13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

June 30, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: 1 King 19: 16b, 19-21

Psalm: 16 “You are my inheritance, O Lord.”

Second Reading: Galatians 5: 1, 13-18

Gospel reading according to Luke 9: 51-62

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Homily:

Jesus accepted his fate, and he was ready to offer his life for the ransom of many.  So, he decided to go to his final destination, Jerusalem.  “When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, . . .” (Luke 9: 51).   Jesus is on the way for our salvation.  For, in Jerusalem, he will fulfill what God, his Father, planned long time ago.  In Jerusalem, he will offer himself by facing rejection from the elders and leaders in the Temple, suffer his passion, and put to death by crucifying him on the cross, but on the third day he will rise from the dead.

Though the disciples did not know what will happen to Jesus in Jerusalem, still they followed and obeyed him whom he was sent.  “. . . and he sent messengers ahead of him” (Luke 9: 52). They went ahead and pronounced the passing of Jesus.  Since it takes days to arrive in Jerusalem, he needed a stop-over where he and his disciples can stay and rest.  They told those people and towns and villages they went through that Jesus is coming and passing to their places to go to Jerusalem.  This is also their opportunity to see Jesus, and maybe to hear from him good news and healing for their sicknesses and diseases, especially for those who were possessed by the evil spirits.       

One of the places they went to announce and prepare the coming of Jesus was Samaria (northern part of Israel).  The Samaritans were called by the Jewish people (in the south of Israel) as half-Jews or impure Jews for they intermarried with pagans and did not go to Jerusalem Temple to worship but rather they built they own Temple in Gerizim.  So the Jews in the south (Judea) and the Jews in the north (Samaria) have a long history of dissension and opposition.  “On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem” (Luke 9: 51-53).  The Samaritans knew Jesus, a truly Jew, a prophet and good teacher, miracle worker, and preacher.  They also believed in him as the Messiah whom God sent for all.  They also knew that Jesus had many enemies in the Temple in Jerusalem.  But when they heard from the messengers that Jesus is going to Jerusalem, they had a second thought if they will accept Jesus in their village or not.  They have no business (“walang pakialam”) with the Judean people of the south.  The Samaritans also were afraid that something might happen to Jesus if he goes to Jerusalem. So, the Samaritans decided not to allow Jesus and his companions to pass in their village, as if they were holding up Jesus and as if they were not allowing Jesus to go to the den of his enemies, to avoid suffering and death.   

The two brothers, James and John who were with Jesus, who did not know what’s really going on, only heard the reports of the messengers.  They became indignant against the attitude of the Samaritans.  “When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?’” (Luke 9: 54).  The two brothers, also called “sons of thunder,” showed their pride and violent reactions.  They would like to retaliate against the Samaritans for not accepting their presence in their community. They would like to destroy and consume the Samaritan village by calling down fire and brimstone from heaven, a total extinction and annihilation.  “Jesus turned and rebuked them . . .” (Luke 9: 55).  When Jesus heard what the two brothers were suggesting, he became sensitive to the situation with urgent correction and rebuked, for what they were thinking against the Samaritans was against his teaching of humility, mercy and compassion, understanding, forgiveness and love.  We can put it into our present context the spirit of dialogue and reconciliation, and human fraternities of brotherhood and sisterhood. Nowadays, the movement for reconciliation and dialogue to other religions in the world, e.g., Islam, Judaism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and animism, is alive and animated.   There is a need of understanding of one’s faith and acceptance to another’s culture and beliefs; otherwise peace and justice will not happen and attain but rather religious wars continue.  “. . . and they journeyed to another village” (Luke 9: 56). And to avoid conflict with the Samaritans, Jesus decided to use another road/route for Jerusalem.

Jesus calls anyone (us) whom he thinks and feels can help him to propagate the Reign-Kingdom of God and repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  But he also demands our response.      

Jesus called disciples to follow him.  To the first one who responded to his call, while they continued their journey to Jerusalem, an unnamed disciple who volunteered in answering his call with eagerness and excitement, and with full conviction, “As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’  Jesus answered him, ‘Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head” (Luke 9: 57-58). He has confidence to Jesus, but Jesus guaranteed him not a smooth, easy life rather unassured and unsecured life, as he said to him, “. . . the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”  He told him the reality of his life and ministry.  He will live a poor, humble, difficult life when he followed him.  If Jesus goes to Jerusalem, which means death on the cross, that disciple too will follow wherever he goes.  

To the second unknown disciple whom he called, but responded with reservation.  “And to another he said, ‘Follow me.’  But he replied, ‘Lord, let me go first and bury my father.’  But he answered him ‘Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God”(Luke 9: 59-60).  He wanted to wait until his father’s death before he followed Jesus.  It was presumed that he has many brothers and sisters and even relatives (dead to sin) who can take care of his father until he died. The urgency of proclaiming the Reign-Kingdom of God cannot wait.

To the third unnamed disciple, who wanted to go back home to his family first to bid farewell, though he already proclaiming the Reign-Kingdom of God.  “And another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.’ To him Jesus said, ‘No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9: 61-62). He who follows him cannot look back to his former (sinful) life, to his belongings, to his loved ones, family, and friends while he does proclaiming the Reign-Kingdom of God.  With this, he has divided heart and mind; he cannot perform well the task given to him which demanded full attention and devotion.