Daily Readings - Tue Oct 01 2019
Zechariah
20Thus says the Lord of hosts, then the people may arrive and dwell in many cities21and the inhabitants may hurry, one saying to another: "Let us go and entreat the face of the Lord, and let us seek the Lord of hosts. I will go also.22And many peoples and strong nations will approach, seeking the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the face of the Lord23Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days, then, ten men from every language of the Gentiles will grasp and cling to the hem of one man of Judea, saying: "We will go with you. For we have heard that God is with you.
Luke
51Now it happened that, while the days of his dissipation were being completed, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem52And he sent messengers before his face. And going on, they entered into a city of the Samaritans, to prepare for him53And they would not receive him, because his face was going toward Jerusalem54And when his disciples, James and John, had seen this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to call for fire to descend from heaven and consume them?55And turning, he rebuked them, saying: "Do you not know of whose spirit you are56The Son of man came, not to destroy lives, but to save them." And they went into another town
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful visions of unity and compassion. The first reading from Zechariah paints a future where people from every nation and language will come together, united in their desire to seek the Lord. This prophecy speaks of a time when divisions will fade, and humanity will recognize that God is with us. The Gospel, however, presents a different scene. Jesus, on his way to Jerusalem, is rejected by the Samaritans, and his disciples, filled with indignation, want to call down fire to destroy them. But Jesus rebukes them, reminding them that he came not to destroy but to save.
These readings invite us to reflect on the tension between unity and division, between love and retaliation. Zechariah’s vision reminds us that God’s ultimate plan is one of universal reconciliation, where people from all walks of life will come together in peace. Yet, in the Gospel, we see how far we are from that vision when we allow anger and division to guide our actions. Jesus’ response to his disciples is a stark reminder that our calling is not to condemn but to save, not to destroy but to love.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Where do we see division and rejection in our world? In our communities? In our own hearts? Jesus shows us that the path to unity and reconciliation is not through retaliation or anger but through patience, compassion, and love. Let us strive to embody this spirit in our interactions with others, even when we face rejection or misunderstanding. By doing so, we become instruments of God’s peace, drawing people closer to him, just as Zechariah prophesied.