Reflection for October 3, Tuesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 9:51-56

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.    

Perhaps we could attribute this to Jesus's deep desire to build friendships and reach out, even to those who were hostile to Him. The Samaritans knew that Jesus was a Jew going to Jerusalem, an area that the Samaritans disliked. 

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? Would you be willing to reach out and humble yourself before them? – Marino J. Dasmarinas