September 27, 2005

Lk 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.

Jesus did not want to punish the Samaritans for not welcoming him because his destination was Jerusalem. The reason was an old long running discrimination of groups of people. Jesus simply moved to another village and rebuked his disciples for wanting to punish the Samaritans. He accepted and did not judge the beliefs of the people that had been shaped by their time and culture. He also accepted his destiny to be crucified in Jerusalem and walked on to fulfill what had been written and foretold as God's plan. I have times when it is difficult to accept God's will even when I have a strong sense that a specific thing is God's will. Today I pray for the grace to accept God's will in all that I do.