Rejection

Today's Gospel reading ends with the words from our Lord, "(The Son of Man) first must suffer many things, and be rejected by this generation." 

Those of us who have been ordained to minister to others, and to preach meaningfully to others, we often question our messages.  And that is a wonderful thing to do.  Unfortunately, sometimes, in my own questioning, I'm led to a point of dejection.  It's not despair.  It's just disappointment.  We want to see that the words we're led to speak are changing things.  We desire with all our hearts to see people finally come to accept the faith in its fullness.  We hope that the things spoken in homilies or in counseling sessions or in private conversations result in confessions, turned hearts, more participation in all the services, greater almsgiving - whatever the case, we desire to see the fruits of the seed we believe we've been called to plant.

But all too often, that 'vision' - that 'seeing' of fruit developing is nowhere to be found.  And worse still, the words the Lord allows me to speak, they have not changed my own heart to make it acceptable because of my greater love of sin than of my Lord.

This message is not only for clergy.  It happens to us as parents as well.  We take our children to church.  We encourage them to pray.  We instill in them the importance of faith in our lives.  And as they grow to maturity, we watch them make our faith a byword in their mature lives.  We see them drift to places we would not choose for them to go.  And perhaps we think, "Why should I be surprised when I don't see a change in myself...????"

There are two things to keep in mind about these observations.  First, we see from the words of our Lord Himself that this also happened to Him.  Jesus speaks today of His being rejected by His own people, the ones who were waiting, LONGING for the coming of the Savior.  They knew what to look for, and still, when He came, he was rejected by them.

Second, there is no coercion when it comes to faith.  You accept in faith, or you reject.  This is also quite clear in our Lord's own words: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!  How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." (Mat 23:37)

The image is a loving one.  The reality points us to the rejection of our Lord and His Gospel in the world to this day, and until He returns.

So, what are we as pastors, teachers, or parents to do?  Should we just give up?

You know the answer to the question.  Saint Seraphim of Sarov said, "Save yourself and thousands around you will be saved."

The path we should take is reinforced in what the Lord says earlier in today's Gospel to these same Pharisees who are questioning Him.  They seek from the Lord an indication of "the sign" for which they should look that tells of the coming of the Kingdom.  Failing to recognize that the Kingdom is before them in the person of its Master, Jesus patiently and lovingly teaches even these men.  "Indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you...." (Luke 17:21)

Let those of us who know Him not reject Him.  He waits to gather us together, as well.  And so, let us pray to Him:  Maranatha! - Come, Lord Jesus!