Jesus refers to himself as the cornerstone which will be rejected. He too will be seized and killed by those who reject him.
The tale of rejection goes back to the beginning when Adam and Eve rejected God’s command, thereby rejecting His plan for them and for mankind. By rejecting God they forfeited paradise. The sinner rejects God’s truth and God’s plan; he pretends that his life belongs to him for his own purposes.
Sometimes the teachings of the Church are found difficult—they infringe on our sinful habits and attachments—and so they are rejected. They are difficult so often because we have hardened our hearts against them. Yet, as G.K. Chesterton said, “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.”
Many so-called Cafeteria Catholics belief the faith is like a buffet line, they can take what they like and reject the rest. But once you begin rejecting Church doctrine, where does it stop? Why does the current generation reject the Church almost outright? Perhaps we need to look no further than what their parents and grandparents rejected a generation ago. Cafeteria Catholicism in one generation, leads often to the total rejection of the faith in the next. Their parents never made them eat their vegetables because they initially found them bitter, and now they don’t eat vegetables at all.
In the first reading, Joseph’s brothers reject him because of envy—he was an obstacle to their happiness. Today, many people reject the faith for the same reason. They envy. They covet. They envy yuppies, movies stars, star athletes, power brokers, and so they reject the faith which tells them that these are false idols and empty pursuits. No wonder why they become so exhausted, they’ve become fixated on chasing an illusion—the illusion that something other than God can bring rest to their restless souls.
And we’ve all done this to some extent. Which is why Lent is so important. The prayer, fasting, almsgiving of Lent helps us to do penance for those not when I have forgotten that I am not the vineyard owner, but merely a tenant. Where I have rejected God’s call to holiness out of envy, arrogance, and self-centeredness.
Help us to repent of our sins Lord, and to return to you with our whole hearts, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That our Lenten observances will bring about profound renewal in our parish and in our lives and relationships.
That God will rescue all those who live at a distance from him because of self-absorption or sin.
That all families will recommit themselves to fervent prayer this Lent so as to grow in greater love and holiness.
That this Lent we will be faithful to fasting and to all the ways that the Lord sanctifies us.
For generous giving for the needs of the poor, the hungry, the homeless, those who are sick, unemployed, victims of natural disaster, terrorism, war, and violence, the grieving and those most in need.
For all those who have died, for all the poor souls in purgatory…
Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.
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