Gospel: Lk 9: 51-56
Twenty Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
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.
FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD: In the gospel of Luke, Jesus is on His journey to Jerusalem. Today, we see him passing through Samaria where he is not welcome. In this instance, we see the reaction of some of his disciples, a reaction that Jesus fails to encourage. In this world we are travelers, Journeys are hardly smooth. How do we react to the obstacles? In our Christian journey, we shall react positively to obstacles, only if we are led by the Spirit of God. Jesus, in his mission journey, was guided by the Spirit of God. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and so was able to focus on Jerusalem. As Christians we have made a decision to follow Jesus. With this, comes many challenges. We should not allow the spirit of evil to change our course. Despite the challenges, let is focus on Jerusalem-Eternal Life.
PRAYER: Have mercy on us Lord and continue to fill us with the Spirit of Love.
*****
OPTING FOR LIFE: After his ministry in Galilee, Jesus takes the resolution to go up to Jerusalem. He could have remained in his home surrounded by his relatives and friends; he could have continued enjoying the initial success of his preaching and healing. Instead, he was committed to his mission: ‘to carry out his work of the one who sent me” (Jn 4: 34), he wholeheartedly go ahead to accomplish his mission. How crucial it is to find the goal in life! A Christian is the one who knows his aim in life. It is important to know what we have to do in life. It is even more necessary to know the reason behind our acts. An aim in life is like a roadmap which orients all our decisions and actions. In moments of difficulty, it will be like the compass which points beyond darkness and uncertainty, as aim of Jesus led him to its fulfillment.
DAILY GOSPEL 