Jesus Keeps Dragging Us Along

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village.
- Luke 9:51-55

One of the best things about Jesus is that he just keeps pressing on. He doesn’t let the Samaritans’ cultural offensiveness stop him in his mission. And he doesn’t let the disciple’s aggression/racial insensitivity stop him in his mission, either. Instead, he keeps heading to the cross - which is where he set out for at the beginning of this passage. And along the way, he keeps on task with the mission of helping his disciples connect with people of different cultural/ethnic groups because he goes to THE NEXT Samaritan village!

Jesus is able to keep the big picture in mind (going to the cross) while always working towards that ultimate reconciliation in the small choices of each day (taking his disciple to the next Samaritan village). Along the way he speaks truth to power (the disciples thought they had the power to annihilate the Samaritans), works towards reconciling different peoples, and does it with a boldness and love that’s stunning.

Take some time today to give thanks and praise to Jesus for how he keeps at this process of pulling the church with him on the reconciliation journey. And ask him for the grace to move on to the next village when you’ve gotten stuck.