Monday March 13, 2023

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“When others reject us, we thirst for acceptance, and God provides it.”

Good News Reflection for:

Monday of the Third Week of Lent
March 13, 2023

Today’s Prayer:

Lord: You know my weaknesses and how I trust You. Bless me with joy for being one of Your children who believe in Your Word, even without having signs. Amen.

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Today’s Readings:

2 Kings 5:1-15
Psalm 42:2-3; 43:3-4
Luke 4:24-30
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031323.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-13-2023

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 continue to 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. But by patiently persevering, we find that person.

Not everyone from Nazareth rejected the messianic ministry of Jesus. James, a close relative, 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. Trust me on this; for every Judas who’s betrayed me, there’s been a James who became a trustworthy companion.

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 when he’d 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 Psalm 42:3 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!

For more on this subject watch our video, “How to Stand Up to Persecution” @ https://gnm-media.org/how-to-stand-up-to-persecution/.

© 2023 by Terry A. Modica

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