Cycle C - Year II:

26 June 2016: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical color: Green)

Gospel: Please read Luke 9:51-62

Following in our Lord's journey!

The United Nations is alarmed about recent pronouncements that seem to justify or encourage extra-judicial killings. For indeed, if we subscribe to the "law of retaliation" that is "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" very soon we will become a blind and toothless society.

The challenge of our Christian faith is to keep calm in the midst of storm, to keep our peace even in turbulent times. Because we believe that our life on earth is but a journey, in preparation for our final destiny in the heavenly home.

The Gospel this Sunday presents Jesus determined to journey toward the final stage of his mission which must happen in Jerusalem. For it is in Jerusalem that He will reveal the whole purpose of His life on earth, namely, to die out of love for others.

The travel narrative begins with the brief encounter where Jesus is rejected in Samaria. But Jesus rebukes His disciples who wanted to repay the hostility of the Samaritans with fiery destruction.

The rest of the Gospel story entails admonition from our Lord about detachment from all worldly security when we decide to accompany Him in this "journey".

What are life implications of the Gospel for us today?

The first lesson for those who would travel with Jesus is to put aside all initiatives prompted by anger, violence, and prejudice. In the Gospel, Jesus Himself rebukes the disciples James and John who wanted to "call fire from heaven to consume" the hostile Samaritans.

This wisdom teaches Christians to put aside anger and violence as ways to solve problems. Jesus reminds us that to "call fire down from heaven" is not the Christian way to deal with difficult people.

The second lesson is that those who follow Jesus must be willing to let go of all previous attachments. Because half-hearted discipleship simply will not be acceptable.

And this is the challenge for those who want to follow our Lord Jesus Christ in His journey to Jerusalem. The Lord expects the same kind of decisiveness from His followers. It is not going to be easy, that is why we need to pray persistently and consistently for grace to be able to respond to the challenge. Our Blessed Mother is our very model in complete submission to God's will.

Because when we really begin to trust more the wisdom of Jesus, we will gladly let go of unworthy attachments as we trust more and more the promises of God and begin to run joyfully toward the future, which is our heavenly destiny.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!