Rejection in love

-







In last week’s Gospel we heard as you remember that Jesus went into the synagogue and spoke those beautiful words from the Prophet Isaiah. It all seemed to be going well as we heard that he won the approval of all. Jesus then says and accepts that a prophet is not accepted in his own country. They complain to him that Jesus performs no local wonders while at the same time they disbelieve him anyway. Jesus tells his own people that he his mission is not only for them but for all people the crowd turn on him and they are angry. They say “We have heard all that has happened in Capernaum, do the same here in your own countryside.”

 Jesus refuses to share in their small minded vision he is going to be different. They expect Jesus to share in the same exclusive outlook as themselves. Jesus is different he does not share their image of God. For God is more than their expectations. He makes his audience angry and because they are lost for words, they do what most groups do their solution is to beat the opponent to death. Jesus learns early on in his ministry when to get out and run. In Luke’s gospel not surprisingly Jesus does not return home again.

This experience at Nazareth seems a world away from the letter of St Paul on love. This is the most beautiful letter describes to us what love should be like. IT is something that is patient and kind not jealous it is something that we must learn. In the last line of the play Les Miserable it says “To love another person is to see the face of God” it is perfection that we are looking on when we love. The one who loves us more than anything else is God for he formed us in the womb and knew us. And we see this manifestation of love the perfect example in the person of Jesus. Jesus learnt from early on in his ministry that “Love endures all things” and marks his whole ministry. Even when the people rejected him he did not reject them. Even on the cross in his final breath he was able to show love by forgiving those who had crucified them” Forgive them father they know not what they are doing”

As well as Jesus experience rejection of love is also in our experience as human beings. We experience this rejection also. And yes it hurts a great deal and for some it takes a very long time to get over. Rejection is just then part of the human experience it how we deal with it that really matters. One way that we can do this is by praying through our experience. Learning through our painful experience is important and praying through them is vital. Our response is not usually love when we have had a bad experience and been rejected. 

Paul says that we must learn love and Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek and walk away. Learning to do this can only be done by the help of God. As another one of my favourite musicals says in its opening line “The greatest thing you ever learn is how to love and be loved in return” We learn this through prayer the example of Jesus and knowing that the greatest of these is love. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fashion tips for what its worth.

-
Image
The Other day I had an Conversation with someone about Fashion. I am not sure if many of you know but I used to work in Top shop in Oxford Circus. So I thought I woulds share with you some of the trend that might look good for the Summer of 2012.  First of all I am really pleased to say that there seems to be a little colour back into the high street this season. This must be because of the bad weather that people want to wear bold and primary colours. Although I am not sure about the hat in the lower picture. Am I old fashioned enough to say that hats and woolen hats should be winter wear and not summer wear. Fresh and clean colours are in this year.   Good but loose the hat. The black and grey days are over and we can see that these are both stylish from the ladies but also a Casual look from the lads. But there are some fashions that are clearly wrong and should be left alone. See the Green Jumper down below. I don't really know where to ...
Read more

More than many Sparrows

-
A number of years ago I worked in Oxford Street in Top shop. I was working in the exchange and refund department. I was suprized by the amount of people that used fashion to hide who they really were. The one thing that they would say quite a lot was that they shopped and brought clothes to make them selves feel better. Now this is not a homily against retail therapy or against fashion shops but I have to say I met a lot of people that used this and other things to get over the pain that they did not either like themselves and therefore feel love of another person.  It is true to say that there are many times in our lives where we are afraid to be our true authentic selves. We hide behind the masks that we portray. We are one thing to one person and another to someone else. We try our best and hardest to try and please everyone where we almost become like a camelion. I suppose the question I have is why do we do this. Why do we waste so much energy trying to be all things to a...
Read more

Jesus and Travel plans

-
Image
Whenever I go away on holiday or just over night I always without fail over pack: I take loads of stuff away with me and half the stuff I don’t actually use or need. In my mind I have the phrase going through my head “Oh I might just need that.” And then when we get back we actually realised that I did not need it at all.  Basically I do not travel light. I would have then great difficulties I think being a disciple. I would not be able to cope with the travel plans that Jesus would have given me. No spare tunic no, no money, no travel insurance.  Jesus tells us that all we need his authority and the gift of ourselves the talents and gifts that we have been given by God. Mark says nothing in this Gospel about what the disciples said in their missionary activity the most important thing here is presence and through that presence they are witnesses to the Gospel. So what do the disciples tells us about what it means to be Gospel. The phrase that comes into my mind ...
Read more