Proper 8 / Pentecost 6 / Ordinary Time 13
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
... but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
-- Luke 9:53
It is so hard to see beyond the politics of the moment and allow God to guide you. Jesus offered to stay in a village of Samaritans, but they did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. A long history of political rivalry reinforced by religious prejudice had separated the Samaritans from the Israelites. They had once been part of the same nation, and they still worshiped the same God. In their separation, they had developed distinctive traditions, and those traditions became more important than the faith that united them.
Many of the divisions among Christian denominations have historical causes and hotly debated theological issues that have long since been forgotten by most of the people within the denomination. Yet in their separation, they developed distinct traditions and practices that now have become sufficiently important to prevent the realization of the unity of the body of Christ. In Luke's story, God in Christ was physically present among these Samaritans, but they rejected him because he was going to Jerusalem. They had long ago rejected Jerusalem as the center of their faith. In clinging to their specific traditions, they missed the opportunity to respond to God in their midst.
Next we are told that Jesus' disciples wanted to bring down fire and punish them for their lack of hospitality. Jesus rebuked his closest disciples for their tendency to want to use divine power to force recognition of God's presence among them. Finally we are given three incidents where otherwise good concerns became a barrier to their openness to following Jesus. The first man was dissuaded from following Jesus by the apparent lack of economic security. The second and third felt a filial loyalty to their parents and family that caused them to pull back.
Each of these incidents revealed the cost of discipleship that sometimes interferes with the most understandable of responsibilities. When Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem, his entire focus was on being faithful to God no matter where it would lead. In the process, many of the same entangling loyalties that affect us were exposed.
-- Luke 9:53
It is so hard to see beyond the politics of the moment and allow God to guide you. Jesus offered to stay in a village of Samaritans, but they did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. A long history of political rivalry reinforced by religious prejudice had separated the Samaritans from the Israelites. They had once been part of the same nation, and they still worshiped the same God. In their separation, they had developed distinctive traditions, and those traditions became more important than the faith that united them.
Many of the divisions among Christian denominations have historical causes and hotly debated theological issues that have long since been forgotten by most of the people within the denomination. Yet in their separation, they developed distinct traditions and practices that now have become sufficiently important to prevent the realization of the unity of the body of Christ. In Luke's story, God in Christ was physically present among these Samaritans, but they rejected him because he was going to Jerusalem. They had long ago rejected Jerusalem as the center of their faith. In clinging to their specific traditions, they missed the opportunity to respond to God in their midst.
Next we are told that Jesus' disciples wanted to bring down fire and punish them for their lack of hospitality. Jesus rebuked his closest disciples for their tendency to want to use divine power to force recognition of God's presence among them. Finally we are given three incidents where otherwise good concerns became a barrier to their openness to following Jesus. The first man was dissuaded from following Jesus by the apparent lack of economic security. The second and third felt a filial loyalty to their parents and family that caused them to pull back.
Each of these incidents revealed the cost of discipleship that sometimes interferes with the most understandable of responsibilities. When Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem, his entire focus was on being faithful to God no matter where it would lead. In the process, many of the same entangling loyalties that affect us were exposed.
