We begin reading this week from the long portion of Luke’s gospel describing Jesus’ journey from Galilee to Jerusalem–chapters 9,51-18:14. 

“When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,

he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51)

One sentence dominates this part of Luke’s gospel. “Follow me,” Another sentence we hear repeatedly: “Don’t look back.”

“Follow me,” Jesus says on his way to glory, but not all hear and there are obstacles along the way, like the Samaritan village in today’s gospel. Things get in the way,  Jesus says, In Lot’s day “they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting , building on the day Lot left Sodom.” A hard world to leave.  Lot’s wife was one of those looking back.

Jesus gives other examples in Luke’s journey narrative. The rich fool building bigger barns, (Luke 12,16-21) the rich man absorbed in himself and his riches, (Luke 16, 19-31) the man absorbed in a lawsuit with his brother, (Luke 12,13-15) the disciples absorbed in maneuvering politically for first place.(Luke 18,15-17) How can they make the journey?

Notice how Jesus’ miracles on this journey help people stuck in one place move on. So, he cures the ten lepers confined outside a village in Samaria and sets them free. “Stand up and go,” Jesus says to them. (Luke 17,11-19) The blind man begging beside the road outside Jericho seems doomed to sit there forever. Jesus immediately gives him his sight and getting up he “followed him, giving glory to God.” {Luke 18, 35-43)

His healing miracles were great, but greater still is the final gift he gives for following him.  After his resurrection, two disciples leave Jerusalem for Emmaus and Jesus walked with them, renewing their hope by recalling the scriptures to them. Then he broke bread with them and they recognized him in the breaking of the bread.

On our journey Jesus is with us in the breaking of the Bread. He is Bread for our journey. He is Bread for the journey this world of ours is making.  We must keep close to this gift.