Madam, - Reflecting on a Gospel reading last Sunday evening, I came across an instance of a march being re-routed because of sectarian tensions. Jesus and his followers are heading for Jerusalem (Luke 9:51) and it becomes clear they are not going to be welcome in a Samaritan village because of the history of sectarian relationships between Jews and Samaritans. The disciples want a stand-off (they actually want to see the place burned down), but Jesus rebukes them for their aggressive instincts and they go to another village instead.
If re-routing out of sensitivity to local residents is acceptable to Jesus, then it would seem reasonable that those who profess faith in him should have no problem with it in our own times. - Yours, etc.,
Rev IAN POULTON, Killiney, Co Dublin.