The Lord cites the first reading about Elisha at the Jordan river to the people of Nazareth, who are furious with Jesus after he shows how prophets are often rejected in their native place. May we learn from this response and seek instead to embrace the Lord’s teaching in our lives.
Mass Readings – Monday of the 3rd Week of Lent
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Let’s explore some of the themes that surface in the readings for the 4th Sunday of the Year.
1st Reading – Jeremiah 1:4-5,17-19
Psalm – 71:1-6,15,17
2nd Reading – 1st Corinthians 12:31-13:13
Gospel – Luke 4:21-30
Mass Readings – 4th Sunday of the Year
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Paul preaches a carefully crafted, well thought out, passionate message to the people of Athens…and they scoffed and walked away. Paul’s response to this outcome is instructive; he faithfully continues to the next city, telling people about Jesus.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 6th Week of Easter
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At the conclusion of the Bread of Life discourse, we see a sharp contrast between those who leave and those who follow Jesus. The Lord continues to invite…what’s our response today?
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 3rd Week of Easter
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St. Paul’s rejection in Athens reminds us that we, too, will encounter mocking and ridicule for our faith in Christ. When it happens may we recall that we are in good company! Just remember: we never know how a single a word we say can lift someone up and lead them to the Lord.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 6th Week of Easter
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The crowds find the teaching of Jesus too hard, and many who followed him now leave and go back to their former ways. Rejection does not stop us from proclaiming the Good News; rather, it reminds us that people have the freedom to choose their path. May we keep inviting them to follow the Lord!
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 3rd Week of Easter
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mass Readings – Friday of the 2nd Week of Lent
Both the 1st Reading and the Gospel detail stories of rejection: Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers for 20 pieces of silver and Jesus explains how the tenants kill the vineyard owner’s son. Yet in both cases the reality of rejection is transformed and redeemed by God’s grace. May we face our moments of rejection with the power of our faith in Christ, that God will work in our lives to bring about good.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
And to all of you who claim even a wee bit of Irish…Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Fr. Andrew’s 4th Sunday of Easter Homily Podcast
How do we face rejection? How do we confront the obstacles and roadblocks that are part of life? Two key points surface:
May we call upon the Lord for what we need – regardless of our vocation in life – to find our way!
This homily was given at Cathedral of Christ the King on Sunday, April 26, 2015.
Study: How have I responded to rejection in my life? What has given me strength?
Pray: What challenges do I need to set before the Lord today?
Serve: Who is struggling with rejection in my life? How can I help and support another?
At first glance these readings seem to be a jumble: what do stones have to do with shepherds? How are they connected to the person of Jesus Christ?
A quick overview might look like this:
What we discover points to Jesus as the Lord who has encountered rejection and triumphs through his saving sacrifice. The power he has comes from the Father, who sent his Son to save us, even when we didn’t understand. What’s more, God keeps reaching out to us – breaking through our ignorance, weakness and sin – to build a bridge that leads us to new life.
God comes to us, in our need, to save and set us free.
The invitation today is one of acceptance. Will we embrace the Good News of Christ? Will we respond to the faith, hope, and love of the Gospel and allow our lives to be touched by God’s blessing? Is there anything blocking me from reaching out to the Lord?
In the light of Easter glory I would like to suggest some possibilities for spiritual growth:
Thus, the path which the Lord walked becomes our own. Our spiritual compass – pointed toward Jesus Christ, inspires us to stay the course even when we are mistreated and misunderstood. Like the shepherd and the stone, we can face rejection with the promise of hope – for we draw strength from the one who triumphed in his struggles to bring triumph to our lives.
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The Good Shepherd, Alfred Handel, d. 1946 – photo by Toby Hudson (20 December 2009); stained glass, 770 x 600 pixels, St. John the Baptist’s Anglican Church, Ashfield, New South Wales.
Three Great Things 