our way.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God in Heaven, give me the strength to love those who do not love me.

Give me the strength to reach out with compassion for those who snub me.

Help me to stay the journey so I do not lose sight of the cross.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon