A MISSIONARY COMMUNITY

September 28, Tuesday

TWENTY-SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

      If God lives in the community of his faithful, this community is by itself missionary, for it reveals the face of God; by its witnessing, it attracts others.

      The prophet Elijah did not find God in the storm wind or the earthquake or the fire, but in the gentle breeze. The “sons of thunder,” James and John, wanted fire to come down on the Samaritan village that did not receive Jesus, but Jesus reprimanded them. Violence is not God’s way.

 

First Reading: Zechariah 8:20-23

A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“People and their leaders will come from all over to see what’s going on. The leaders will confer with one another: ‘Shouldn’t we try to get in on this? Get in on God’s blessings? Pray to God-of-the-Angel-Armies? What’s keeping us? Let’s go!’

“Lots of people, powerful nations—they’ll come to Jerusalem looking for what they can get from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, looking to get a blessing from God.”

A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“At that time, ten men speaking a variety of languages will grab the sleeve of one Jew, hold tight, and say, ‘Let us go with you. We’ve heard that God is with you.’”

 

Gospel: Luke 9:51-56

When it came close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem. He sent messengers on ahead. They came to a Samaritan village to make arrangements for his hospitality. But when the Samaritans learned that his destination was Jerusalem, they refused hospitality. When the disciples James and John learned of it, they said, “Master, do you want us to call a bolt of lightning down out of the sky and incinerate them?”

Jesus turned on them: “Of course not!” And they traveled on to another village.

 

Prayer

Lord our God,
the early Christian community
was praised by Jews and pagans alike
and led many to the faith by their example.
Like them, may we be united heart and soul,
as a community of faith, prayer, service,
and of sharing with one another.
May people discover
that the Spirit of Jesus Christ is alive in us,
so that they may praise your name
now and for ever. Amen.

 

Reflection:

Humility is not meant for the weak

“Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem.” Jerusalem is the final destination where Jesus, in his moment of Passover, must die and rise again to fulfil his mission of salvation.

We are introduced to the two Apostles, James and John who believed that to close the door on Jesus was a great offense, and that these people needed to be punished. They wanted fire to come down from heaven upon those who did not want to receive him. Jesus reprimands them. The mighty of the world showcase their might and power through acts of oppression, or aggression. But God, the source of all powers would show his might to the world through his suffering and death.

The path of Christ is never a path of revenge. The way of Christ is to show his strength in his meekness. Jesus would expose the strongest moment of his life, later on the Cross, in his passion, in a spirit of humility and meekness. Virtues of humility and meekness are not meant for the weak; but only the strong can be humble.

The Samaritans did not want to receive Jesus and his companions in their village, and there is nothing strange in this rejection. Claretian theologian Fr. Cristo Rey compares the relationship between the Samaritans and the Jews of Jesus’ time, to that of the Israelis and the Palestinians of today. And consider the request of James and John: “… Call down fire from heaven to destroy them?” This is actually happening today in Palestine and Israel. The ongoing crisis in the region literally brings down fire from the sky with the missiles from either side, destroying lives and property of the people!

Israel and Palestine are just two examples. There numerous regions and territories were people are divided on their vested interests and literally bring down fire from the sky. But Jesus taught his disciples a valuable lesson. Hatred and vengeance and the consequent fire from heaven does not bring solution to any of our problems.

Envy, jealousy, hatred and anger can burn down our relationships in families, communities and in the Church. The Gospel calls for forgiveness, mercy and a willingness to give up when confronted with arguments and hatred. It is important to remind ourselves that our meekness is not a weakness, but a sign our spiritual maturity and strength.

 

Video available on Youtube: Humility is not meant for the weak