Move on

‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’ But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village (Luke 9:54b–56).

Read Luke 9:51–62

While today’s extended reading has a clear focus on the demands and difficulties of following Jesus, the opening verses direct our focus on the importance of setting our face towards Jerusalem. As Jesus is entering the last stages of his ministry, he is resolutely fixed on Jerusalem. When a Samaritan village is not prepared to host Jesus overnight, James and John’s all-too-human reaction is a dramatic call to totally destroy the village.

In the historical tradition of hospitality, there would be an expectation that the village would host travellers; however, the fiery destruction suggested by James and John for this perceived slight is an extraordinary overreaction. They have now been following Jesus for some time. Following Jesus has meant travelling and eating with him and listening to his teachings. Despite this close contact, they still allow their anger towards the Samaritan village to overrule anything they have learnt from being in Jesus’ constant company. However, before judging James and John, we should look at our reactions.

We live in a world where the reaction to any difference of opinion is frequently extreme. Whether it is a road rage incident, trolling on social media or a disproportionate response to world events, we would do well to follow the example Jesus set for the two disciples. After he rebuked them, he simply moved on – in this case, to the next village.

As we follow in Jesus’ footsteps, we move on from dwelling on the wrongs of others and from the assumption that we must be right. Instead of anger, we can pause, pray and identify what it is, in this moment, that is keeping us from unreservedly following Jesus. Then we, too, can move on.

We thank you, Lord Jesus, for showing us your way and example. We ask for help to follow you freely in a world where many obstacles and temptations divert us. Please support us in moving on with you. Amen.