Daily Readings - Tue Oct 03 2023
Zechariah
20This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come,21and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, 'Let us go at once to entreat the LORD and seek the LORD Almighty. I myself am going.'22And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD Almighty and to entreat him."23This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'"
Luke
51As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.52And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him;53but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.54When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?"55But Jesus turned and rebuked them,56and 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.