We come today to a distinct turning point in Luke's Gospel, as Jesus sets His face firmly in the direction of Jerusalem. We have now come to the end of Jesus' ministry in Galilee and we move on to a new section - the journey to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is, for Luke, the focal point of his gospel and of the Acts, which he also wrote. Jerusalem is the place where it is all going to happen - passion, death, resurrection, the giving of the Spirit and the beginning of the mission to the whole world.

To get to Jerusalem, they have to pass through Samaria, hostile territory. When they are not welcomed, James and John asks Jesus, with His divine power, to bring fire and brimstone on to the place. How little do they understand the mind and ways of Jesus! He declines the invitation and they take another, less hostile route. Jesus never deliberately provokes trouble.

His purpose always is to change people who are against Him, to defuse their hostility and help them to see things in a better way. It is something we could try to do more often. It is not at all the "softy's" approach. On the contrary, it requires great inner strength and security.