Knowing that we are close to God stirs within us the strength to do more for others. The passage of Zechariah in the first reading emphases this reality. So did St Jerome who contributed much to the spread of God's Word through his study and translation of the Bible into Latin. Indeed when he discovered the Lord's teaching, he devoured it. So too with Jesus in this work of salvation.

We enter the final phase of Jesus' public life as He resolutely sets His face towards Jerusalem. There will be no turning back even though the prospect of His death will at times fill Him with fear. On the way, He and His disciples have to pass through the province of Samaria to reach Jerusalem. There was no love lost between Samaritans and Jews and the disciples were not made welcome. James and John, called elsewhere 'Sons of Thunder', wanted Jesus to use divine power to wipe them out. But the path of violence was not the way of Jesus and they went on to a more friendly village. The way of non-violence requires a lot of courage while retaining respect for even those who disagree with us or would want to harm us.