How to handle rejection

Good News Reflection Monday of the Third Week of Lent March 28, 2011 This reflection is also available as an audio podcast: http://gnm.org/DailyReflections/podcasts and as part of a downloadable ebook of the entire Season of Lent: http://catholicdr.com/ebooks/Lent.htm Today’s Readings: 2 Kings 5:1-15 Psalm 42:2-3; 43:3-4 Luke 4:24-30 http://www.usccb.org/nab/032811.shtml USCCB Podcast of the Readings: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/11_03_28.mp3 How to handle rejection Is there anyone in your life who doesn't accept how much you've grown spiritually? Is there someone who doesn't believe you about your faith? Have you been falsely accused of doing something you never had any intention of doing? Have ever you been dismissed as incapable of doing what you have in fact learned to do? In today's Gospel passage, Jesus shows us how to handle these people. First, it helps to realize that such rejection is normal for a follower of Christ. As Jesus says in this Gospel reading, "No prophet is accepted in his native place." We rise above it by connecting our suffering to Christ's. Rejection unites us to God; the time gap between his unfair treatment in Nazareth and your unfair treatment today disappears. What a privilege! Second, in love we give others more occasions to see and accept what God is offering to them through us, as Jesus did. He always gave his persecutors an opportunity to discover: "Aha! I need to learn from this guy!" Perhaps one out of a hundred will have an "aha" moment. By patiently persevering, we find that person. Not everyone from Nazareth rejected the messianic ministry of Jesus. James, a relative from his extended family, became one of his most devoted followers. James even wrote a letter that was accepted into the canon of the New Testament. God has a James for you, too. The third step, in imitation of Christ, is to walk away. Jesus did not nag people into changing their minds. He did not stomp his foot and pout and whine and all that other silly stuff that we do to win someone's attention. Neither did he stay there and let them attack. The day would come to be nailed to a cross, but not this day. Like Jesus, we must always seek the Father's will to discern when it's time to go to the cross for someone and when it's time to simply walk away. As today's responsorial psalm says, "My soul is thirsting for the living God; when shall I see him face to face?" When others reject us, we thirst for acceptance, and God provides it. We do see him face to face, but we must immerse ourselves in a community of believers whose faces reveal God. We have to surround ourselves with companions who are capable of accepting the gift that we are. To move from the cross of rejection to the resurrection that God wants to provide for us, seek out those who are working hard on their own spiritual growth. This type of person is able to recognize what God is doing in your life. When others reject you, run to these companions for comfort. When you need assurance or encouragement, they will be able to give it to you. God has – right now – a community of believers ready to be his gifts of love for you! © 2011 by Terry A. Modica This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission. You may print one copy for your own personal use. For PERMISSION and info on how to copy this reflection for sharing, see: http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm Seeking a past reflection? Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free to subscribers of these emailed reflections.

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