1 October 2019 - adapt, overcome

Today's Readings

(Audio)

but they would not welcome him

What do we do when we aren't welcomed, when we encounter rejection or hostility?

"Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?"

It seems to us that the more noble was our goal the more dire ought be the fate of those who oppose it. If they refuse to help us then perhaps they should meet the same fate as the messengers from the king of Samaria in the time of Elijah. Jesus was greater than Elijah. His disciples no doubt saw his resolution determination to head to Jerusalem. Given the foretellings of the passion they probably had mixed feelings about this plan. They probably had mixed feelings, too, about staying in a Samaritan town. James and John couldn't simply let this insult pass when the thing they were trying to do already seemed so difficulty. They needed their righteousness properly acknowledged. But Jesus simply adapted and kept moving.

Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.

The greater the cause the greater the humility that is needed in pursuit of the cause. When things are tough and we don't understand we tend to grit our teeth and try to force things. When they still don't work we can really be thrown off and become disoriented. Jesus shows us a different way, a way open to the Father's will in each moment. If there are villages that aren't welcoming us let us not turn toward even highly sanctimonious ideas of violence. Let us journey on. The path may have changed but the goal is still the same.

Many peoples and strong nations shall come
to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem
and to implore the favor of the LORD.

Let us go up to Jerusalem to offer our lives in praise of God. There we will be joined together with people from all nations and groups. Even those we didn't understand and with whom we couldn't get along will learn to live in peace and unity in this heavenly city. Those who refused to welcome each other in life will now be so transformed that they will say, "One and all were born in her"