Homilies

27th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: CHRISTIANITY, A HISTORY OF REJECTION

REJECTION is commonplace! It is something we often encounter in our journey through life. In a family, we can often a member or two who are rejected by parents or siblings. Leaders too are often victims to rejection. In a multicultural society, people belonging to a minority group or class often experience rejection.

As the gospel suggests, the history of Christianity is a history of rejection. It is a story filled with rejections. If we look back to our history of salvation, God first sent prophets to be his servants to his vineyard. But they were killed by the so-called “tenants” of the Lord’s vineyard. Later, God sent his only Son, thinking that the tenants may “respect my son”. But again, Jesus was handed to the elders and chief priests, and was killed.

Although Christianity has been considered as one of the major religions in the world, the picture does not seem to appear good these days. Seemingly, we go back to the old weakness which we call rejection. In other words, the story of rejection happens or continues to our day. Let me give you some examples of modern-day rejection. First, Pope Benedict was saddened by the hesitation of the European leaders to include Christianity as part of the European constitution. The truth is, Christianity has been part of the history of Europe but its leaders seem to reject it. Second, secularized Catholics no longer find the value of Catholic faith. The diminishing number of Church attendance is an indication of rejection of faith. Third, the “pick-and–choose” mentality of Christians/Catholics is an index of rejection. Most often we compromise our faith or the things that we believe.

What shall we do with this phenomenon that we call rejection?

First, I think, there has to be a renewed appreciation of Christ. Modernity, secularism, and materialism have been the causes of utter rejection of God. People are too confident that they can live all by themselves. Their drive toward independence and freedom causes them to distance or even to forget Christ in their lives. However, these are also a people who lack meaning in their lives. In the face of adversity and failures, these are a people who easily “finish” their lives because they no longer find meaning in it. But once we have Christ with us, we won’t be carried away during the times of difficulties because we remain hopeful.

Second, we must cherish the beauty of our faith. Some Catholics who distance themselves from the Church would blame the Church for being indifferent to them. Ironically, these are a people who do not live out their faith; people who do not actively practice their faith; people who do not participate in the Church’s activities. Actually, their indifference and inactivity resulted to lack of appreciation and knowledge of their faith.

Third, we need to be reminded that our acceptance of Christian teachings must be total. Most of the time, we compromise what we believe in. If the Church teaching appears uncomfortable and burdensome to us, we would not choose and follow it. For example, the Church teaches the evil of contraception. But legislators persuade people to do otherwise because it is “practical”. And we can find this same feeling and opinion from some believers. But, let it be noted that, not all that is practical is moral. If the Church insists what she teaches, it is so because it is moral and is in accordance to God’s will. Therefore, we are called to accept it and follow it without compromises. Our acceptance to these should be total.

One final note! Jesus loves and appreciates people who listen and obey his word. Elsewhere in the gospels, he said “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and act on it”. So, let us try to accept his word and teachings. Rejection to these means also a rejection of Jesus. But acceptance to these would also mean an acceptance of Jesus.

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