The Gospel according to Luke (9:51-56)
When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.
Reflection:
I spent some time pondering the saint and Doctor of the Church whom we honor today, St Jerome. It’s quite appropriate that we have this Gospel on his memorial day, as he was a great person of faith who epitomized what was said of Jesus: “he resolutely determined..” St Jerome was considered one of the most learned and educated men of his time (rivaled only by St Augustine – quite high company to be in, indeed). Those words I mention point to someone who was on a path and nothing would take him from it. That was true of Jesus, and also true of St Jerome. And, that should be an adjective that is used of each of us, too.
It’s interesting to note that all that I’ve been raeding about St Jerome indicates that he was not always the most pleasant person to be around. He was “cantankerous and sarcastic”, causing him to be quite literally run out a few towns in his lifetime. But, he had such deep intellect and a thirst to translate the Scriptures into a single language, it drove him in the end to settle in Bethlehem, where he completed the “Vulgate” translation of the Bible into Latin, and where he ultimately died. I’m heartened by the fact that the Irish Jesuits point out that one scholar said that were it not for St Jerome’s image including a stone to show his penitence for his transgressions, he might not be a saint at all. Isn’t that true of each one of us, too?
It’s only by the gift and the grace of God that any of us can even think of reaching heaven one day. I pray that grace covers my transgressions and I pray that for all of you as well. May our view of the example of St Jerome help us to be “resolutely determined” to live a life that follows Jesus’ example, and may we always choose to love, no matter what. May we never judge another for any perceived slight, or for what we “think” a true follower of Jesus would do. Only God alone can judge, and we are all dependent on that same grace of God to get through the gates of heaven. May we not shrink from trying to live out Jesus’ love today and every day.
Action for the Day:
As part of that desire to be “resolutely determined” to live out Jesus’ love, may we also pray for those whose life journey is over, and who are standing before the throne now, waiting on that mercy. I particularly ask your prayers for our fellow DEACON5 brother, Deacon Victor Gonzalez, who passed away this past weekend, that he receive God’s mercy and forgiveness, and may his family, especially his wife Laura, and his parish family of St Robert Bellarmine in Burbank be filled with peace and consolation during this difficult time.
Link to the DEACON5 website: https://deacon5.com/
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Thank you, Dn. Chuck! Prayers for Dn. Victor and his wife Laura!