Luke 9:51-56: Being Resolute
Friday, October 25, 2019
Today’s citation is also the morning’s Gospel reading. It gives us a great deal to think about beginning with the words he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem. Jesus knew what lay before him . . . and still he went. So must we all.
We know that life of the body ends. There is no avoiding it. We cannot purchase immortality with our money or our wits. We cannot out-fox death. No amount of money can divert its advent. We may delay or cheat death, but we cannot master it . . . except . . . unless we are willing to go to Jerusalem with Christ.
Another phrase strikes me: they would not welcome him because they knew his destination. Being moved out of our comfort zones is a scary proposition. Moving into an unknown land, into territory charted by only a few is a dangerous way in which to live. Yet it is what Jesus did. It is what he does each day when he knocks at the door of a stubborn heart. We are all on our way to Jerusalem, but some of us are too fearful, or we do not understand what this means . . . and we do not welcome him.
A third idea moves me as I read. Jesus rebukes his own disciples when they want to call down fire from heaven to consume [the Samaritans]. Anger is not the Christian way of life, but rebuking is. We are to be merciful with one another but not lenient. Honest but not strident. Open rather than shrill. We are to be just with one another and avoid insisting on our own agenda. We are to discipline one another, but not at the expense of the Gospel.
We know our destination if we let ourselves believe and hope and love in Christ.
We must welcome Christ as he stops at our door each day in the guise of fellow travelers.
We discipline one another even as Christ disciplines us, this is the Way of Apostleship.
We must be resolute, we must welcome all who call, we must rebuke one another gently and mercifully as we move along the road of the way up to Jerusalem for that is our destination. And it is in living in this way that we encounter our immortal selves.
Written on September 30, 2008. Edited and posted today as a Favorite.
Image from: http://twoagespilgrims.com/pasigucrc/index.html/the-servant-sets-his-face-like-a-flint/
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