Luke 9:51-56 NRSVue
51When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to prepare for his arrival, 53but they did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”, 55But he turned and rebuked them. 56Then they went on to another village.
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Some thoughts on this scripture
Reflection
In the Middle East today, split between Jews and Arabs, you must be careful
what stamp you allow on your passport. At some frontiers you are in trouble
if you are seen as being friendly with the enemy. Jesus met that attitude in
his own time. The Samaritans rejected his party because they saw them as
pilgrims going to the Temple which they hated. The disciples were furious and
wanted revenge. Jesus said No.
Reflection
When we calm down in prayer, similar furies and indignations can rock us. As
we stop moving, and quieten our bodies, resentments can bubble to the surface
of our mind. Let them bubble - and burst. It will not take us long to see
that anger, if we indulge it, becomes a burden on us, not on those who
offended us. As long as we want revenge and withhold forgiveness, we are
wasting adrenalin, and in one part of our mind we are holding God at bay.
Reflection
The antagonism of Jews and Samaritans was strong in Jesus' time. It
highlights the worst of religious intolerance and racism. Jesus seems to want
to break through the barriers and walls separating these people. Sometimes it
worked, as with the woman of Samaria and in the parable of the Good
Samaritan. Other times, he moves on, knowing that for one time at least,
nothing could be done.
Reflection
James and John are restless, and feel: what is the use of having power if you
do not use it on those who reject you? They put words on the angry, vengeful
feelings that often stir in us when confronted with wickedness: /Lock them
up. Shoot them. Bring back corporal punishment./ That is not your spirit,
Lord. You knew the wickedness that awaited you in Jerusalem, but you set your
face to meet it.
Reflection
Here was a bit of standard hostility between a local Samaritan community and
some Jewish pilgrims passing by. This may well have been a flash point, where
tension broke out, on the route to Jerusalem. In this case, Jesus' disciples
reacted to the prejudice with spontaneous rage and perhaps some prejudice of
their own.
Reflection
Lord, it is the flash points that test us. These are the moments that trigger
murders and wars. I need to learn this: to face down my rising fury, rein in
my indignation and let the inflammatory moment pass.