Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Luke 9: 51-56
September 30, 2025 | Tuesday

Today’s Gospel

As the time drew near when Jesus would be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem. He sent ahead of him some messengers, who entered a Samaritan village to prepare a lodging for him. But the people would not receive him, because he was on his way to Jerusalem. Seeing this, James and John, his disciples, said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to reduce them to ashes?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went on to another village.

Today’s Reflection

The mercy of Jesus, even to those who do not listen to Him, is immense. The disciples already wanted to call down fire from heaven to punish those who did not recognize Jesus, but Jesus showed patience and mercy. He rebukes his disciples instead. In our mission as Christian disciples, we have to understand primarily that the work we are doing, our mission, is not ours but Christ’s. We merely participate in His mission. As such, we have to be merciful as Jesus. The Psalm reminds us of God as Emmanuel: God is with us. This reminder should not only boost our courage but also should humble us. Instead of calling from heaven to rain on other people because, after all, God is with us, we should instead be merciful, loving, and just because truly God is with us. The world will see and realize that God is with us when we show who and what God is: Love. In all that we do, may the world see not the person doing the mission but Jesus himself. In our works of charity and mercy, may they see the hand of God working in us. And in our mission, may we realize that God is working in us. This is God’s work. This is God’s love.

/Vulnerasti, 2025