26th Week in Ordinary Time
3rd October 2023 (Tuesday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 2
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Zechariah 8:20-23
“Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favour of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.’ Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favour of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’
Psalm 87:1-3, 4-5, 6-7 (R. Zechariah 8:23)
R/. God is with us.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/.The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Luke 8:19-21
When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But other people did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Highlight: Focused and oriented!
Guidlines: When our focus is clear and set on the goal, nothing can stop us on the way. It will be a forward march{alertSuccess}
1. In the gospel we find Jesus is turned, directed toward Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the destined place of his last phase. It is where his ill fate of suffering and death awaits him. But it is not merely a place of his final destiny on earth. It in fact symbolizes his whole sense of focus, direction and determination. He was always conscious of his mission and he would never shirk from it.
2. He was also conscious of the challenge and the struggle of this mission. He never lost sight of the truth that this involves a lot of misunderstanding, rejection, persecution and finally an ignominious death. An impending ill fate would be certainly frightening. But he never allowed himself to be frightened.
3. The rejection by the Samaritans would naturally bring ego hurt. Perhaps this was the case with Jesus' disciples. Their ego was hurt: such a popular master, such a holy teacher was rejected. They feel sad and angry at people's unbelief. They feel they should be punished. Therefore, they wish to bid fire from heaven and consume them.
4. Apparently, it is zeal for their master, to safeguard his honor. It is also a corrective and just measure, to make people more conscious and responsible. Their punishment would be a lesson to all others about destruction as an effect of rejection.
5. But they did not realize that suffering and death are inevitable for salvation. It is part of God's plans and purposes. Therefore, any attempt that thwarts such a journey of destiny would be indeed against God's mission itself. Jesus would never allow it. That is why, Jesus rebukes his disciples.
6. What God wants is not the destruction of the sinners but the destruction of their sin. He wants their repentance and conversion. In the light of the first reading, God wants His people to recognize that He is their God and is with them, just as the other nations acclaim it.
Practice: God always offers His message of salvation and also the needed grace to receive and follow it. But sin rejects it.{alertSuccess}