Gospel: 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.
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Reflection:
Why did Jesus decide to enter a Samaritan village when He knew that He
would not be welcomed there? He could just have passed by and not went there,
He could have chosen another way to avoid passing through the Samaritan
territory. But He chose to go to a place where He was not welcome.
This perhaps we could attribute with the deep desire of Jesus to build
friendship and to reach out even to those who are hostile to Him. The
Samaritans knew that Jesus was a Jew going to Jerusalem an area that the
Samaritans dislike.
What does Jesus teach us in this gospel episode? We need to reach out
also even to those who are not welcoming of us. We need to do this so that we
could offer the olive branch of peace and friendship to them. If they would not
accept our offer it’s up to them what is important is we do what we have to do
as followers of Jesus.
It’s not easy to offer peace and friendship to those who do not want our
friendship. And it’s not easy to humble ourselves before others most especially
before those who dislike us. But this is the way of Jesus, He did not only made
Himself available to those who like Him. He also offered Himself even to those
who despised Him.
Are you willing to offer the olive branch of peace and friendship to
those who dislike you? Are we willing to reach out and humble yourself before
them? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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