He set his face to go to Jerusalem

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.’ (Lk 9, 51-62)

At the beginning of today's Gospel, St. Luke tells us that "as the time drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus resolutely turned his face towards Jerusalem." I think that often we do not give much importance to this information. Jesus went to Jerusalem! What is important about this fact, if Jesus went regularly to the Holy City? For me this is a very important information for this trip comes at a crucial moment in the life of Jesus, and because it casts a light on the things that would happen later, in order to understand them better.

In this sentence Luke tells us three things. The first thing is that this journey of Jesus comes in a crucial moment in his life. The Gospel tells us that the time for Jesus to leave this world was approaching. So this was not a normal trip. No, it was not a tourist excursion to the capital city. He did not go due to business activities. He did not go for a visit to the temple to perform his religious obligations. In fact, three times Jesus warned his disciples about his death and resurrection. Jesus once told his disciples: "You must have these words constantly in mind: The Son of man is going to be delivered into the power of men. But they did not understand what he said ... and they were afraid to ask him about it." (Lk 9, 44-45)

Therefore, Jesus' journey would end in death. Jesus knew what was awaiting him, and he accepted it. This is the second thing that Luke told us when he wrote that “Jesus resolutely turned his face", that is, he took a firm decision. This means that the passion and death of Jesus was not imposed on him. This is what the liturgy teaches us when, at the moment of the consecration of the bread, the priest says: "At the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his Passion, he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body." He renewed his decision when, in the Mount of Olives he said: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, let your will be done, not mine." (Lk 22, 42). For this reason, the Church teaches us and we believe that the passion and death of Christ is the great testimony of Jesus' love for us. Indeed "No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends." (Jn 15: 13-14)

The third thing that Luke tells us is that Jesus wanted to go to Jerusalem. Jerusalem in Luke's words is not only the city that was sacred to the people of God, but also, and perhaps more, it symbolized his Father’s will. For this reason, the journey of Jesus was not only a geographical reality, it was a spiritual journey. This was not easy for Jesus.

During his journey to Jerusalem Jesus preached many things, and through many parables he taught the people. He taught especially the prayer that we often say: "Our Father who art in heaven." People brought little children to Jesus to bless them and pray over them. A woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, 'Blessed the womb that bore you and the breasts that fed you!’ Jesus performed many miracles. He made friends like Zaccheus. But he also had many enemies that tried to hinder his mission, and in the end they decided to kill him.

Jesus did many other things during his journey that impressed many people. In today's Gospel Luke tells us that a man said to Jesus: "I will follow you wherever you go!" He answered him: "The Son of man has nowhere to lay his head."

Jesus’ friends in the villages welcomed him and helped him. He visited some of them. However, during his mission he depended on the generosity of others. Jesus really had nowhere to lay his head! "So when the man said to Jesus "I will follow you wherever you go!" Jesus answered with a phrase that can be explained in this way: "Are you prepared to go with me to Jerusalem, that is, to do the will of my Father?" In other words: "Do you want to become one of my disciples?" and "Are you ready to die with me?".

During the Last Supper, St. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, I would be ready to go to prison with you, and to death." He truly loved Jesus! But, at the moment of Christ's passion, Peter denied three times that he knew his Master. It is not easy to love Jesus until the end!

In our baptism we said that we wanted to become disciples of Jesus. Today, the liturgy asks us to consider if we are true disciples of Jesus. Are we willing to follow Jesus wherever he goes? Wherever he sends us! Whatever he asks us to do? Are we really Christians?

These are very difficult questions, but it is important to reflect on them.

Let us seek God's help!