By Thomas Lima csc –
Readings: Zech 8:20-23; Lk 9:51-56
In today’s gospel, the heartless attitude of the Samaritans constantly reminds me to have my heart open to welcome Jesus.
In the gospel, I find that there are three types of people: (1) the Samaritans, who do not welcome Jesus, (2) the disciples, who wanted the Samaritans to suffer and (3) Jesus, the peacemaker.
Today I would like to reflect on them in the light of the Lord’s teaching and examples. If they were to just allow Jesus in, perhaps things would have been different.
I am reminded of a quote- “Never take someone for granted. Hold every person close to your heart because you might wake up one day and realize that you have lost a diamond while you were too busy collecting stones.” If I were to be there as one among the disciples, I might have said, ‘what is the use of having power, if I do not use it on those who reject me and my Master?’
Like the disciples, I feel the desire to take revenge. The Lord teaches me that everyone is my neighbour and should be treated as such. Though I accept the ideas of Jesus, I struggle with it in practice. Today, I go along with those feelings before the Lord in silence and pray to become more like Christ in my attitude. I pray to Lord Jesus to follow him with humility throughout my life.