Rejection

Homily for Wednesday of the Third Week in Easter

Rejection - I Will Not Reject Anyone Who Comes to Me

Rejection can fuel strong emotional response. Throughout the Scriptures we find many different examples. We know that all the prophets, with the exception of Jonah, were rejected by the people to whom they were sent. In the Book of Genesis, we find episodes of brother rejecting brother over and over again. Abel was rejected by Kane, Esau by Jacob, Joseph by his eleven brothers.

At the same time, there are countless episodes where the people simply reject God and turn to their own ways and to their own will. When we get to the New Testament, St. John begins his Gospel by telling us that Jesus came to his own people but was not accepted by them.

Following the example set by his Father, Jesus says in today’s Gospel that he will not reject anyone who comes to him.

In our own lives, we may have experienced rejection in different ways. Some of us have been rejected by our classmates who fail to choose us to be on their team during recess. Some are rejected by their families, spouses, parents, etc. The hurt never goes away.

However, we never have to fear that God will reject us or that Jesus will reject us as they will love us to the end. As we go through our day, we can hold onto this truth, to this powerful reality – Jesus rejects no one who comes to him.