Can you imagine how it would be like to see and meet Jesus in the flesh? People responded to Him differently

during His time of ministry. Some people accepted Him and followed Him, while others resisted and denied Him. Jesus healed the sick, fed the hungry, cast out demons, and brought the dead to life. Yet there were times when people didn’t welcome Jesus into their towns despite all the many miracles they witnessed.

Today, how have you experienced the many miracles and blessings of Jesus in your own life? How many times has He answered your prayers? How many times has He given what you needed before you even asked?

But the more important question to answer is, was there a time when you denied Jesus despite all He’s done? Was there a time you didn’t welcome Him? Perhaps it’s just in specific areas of your life. As Christian believers, let’s not compartmentalize God but allow Him to enter every area of our life. Joel Saludares (joelsaludares@yahoo.com)

reflect

Where do you deny Jesus’ control? In what areas of your life do you need to welcome Jesus?

Lord, take full control of my life. I put my trust in You. Amen.

St. Vincent de Paul, priest, pray for us.

Job cries out in anguish as he suffers to the point that he wishes he was never born. Yet he never entertained the thought of suicide. Suicide does not solve any problem. All it does is terminate the life of someone who perceives that he is hopeless. Taking one’s life creates even more problems—those left behind will grieve the death of the person who commits suicide.

¹ Job opened his mouth and cursed his day. ² Job spoke out and said: ³ Perish the day on which I was born, the night when they said, “The child is a boy!” ¹¹ Why did I not perish at birth, come forth from the womb and expire? ¹² Or why was I not buried away like an untimely birth, like babes that have never seen the light? ¹³ Wherefore did the knees receive me? Or why did I suck at the breasts? ¹⁴ For then I should have lain down and been tranquil; had I slept, I should then have been at rest ¹⁵ With kings and counselors of the earth who built where now there are ruins ¹⁶ Or with princes who had gold and filled their houses with silver. ¹⁷ There the wicked cease from troubling, there the weary are at rest. ²⁰ Why is light given to the toilers, and life to the bitter in spirit? ²¹ They wait for death and it comes not; they search for it rather than for hidden treasures, ²² rejoice in it exultingly, and are glad when they reach the grave: ²³ those whose path is hidden from them, and whom God has hemmed in!

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 88:2-3, 4-5, 6, 7-8

R: Let my prayer come before you, Lord.

² O Lord, my God, by day I cry out; at night I clamor in your presence. ³ Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my call for help. (R) ⁴ For my soul is surfeited with troubles and my life draws near to the netherworld. ⁵ I am numbered with those who go down into the pit; I am a man without strength. (R) ⁶ My couch is among the dead; like the slain who lie in the grave whom you remember no longer and who are cut off from your care. (R) ⁷ You have plunged me into the bottom of the pit, into the dark abyss. ⁸ Upon me your wrath lies heavy, and with all your billows you overwhelm me. (R)

Gospel | Luke 9:51-56

Jesus does not punish people who reject the Gospel. Their choice is the source of a certain amount of pain and suffering as they decide to separate themselves from His presence. Today, we see that Jesus would much prefer that John and James spend time convincing the Samaritans to change their minds and not to destroy them.

Gospel Acclamation

The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

⁵¹ When the days for Jesus being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, ⁵² and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, ⁵³ but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” ⁵⁵ Jesus turned and rebuked them, ⁵⁶ and they journeyed to another village.

Read the Bible in one year! Read EZEKIEL 13 - 16 today.

In San Carlos Seminary where I used to be a resident formator, we had a sister who was not only very holy but a very good cook as well. Having stayed in Italy for so many years, we were spoiled to an almost daily treat of Italian dishes. Then she got sick and needed to be operated on her knees. For many months, she was immobile and couldn’t perform her daily tasks, including cooking our meals.

I remember “complaining” that our meals were not as good as before. It was still a good meal that our personnel prepared. I just got so used to the sister’s treat. I considered it my entitlement and no longer a privilege. When she came back, I enjoyed again the same treats as before. But then I always said to myself, “Thank You, Lord, for this undeserved blessing.”

When we become so used to good treatment, even for something we do not really deserve, it’s easy to claim it as an entitlement rather than a privilege.

With the company of Jesus, then gaining popularity with His wisdom and accompanying miracles, the Apostles were given rock-star treatment everywhere they went. Then came the Samaritan experience in today’s Gospel. Samaritans were bitter enemies of the Jews. It was understandable that Jesus and the Apostles were not welcomed in their town as they made their way to Jerusalem. Behaving like spoiled divas, they requested Him to rain down fire from heaven to consume the entire town. Jesus rebuked and corrected them. The rejection did not bother Him; it was the brothers James and John who took it as an insult to their status.

James and John strutted with an attitude of entitlement. Jesus’ attitude is a reminder that one can handle better a disappointment when one realizes that everything is a privilege. Fr. Joel O. Jason

reflection question

Do you find yourself exploding into a diva rage when things don’t go according to your preferences?

Open my eyes, O Lord, to the many undeserved privileges I am blessed with. Grant me serenity when things don’t go my way. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ______________________________________