3rd Week of Lent 2018 - Monday - The Cycle of Rejection

Very early on in his Public Ministry, Jesus returned to his home town of Nazareth, where word of his preaching and miracles in Capernaum proceeded him. We are familiar with the story of Jesus attending Synagogue, there in Nazareth, unrolling the scroll, and reading from the prophet Isaiah, “the spirit of the Lord is upon me, he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, freedom for the oppressed.” His townsfolk began to speak highly of him, they no doubt were excited about the prospect of receiving these blessings, and receiving healings from Jesus.

The townspeople of Nazareth were surely happy to welcome home the local-boy-made-good, drawing praise across the synagogues of Galilee. However, when it came to actually choosing to believe that he was the Messiah, admiration quickly turned into violence.

Jesus detected their hardheartedness and began to preach about how Israel often rejects its authentic prophets who call them to conversion and faithfulness to the covenant.

These events at Nazareth foreshadow the events leading up to the Lord’s passion. Relative openness to Jesus’ healings and teachings, turn into opposition, as Jesus is rejected by many of His own people, who succeed in having Him put to death on the Hill of Calvary.

We can smugly condemn the townsfolk of Nazareth, but I think this Gospel calls us to acknowledge the times when we have become like them.

This pattern, this cycle, reveals a truth of our fallen human nature. We love blessings, we love healings, we love when God fits into our conception of Him, we love when he doesn’t demand much of us. And how we hate change, conversion, being led out of our comfort zones in order to grow in faith.

Here is certainly a reminder to persevere in our Lenten observances, that just because they grow difficult at Lent progresses, doesn’t mean we should reject them. And here is also a reminder that the Christian life is aimed at our conversion from comfortable familiarity to apostolic witness that takes us out of our comfort zone in order to bring the Gospel to others.

Our Lenten penances prepare us to perhaps be rejected like Christ, to risk embarrassment, rejection from family, even to face apparent failure in the eyes of the world, but to remain faithful to God nonetheless, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the whole Christian people, that in this sacred Lenten season, they may be more abundantly nourished by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

For the whole world, that in lasting tranquility and peace our days may truly become the acceptable time of grace and salvation.

For sinners and those who neglect right religion, that in this time of reconciliation they may return wholeheartedly to Christ.

For ourselves, that God may at last stir up in our hearts aversion for our sins and conviction for the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy.