Luke 9:51-62 Reflection
My own journey towards Christ had been full of maybe’s and temporary yes’s for almost four decades after a God experience when I was twelve. My permanent “Yes” came when I went for a long walk in the forest to deeply pray for the world after 911. I realized my fear of leaving it all behind was unfounded and my life had been a series of gentle invitations. Since that walk, the most significant observation is that “self” has effectively morphed into “the other.” (Luke 9:51-62)
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Luke 9 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
A Samaritan Village Refuses to Receive Jesus
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to another village.
Would-Be Followers of Jesus
57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”