26th Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 27th September 2022 — Gospel: Lk 9,51-56
Preference of Love to Violence
In today’s Gospel, we find that Jesus encounters opposition at the beginning of his journey. A Samaritan village refuses to welcome him because Samaritans and Jews were enemies for centuries (2 Kings 17,24-41). This rejection of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry coincides with the rejection at the beginning of his ministry in Nazareth (4,16-30). This foreshadows the rejection that Jesus will face in Jerusalem. In response to the rejection, James and John want to react and destroy the whole village. As disciples of Jesus they didn’t want to put into practice Jesus’ teaching on loving one’s enemies. Perhaps, James and John had seen the prophet Elijah on the mount, so they thought they might imitate him and call down fire from heaven (2 Kgs 1). In another sense, John was trying to impress Jesus with his zeal for protecting His name. However, Jesus was not impressed, but He rebuked their vengeful spirit and simply went to another village. Jesus’ rebuke of James and John is an indication that he will not use violence in His ministry but will win people only through love. At the same time, Jesus makes it clear that He will not force His teaching on anyone who does not want to listen to it. The Samaritans were not to be converted through a show of brute power. Later, Jesus will exact the perfect recompense by announcing the Gospel to Samaria (Acts 8).
