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14 Sunday B |
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When I was fifteen, I was given ‘a trial’ on the county minor team, playing Dublin in Naas. Dublin were very good. I was a forward. The ball never came in my direction for twenty minutes. Then, I got a sign from the sideline to lie down and pretend to be hurt and be replaced. I felt the rejection. The following year I was a strong college footballer and was automatic choice. The third year I chose a different county to play for ...the hurt lingered. Everybody experiences rejection in life, in some way, at sometime. It may be boy friend –girl friend break off. It may be marriage. It may be health. It may be the job. It may be sports, the exam, the family. In my innocent days as a priest, I agreed to be judge at ‘a best baby competition ‘ once...never again. Every baby is best and every mother, wonderfully, thinks so and rightly ‘feels’ rejection. So it is consoling for us that Jesus to day is rejected by his own very townspeople and relations. He registers his hurt, but moves on. With the help of His Spirit we can move on. How can we cope with not getting bitter, which is like a cancer, growing in the heart? Jesus does not retaliate. We too must try not to retaliate. I imagine that Jesus sees The Loving Father as The Compassionate Doorkeeper. Some doors close in life, but others always open. The Spirit of Jesus is in our hearts encouraging us, register the hurt, but move on. All will be well.
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