The Lord God is always with us

Zech. 8:20-23, Lk. 9:51-56. God establishes a relationship with His chosen people and through them many are brought into a closer union with Him. Today's first reading describes how people of various nations were drawn to the Lord God by association with the Jewish believers. The prophet Zechariah addresses the Babylonian exiles who have returned to Jerusalem. Not only have they been privileged to return to the Holy City and rebuild the Temple, but many other peoples from various nations will also come to worship the Lord God. After years in exile, the Jewish people faced a choice. Many had become prosperous and settled in Babylon. Others returned home to Judea. Home had changed. The Temple built by Solomon had been destroyed. Zechariah welcomed them with the urgent task of rebuilding the Temple. The prophet had visions of God’s saving presence in the Messianic age that awaits the new Temple. They must act quickly, for their salvation depends on the sacred walls rising once again.

To bring God's salvation to everyone, Jesus went about doing good but met with rejection. In today's Gospel, Jesus leaves Galilee after having begun and ended His ministry in that area. As He journeys toward the climax of His mission in Jerusalem, He travels the shortest way from Galilee to Judea which takes Him into Samaria where He and His disciples are met with opposition due to the fact that they are Jews heading toward the Jewish Temple in the city of Jerusalem. Just as hatred was a standard Samaritan response to Jews, so the disciples’ anger was a corresponding Jewish response to the Samaritans. They were so angry as to call on God to curse the hostile village. They wanted savage revenge. How differently Jesus responded to the Samaritan rejection. He simply turned around and walked away, to preach His message elsewhere. He kept His serenity in the face of hostility and rejection, opting to peacefully accept their choice. This kind of patience is also meant to become our trademark. How we behave in the face of rejection should be guided by something deeper, by our relationship with the Lord and our being formed in His Spirit.

May the Lord God, who promised His Kingdom to the little ones and the humble of heart give us grace to walk confidently in the way of Christ! Amen!! Good morning and have a pleasant day!!!