It is here that the second part of Luke’s Gospel starts. In the Greek text, the word “face” recurs three times and the word “journey” four times. The Word that was seed and bread before now becomes face and journey. We pass from the catechesis of hearing to that of vision, which culminates in the “theoria” of the cross (Luke 23:48). It is there that God makes a show of Himself, disclosing in Jesus His true face.
Every account is like a brush stroke that paints a detail. This account represents the disciple’s baptism. Jesus plunges into the Jordan and we in Him (Rom 5:3). He, however, has a well-defined face, into which those who want to be like Him have to immerse themselves. Those who don’t know Him, even if they love Him, are against Him. They don’t have His Spirit.
Jesus starts His journey towards Jerusalem where He will fulfill His mission: to put Himself into the hands of men. And He hardens His face: His decision is unshakable. His face, proper of the Son, is hard in tenderness. “Be merciful (i.e. motherly, uterine) like the Father” (Luke 6:36): it is the theme of Luke’s Gospel. The apostles are angels sent in front of His face. It is the Lord’s face that comes to save us (Cf. Ml 3:1 ff). They have to walk towards their brothers and prepare them to welcome Jesus’ face, salvation of our own face and our God (Ps 42:12).
They start their mission from the Samaritans: those who are far away are the dearest children of the Father. The Samaritans however don’t welcome Jesus. There isn’t cordial relationship between Jews and Samaritans. But the real reason of the refusal is that Jesus’ face has hardened in journeying towards Jerusalem. The Son, sent to the brethren, goes the opposite direction from them: He goes towards the Father and, along the way, He gathers God’s fleeing children. He takes home the lost brethren, making Himself the last of all and loading Himself with their evils. Because of this, those who are far away don’t want Him and those who are near kill Him.
Samaritans and Jews, Romans and disciples, all would be ready to welcome Him if He came with wealth, power and glory. But we reject Him because He comes to save us with poverty, service and humility. The disciples ask for a fire from heaven that might destroy them all. They do not have Moses’ spirit or Paul’s who were ready to be erased from the book of life on behalf of the brethren. They don’t have the Spirit of the Son, who gives His life for the brethren who kill Him (Luke 23:34). “You do not know what spirit you are made of” (Cf. Luke 9:55 Vulgata), Jesus tells them.
They love Him but they don’t know Him. When eventually they will know Him, they will desert Him! For the love of Him they start one of the many crusades, small or big, that we keep doing in His name. The Kingdom is held up not by the enemies but by God’s friends who do the opposite of what He would do, in this way stirring up enemies. His beautiful name is blasphemed because of them (Is 52:5).
The fire that the Son will send on the Samaritans will be that of His Spirit (Acts 8:15ff). The apostles are called to cure their blindness as regards the Word of the cross, that Jesus gives notice of in His catechesis to them (Cf. Luke 9:44-45 and 18:31-34).Only then will they be able to contemplate His Face, baptize themselves in it and have the same Spirit who will “compel” them, as with Paul, to love all, starting from those who are farther away (Cf. 2Cor 5:14). “The Son of Man did not come to destroy people’s lives but save them” (Cf. Luke 9:56 c).
This is the criterion for distinguishing the Spirit of the Son. What is against people is against God who is their Father. Pay attention: the enemy gives zeal to those who do not understand and discouragement to those who understand. The apostles, who do not know this Face of His and are deprived of His Spirit, in the name of God put themselves against the very God they believe in. How much hatred against people for God’s sake! Popoli – www.popoli.info
