Luke 9:51-62

"He set his face to go to Jerusalem."

Praise God that the NRSV retains the literal translation, "he set his face." But this is no mere religious pilgrimage, as the Samaritans seemed to believe in verse 53; this is a journey to a place of combat and conflict, the place of his exodus or his "taking up." Such a journey demands no mere geographical orientation, but an orientation of heart, soul, and mind.

The Samaritans can only see that he is facing south toward Jerusalem - and they know all they need to know about him. Such an attitude is similar to the prejudical attitude of the Pharisees in the Gospel of John. But Jesus refuses to allow James and John the righteous joy of calling fire down upon them (interestingly, an incident only in Luke, which confirms their designation as "sons of thunder" unique to Mark). God alone is judge. They went on to another village. What was their reception there? Apparently Christians are not to waste much time in imprecations against those who do not receive the message, but are to get on with proclaiming it.

And then we find the three "would-be disciples of Jesus," as the subheadings in many Bibles would have it. They all seem to revolve around the idea of homelessness or rootlessness. The first must reconcile himself (and presumably does not) to the idea that a physical home is not in his future should he follow Jesus. The others must leave home, and fully, in order to have a home with Christ. Although we cannot understand the radical nature of this text from our society of autonomous individualism, perhaps we may think, What cherished ideals, where I feel at "home," must I leave in order to be with Jesus?

And finally, I ask myself: Where must I set my face? Where is my Jerusalem, the place of conflict and crucifixion? And what homes, where I feel comfortable, must I leave in order to be homeless with the Lord?