FIRST READING
Many peoples shall come to seek the Lord in Jerusalem.
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 8:20-23)
Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities; the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favour of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I am going.’ Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favour of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 87:1-3.4-5.6-7 (R. Zechariah 8:23)
R. God is with us.
Founded by him on the holy mountain,
the Lord loves the gates of Sion,
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Of you are told glorious things,
you, O city of God! R.
Rahab and Babylon I will count
among those who know me;
of Tyre, Philistia, Ethiopia, it is told,
‘There was this one born.
But of Sion it shall be said,
‘Each one was born in her.
He, the Most High, established It. R.
R. God is with us.
In his register of peoples the Lord writes,
Here was this one born.
The singers cry out in chorus,
In you, all find their home. R.
ALLELUIA Mark 10:45
Alleluia. The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
He set his face to go to Jerusalem.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 9:51-56)
When the days drew near for Jesus to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him; but the people would not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Pope Francis affirms that Jesus is not an isolated missionary, nor does he want to accomplish his mission alone. Instead, he involves his disciples. Even in our time he continues to invites us to join him in his mission. We have the liberty to accept or reject the invitation, and either way he respects us. In today’s Gospel we note that the people rejected him, a foreshadowing of the greater rejection by humanity, which he came to save. Yet Jesus didn’t cease loving them so much that he rebuked James and john who wanted to bid fire come down from heaven to consume them. If God loves us so extravagantly, who are we to punish those who use their liberty against us? Christ died that we may be completely set free. Our complete liberty, however, gives us the choice to choose heaven or hell.