Do the Works That I Do

April 19, 2008

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter

“For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.’” The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. Acts 13:47-49

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:12-13

Piety

Jesus, help us to do whatever you tell us and be your instrument to bring salvation to the world. As Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet and moved on, help us not to wallow in rejection, but instead to look forward filled with hope and joy to the encounters that we will have with those who accept us. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/041908.shtml

No one has a monopoly on the Lord except those who have faith that grounds their life in the actions that Jesus calls for. “Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do.”

The first lesson in this tough love was learned by the Jews. When the Jewish community rejected the Good News, the disciples brought the message to the Gentiles. And just as Jesus commanded in the Gospel of Luke, when the disciples experienced rejection, they carried forth – onward (ultreya!) – and did not dwell on the past and the rejection. So today’s response in Acts, follows through on the instructions the disciples got from Jesus.

And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere. Luke 9:5-6

The notes to the N.A.B. tell us that this “gesture is to establish complete disassociation from unbelievers.”

By focusing on the job ahead, not the rejection behind, the disciples were able to remain “filled with joy and the holy Spirit” as they headed off to their next challenge and a new beginning.

Action

We are a people who take rejection pretty hard. We hold grudges. We take it personally even if that is not a part of the act or the intention. We use old arguments to drive wedges between us and others. Then, we seek allies and try to draw them into our camp.

Yet the Gospel pulls no punches in telling us that we must reject rejection. We must get over it. Move on. We must become a forgiving people. The prodigal son. Seven times seventy. Leave your gifts and make peace with your brother. Despite the worst rejection possible, Jesus continued to pray for those who persecuted him right up until he died on the cross.

There is an end to the pain of rejection whether it comes from a failed job application or a failed relationship. Maybe the hardest step to take is to not assume that the rejection is aimed at you personally and to recognize just what you are experiencing so you can move on. Turning rejection on its head means that you will end up accepting who you are. In that fashion, you can be open to the acceptance that will also come to you from others.

What argument have you had that needs to be put in the last where it belongs? What dust do you have to shake off your feet? How can you turn rejection into acceptance? After all, Jesus turned crucifixion into Resurrection.

PS: Speaking of Ultreya, there is a parish Ultreya at St. Mary of Sorrows on Saturday night (tonight!). Come and bring a friend!