Regret and Rejection

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to continue to trust in Providence in situations where we endure loss and rejection.

loss and rejection

In the reading from the Book of Job, he curses the day he was born.

* [3:1] His day: that is, the day of his birth.

* [3:17] There: in death.

* [3:23] Hemmed in: contrast the same verb as used in 1:10. (Job, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 88 is a prayer for help in despondency.

* [Psalm 88] A lament in which the psalmist prays for rescue from the alienation of approaching death. Each of the three stanzas begins with a call to God (Ps 88:2, 10, 14) and complains of the death that separates one from God. The tone is persistently grim.

* [88:4–8] In imagination the psalmist already experiences the alienation of Sheol. (Psalms, PSALM 88 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, a Samaritan village refuses to receive Jesus.

* [9:51–55] Just as the Galilean ministry began with a rejection of Jesus in his hometown, so too the travel narrative begins with the rejection of him by Samaritans. In this episode Jesus disassociates himself from the attitude expressed by his disciples that those who reject him are to be punished severely. The story alludes to 2 Kgs 1:10, 12 where the prophet Elijah takes the course of action Jesus rejects, and Jesus thereby rejects the identification of himself with Elijah.

* [9:51] Days for his being taken up: like the reference to his exodus in Lk 9:31 this is probably a reference to all the events (suffering, death, resurrection, ascension) of his last days in Jerusalem. He resolutely determined: literally, “he set his face.”

* [9:52] Samaritan: Samaria was the territory between Judea and Galilee west of the Jordan river. For ethnic and religious reasons, the Samaritans and the Jews were bitterly opposed to one another (see Jn 4:9). (Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)

Tamora Whitney quotes REM “Everybody hurts, sometimes.” It’s natural to want someone to blame. And it’s easy to want to give up. REM says, “well hang on, don’t let yourself go.”

Job, who really has a very bad time, wishes he was never even born to live through such suffering, but he doesn’t blame, and he doesn’t give up, and he knows if it doesn’t get better here on earth, it will get better after. Job’s life does actually get better here on earth (although I don’t think he is made whole – his children die and even though he ends up with more children, they are not the ones who died. You can’t get that back) and he lives a long life seeing those children and their children grow up. But he knows throughout that this world is not his, these things are not his, and his real home is where he will see God. (Whitney, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus gave power and authority to his apostles,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"It would be false to affirm that our Savior did not know what was about to happen, because he knows all things. He knew, of course, that the Samaritans would not receive his messengers. There can be no doubt of this. Why then did he command them to go before him? It was his custom to benefit diligently the holy apostles in every possible way, and because of this, it was his practice sometimes to test them... What was the purpose of this occurrence? He was going up to Jerusalem, as the time of his passion was already drawing near. He was about to endure the scorn of the Jews. He was about to be destroyed by the scribes and Pharisees and to suffer those things that they inflicted upon him when they went to accomplish all of violence and wicked boldness. He did not want them to be offended when they saw him suffering. He also wanted them to be patient and not to complain greatly, although people would treat them rudely. He, so to speak, made the Samaritans' hatred a preparatory exercise in the matter. They had not received the messengers... For their benefit, he rebuked the disciples and gently restrained the sharpness of their wrath, not permitting them to grumble violently against those who sinned. He rather persuaded them to be patient and to cherish a mind that is unmovable by anything like this."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 56) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 9:51-56 asks how often does God’s justice look like mercy instead! In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus didn’t just rebuke the disciples for asking if they should destroy the village. He also wanted them to realize that God is merciful. Maybe these Samaritans just needed more time to understand that Jesus was the Messiah. It’s even possible that after Jesus’ death and resurrection, some became his loyal followers (Acts 8:4-8).

In the end, the disciples learned the lessons that Jesus wanted to teach them. As they went out to preach the gospel after Jesus had ascended into heaven, they were slandered and persecuted. Most were martyred. But like Jesus, they didn’t fight back or retaliate. They trusted in God’s justice and mercy instead.

Today, think of a situation where you’ve been tempted to retaliate. Then pray for the person or people who hurt or rejected you. Ask the Lord to be just as merciful to them as he has been to you!

“Lord, help me to love my enemies!” (Meditation on Luke 9:51-56, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the bet that Satan made that Job would curse God, but he only curses his lot in life. The great antipathy between Jews and Samaritans meant that hospitality was not offered to Jesus and His disciples. Friar Jude reminds us that Jesus seeks to forgive and build up people and not to destroy them.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes how Francis, Clare, and later, Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897), found a direct experience of God through humility. St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a Carmelite nun who became the youngest, least educated, and most quickly designated doctor of the Church, sought this downward path, which she called “a new way” or her “little way.” 

Thérèse—lovingly called the Little Flower by most Catholics—was right, on both counts, since her way of life was indeed very new for most people and very “little” instead of the usual upward-bound Christian agenda. Doing “all the smallest things and doing them through love” was the goal for Thérèse. [1] The common path of most Christianity by her time had become based largely on perfectionism and legalism, making the good news anything but good or inviting for generations of believers. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We may face trials and troubles on our journey that will require us to trust in the Spirit to reveal truth, goodness and love that counteracts feelings of rejection and loss.

References

Job, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/job/3?1 

Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?51 

Meditation on Luke 9:51-56. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/10/01/1093683/ 

Psalms, PSALM 88 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/88?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Embracing the Little Way. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/embracing-the-little-way/

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus' Face Was Set toward Jerusalem. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=oct1 

Whitney, T. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/100124.html 

Rejection of Full Life

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today connect us to the omnipresence and omniscience of God as the Spirit prompts us to review our acceptance of God’s love.

Connection to Full Life

The reading from the Book of Job reveals how the Lord answers Job and his response to God.

