Daily Readings - Tue Oct 03 2023
Zechariah
20Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:21And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.22Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.23Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
Luke
51And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,52And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.53And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.54And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?55But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.56For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound visions of unity and compassion. The first reading from Zechariah paints a future where people from all nations gather in Jerusalem, united by their quest for God. This vision, born from a time of restoration, speaks of a world where diversity is celebrated, and God's presence is sought collectively. The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus facing rejection by the Samaritans, yet he chooses compassion over retaliation, teaching his disciples the true essence of his mission: salvation, not destruction.
These readings connect through their emphasis on God's universal love. Zechariah's vision of a unified world mirrors Jesus's mission to embrace all people, regardless of background. Both passages highlight the importance of seeking God together and responding to adversity with love. Jesus's rebuke of his disciples reminds us that our response to rejection should be rooted in compassion, not vengeance.
In our daily lives, these teachings call us to embrace diversity and respond to challenges with grace. Just as Zechariah envisioned a harmonious gathering of nations, we are invited to foster unity in our communities. When faced with rejection or adversity, we should, like Jesus, choose love and compassion. Let us reflect on how we can embody this spirit of unity and forgiveness, striving to be instruments of God's universal embrace.