Homily for October 1, 2019

Rejection is one of the most painful human experiences, especially if it comes from someone who really matters to us; one in whom we have invested a lot of trust. An experience of rejection can leave us very angry and bitter, or even tempted to strike out in some way, to retaliate in kind.

Jesus knew this fact from personal experience, when He was rejected by the people of a Samaritan village. He was a Jew heading for Jerusalem and that was enough to make them refuse Him hospitality. If rejection like this was a regular response of Samaritans to Jews, the angry reaction of the disciples was a standard Jewish response to Samaritans. They responded to this experience of rejection by suggesting that Jesus allow them to call on God to destroy the Samaritan village. Clearly they wanted to strike out in anger and make them pay!

How different was Jesus’ response to that of His disciples. He quietly shook His head and simply went on to another village, to proclaim the Gospel elsewhere. Jesus remained generous in the face of rejection. That is His way and it is meant to be our way too. Who we are and how we relate to others is not determined by how others may treat us. Rather who we are, even in the face of rejection, is determined by something much deeper, by our relationship with the LORD and our efforts to keep living by His mind and Spirit. +