Third Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 8, June 26, 2022

Luke 9,51-62

Rev. Neli ML

 

Last Sunday, Jesus took us to the other side, to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. In moving to the other side, Jesus showed us other realities beyond our boundaries, and we learned there are many people in need of liberation from the evil power which oppresses them, and that our proclamation must transcend our four walls. Today, once again, Jesus asks us to move forward and invites us to travel with him to Jerusalem. So, beginning today, we will be on the way, walking with Jesus who has determined to transcend his mission from Galilee, through Samaria to Jerusalem (Galilee, Samaria, and Judea conformed the region of Palestine, whose capital was Jerusalem). This will be a path filled with rich learning and growth in our discipleship. Having experienced Easter, now we know that the end of this path is not the cross but Jesus’ victory over death.

Dear sisters and brothers, the first lesson we learn from Jesus today is about his strong commitment to his mission.  Luke points out that Jesus is determined to go to Jerusalem even though he knows that a difficult path and the cross wait him, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem” (9,51). Jesus’ determination comes from his strong conviction that he is the One sent by God to announce the arrival of the Kingdom of God and to call the people and the Jewish authorities to convert to God and enter the Kingdom. Thus, nothing and no one is going to stop him on his way, not even death. Moving from Galilee to Jerusalem allowed Jesus’ proclamation to transcend openly beyond the borders of Palestine and beyond the first century until our time. How far have we taken the proclamation of Jesus in our time?

The second lesson, we learn from Jesus today is how to respond to the opposition and rejection we encounter as we proclaim the good news.  On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus and his disciples travel through Samaria. It is well known that in Jesus’ time Jews and Samaritans did not like each other due to political and religious historic rivalry. In the past, a Jewish ruler had destroyed the temple of the Samaritans because it rivaled the temple in Jerusalem, and Jews also considered Samaritans gentiles. This dislike had gone so far that many Jews, going from the south to the north or vice versa, avoided traveling through Samaria.  Not going through Samaria meant taking a long detour around the whole country. (It seems that much of the problem was for the Jews). Jesus did not take the detour and sent some of his disciples as messengers ahead of him to prepare his arrival in Samaria. Luke points out that  Samaritans did not welcome him because “his face was set toward Jerusalem” (9,53), the site of the Jew’s temple.

Two of Jesus’ disciples, John and James, did not resist the despised Samaritan’s rejection  and got very angry in such a way that they wanted fire to come down from heaven and consume the Samaritans. What do you think led them to think that God would send fire on the Samaritans? Instead, Jesus rejected any kind of violence, rebuked John and James and went into another village. How often do we think of God as an avenger and destructor of those who disagree with us?

The third lesson we learn from Jesus today is about who we are called to be and what we are called to do. This is related to our availability and willingness to follow him and proclaim the Kingdom of God. First, Jesus says that following him is not a free pleasure trip but a journey where every day we pray "Give us today our daily bread". There is no security or economic stability in following Jesus. It is about faith in God. Jesus said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (9,57).

Along the road, one of Jesus’ potential disciples tells him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father” (9,59). Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home” (9,61). It seems they are neither available nor willing to follow Jesus and find a great excuse to not follow Jesus. In the lesson from the Old Testament, we read that while Elisha was plowing, Elijah the prophet passed by him and called him to be his successor. Elisha immediately stopped his work and said to him, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” After this, Elisha returned to follow Elijah “… took the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people… Then he set out and followed Elijah…” (1 King 19).

Dear sisters and brothers, isn’t this what Jesus expects from us, availability and willingness and no excuses? Are we available and willing to follow Jesus on the road to Jerusalem? Amen.