Holy Spirit of God, help me not be deterred by cursing, but stay the course of my pilgrimage ...

Gospel Mystery of the Day      Tuesday, September 29, 2020
                                                                               
Good Morning!      
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
 
Luke 9:51-56

                                       
On their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover  - and for Jesus, his pilgrimage to the Cross for the salvation of the world – Jesus and his disciples were needing a place to stay. The Samaritan village where they intended to stay locked them out ‘because Jesus’ face was set towards Jerusalem’. What a lame excuse!  The disciples became distracted with  their own consternation at being rebuffed and even encouraged Jesus to turn aside to curse the village. But Jesus rebuked the disciples and continued towards another village. By doing so, Jesus demonstrated for all time that no amount of antipathy is worth attention, even the misguided antipathy of a whole village of distant relatives. (The Samaritans and the Jews had common Hebrew ancestors). What is worth our attention is maintaining a steady course along the path of our ‘pilgrimage’, whatever the destination we have been assigned for our journey.  When I am rebuffed or shut out of common courtesy will I turn around to curse those who are unkind, or will I continue on my journey with the Lord to the destination we are on together?  Holy Spirit of God, help me not be deterred by cursing, but stay the course of my pilgrimage.
 
O send forth your light and your truth; let these be my guide. (Psalm 43:3)
 
(S)he who would valiant be, ‘gainst all disaster,
Let her/him in constancy, follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement, shall make her/him once relent.
Her/his first avowed intent: to be a pilgrim.
John Bunyan et al. “To Be a Pilgrim”                           
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei