Jesus persevered on his journey to Jerusalem, even though he knew that arrival in that holy city would bring an end to his life on earth. Today, Jesus’ messengers enter a Samaritan village who would not welcome him. Perhaps the villagers did not know about Jesus’ miracles and healings. Perhaps they feared Jerusalem for political reasons and nationalistic reasons. Throughout the Gospels, at different points on Jesus’ journey, he would be welcomed at some villages, but in others, he would face opposition or anger. Our own journey through faith can be like that too. We meet those who help us on our journey and who encourage us. We also meet those who put roadblocks in our way on our journey of faith.
Perhaps today’s Gospel helps us look at how we are welcoming to others as a parish and as individuals. In recent years, since the convening of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, our Popes have addressed the need for a new evangelization and a desire for our Church to be more welcoming and inviting, not only to visitors and strangers, but also to our parishioners and to those who do not feel they have a place in our parishes. Sometimes we do not know a person’s story and do not know the reality of their journey of faith. Their true story can be very different from what we see on the surface. In modern society today, it is easy to make assumptions or to be judgmental. Mother Teresa once said: “The biggest disease is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted.” How can we be more welcoming, as individuals and as a community?
No comments:
Post a Comment