14th Sunday of Ordinary Times

One of the most painful experiences we can have is rejection. Others reject us or we reject them for a variety of reasons. Rejection can flow from jealousy or envy. Often those who challenge us to live more virtuous lives are rejected. We hear about it in today's first reading. God cautioning Ezekiel that as a prophet he would not have an easy job of it. And, in the Gospel, Jesus is met with misgivings and rejection by his own people. 

Sometimes we think we know someone and we really don’t. When Jesus began his public ministry, He worked many miracles and gave many profound teachings. When Jesus cured the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath, the Pharisees and the Scribes rejected him. When Jesus gave a profound teaching in the Synagogue in Nazareth, his relatives and townspeople rejected him because they believed he was only a carpenter. Their minds were so closed that it prompted Jesus to say, “A prophet is only despised in his own country, among his own relatives and in his own house.” Because of their closed minds and their rejection of Jesus, they never did find out who he really was, the living Son of God. They rejected the best that God gave them. So, “he was not able to perform any mighty deeds there…” The message is obvious: a lack of faith actually prevents God from helping us as he would like.

Today’s readings remind us that Ezekiel, Paul, and Jesus, are God’s chosen prophets. Each was a rejected prophet who faced opposition from those who at least in retrospect, should have accepted and honored them.

There are many people today who, like the people in the days of historical Jesus, continue to reject Jesus. Rejection is caused by sin and fear, ignorance and insecurity. People with closed minds are easily prone to reject Jesus when he comes to them in new ways. In your personal life, Have you experienced rejection because of misunderstandings? How did you feel? Can you forgive the people who reject you? G.K. Chesterton said, “ I do not believe what I believe because some things point to it, I believe what I believe because all things point to it.” Franz Werfel, in “The Song of Bernadette”, wrote: “For those who believe, no explanation is necessary: for those who do not believe, no explanation is possible.”