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When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village. As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’ (Luke 9: 51-62) Reflection Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem. Others tried to distract or sidetrack him. One wanted to come along but only after heading another direction first and then going with Jesus. Despite them, Jesus kept going. I like to travel and often come up with creative plans to get to where I am set on going. I am actually writing this in a Greyhound bus station in Erie, PA having arrived on a bus from Pittsburgh and waiting to transfer to another to Buffalo, NY. I am grateful Andy, my husband, is then picking me up because waiting for another transfer would get me to Rochester after midnight. Why the trouble? Well, because of an important family gathering in southcentral PA last weekend, I was also within 70 miles of my friends' cabin in WV and I could not pass up the chance to visit there, too. My face was set to go (taking my daughter and her car along on the adventure). Getting back home, however, meant I would need to take Greyhound from where Rachel returned to college and work. This is not my first travel adventure and certainly not my last. Going to Jerusalem was the last for Jesus yet his face was set. When heading in a direction that is not quite an adventure, I wonder if my face would be so set on going? How about you? -- Ruth Gates Prayer Dear God, may we set our faces to you and not be distracted or side-tracked. Amen.
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