* [38:1] Now the Lord enters the debate and addresses two discourses (chaps. 38–39 and 40–41) to Job, speaking of divine wisdom and power. Such things are altogether beyond the capacity of Job. Out of the storm: frequently the background of the appearances of the Lord in the Old Testament; cf. Ps 18; 50; Na 1:3; Hb 3:2–15.

* [40:4–5] Job’s first reaction is humble, but also seemingly cautious. (Job, CHAPTER 38, n.d.)

Psalm 139 praises the Inescapable God.

* [Psalm 139] A hymnic meditation on God’s omnipresence and omniscience. The psalmist is keenly aware of God’s all-knowing gaze (Ps 139:1–6), of God’s presence in every part of the universe (Ps 139:7–12), and of God’s control over the psalmist’s very self (Ps 139:13–16). Summing up Ps 139:1–16, 17–18 express wonder. There is only one place hostile to God’s rule—wicked people. The psalmist prays to be removed from their company (Ps 139:19–24). (Psalms, PSALM 139, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus expresses woes to unrepentant cities.

* [10:13–16] The call to repentance that is a part of the proclamation of the kingdom brings with it a severe judgment for those who hear it and reject it.

* [10:15] The netherworld: the underworld, the place of the dead (Acts 2:27, 31) here contrasted with heaven; see also note on Mt 11:23. (Luke, CHAPTER 10, n.d.)

Tom Quinn comments that we have begun to explore the abyss, comprehend the breadth of the earth, and we have even changed its face. But we all realize that we cannot control all aspects of nature. It will continue to “take hold of the ends of the earth and shake it, and dawn will come to show darkness its place." God will continue to create, move, protect, and be the most understanding Lord of creation; we will always be humbled by His power. The more that we explore and learn about the universe, the more we find that we do not understand. We are simply humbled and challenged to pay attention to details; to find God in all things.

The Pagans of Tyre and Sidon who had not yet witnessed Jesus’ message would be better off at the judgement than the people of Capernaum who knew him and rejected him. “...whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” Are we more like the people of Capernaum, Chorizon, and Bethsaida? How often do we hear, "I was raised Christian, now I do not follow any religion. I do not know what to believe." Jesus’ message is available to more people than ever, yet we see and hear its rejection every day. Millions of people around the world have now heard the words of Our Lord, Jesus. They know of his life and miracles. Jesus continues to live among us, but in our hearts are we as motivated to follow his way to redemption as we need to be? (Quinn, 2022)

Don Schwager quotes “Christ speaks through the disciples,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"Christ gives those who love instruction the assurance that whatever is said concerning him by the holy apostles or evangelists is to be received necessarily without any doubt and to be crowned with the words of truth. He who hears them, hears Christ. For the blessed Paul also said, 'You desire proof that Christ is speaking in me' (2 Corinthians 13:3). Christ himself somewhere also said to the holy disciples, 'For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you' (Matthew 10:20). Christ speaks in them by the consubstantial Spirit. If it is true, and plainly it is, that they speak by Christ, how can they err? He affirms that he who does not hear them, does not hear Christ, and that he who rejects them rejects Christ, and with him the Father."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 63) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Psalm 139:1-3, 7-10, 13-14 comments that Job is reduced to silence. Realizing that he has spoken out of turn, he is humbled and repents. He comes to understand that, as the psalmist said, no matter where he flees, no matter how low he sinks, “even there your hand shall guide me, and your right hand hold me fast” (Psalm 139:10). Job’s heart is changed.

God knows us too, inside and out. He understands our thoughts from afar (see Psalm 139:2). He knows the ways we are following him faithfully, and he knows where we are missing the mark. It might not seem like fun to invite God to probe your heart. But seeing his love in the face of your failings can help you appreciate how he holds you fast no matter what. You’ll also see how this “probing” can prepare your heart for the blessings he has in store for you. This is what happens to Job at the end of his story. And if you look back over your own life, you’ll probably see how God has blessed you too.

“Lord, thank you that you are the One who knows me the best and who loves me the most!” (Meditation on Psalm 139:1-3, 7-10, 13-14, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler shares the mystery of suffering in life as marked by Job confronting God and receiving a response. We truly witness to our faith when things are going wrong. Friar Jude reminds us of the message of Luke underlining the faith of Gentiles who are welcomed by Jesus into the people of Israel.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, was invited by Carmelite priest Bob Colaresi on a pilgrimage to St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s community in France. Before she died, Thérèse promised to spend her heaven doing good on earth. [1] Whether we believe in miracles of the saints or not, it seems like everybody who loves Thérèse has some miraculous story. She gets involved in our lives. There is something beautiful happening through this woman who said she wanted to perfect “the science of love.” [2]

My own experience in her convent felt like an affirmation of what I truly believe and what has been a lot of my message. The little way is the spirituality of imperfection; we come to God not by doing it right, but by doing it wrong. It’s not a matter of doing great things. Whenever we act in conscious love, this is the little way. And I think whatever we do in conscious union and love is prayer. So many of our Catholic saints are examples of heroic martyrdom; the message they give is, “If I am perfect, then God will love me.” Because I was so programmed to think that way, I really needed to be released from that pursuit of perfection. Thank God both Thérèse and Francis of Assisi did that for me! (Rohr, 2022)

We are nudged by the Spirit to seek greater experience of the Presence of God in the events of our journey.

References

Job, CHAPTER 38. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/job/38?1 

Luke, CHAPTER 10. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?13 

Meditation on Psalm 139:1-3, 7-10, 13-14. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/09/30/499071/ 

Psalms, PSALM 139. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/139?1 

Quinn, T. (2022, September 30). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/093022.html 

Rohr, R. (2022, September 30). Acting In Conscious Love — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/acting-in-conscious-love-2022-09-30/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture ... Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=sep30