Memorial of Saint Vincet de Paul, Priest

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.

Jesus knew what he had to do and did it. Nothing would keep him from fulfilling His Father's Divine Will and so he resolutely headed to Jerusalem fully aware of the sacrifice he was about to make. We, too, are called to turn toward Jerusalem, not in a physical sense, but in a spiritual sense. It is in the spiritual City of God that we shall find our fulfillment and we can only get their by walking a path of worldly rejection and detachment. We cannot let our fears, doubts, and worries keep us from turning toward our heavenly home. We cannot allow persecution to detour us from our goal. Nor should we allow our persecutors to make us angry or vengeful. Jesus understood we would not be accepted by everyone. Some people will not listen to his words or allow him to enter their hearts. But he does not hate them, instead he loves them, pities them, and prays all the more for their conversion. In the same way, we must be willing to put aside our pride and hurt feelings and be able to love even those who harm us along the way to the City of God. By doing so, we not only prepare ourselves for entry into heaven, but more importantly imitate our Lord and Savior.

Are we willing to walk the path to Calvary or are we avoiding it in favor of worldly things? Are we willing to be rejected, persecuted, and mocked for our faith? What can we do to respond to our persecutors with love and forgiveness?

O Lord, we are resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem with you and share in your Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

Amen.