Thursday, January 31, 2019

Reflection for Wednesday, February 6; Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs; Mark 6:1-6

Gospel: Mark 6:1-6
Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.
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Reflection:
How do you handle rejection?

Rejection is very difficult to handle. Just imagine going for a vacation to the place where you grew-up. Of course, you expect nothing less than the best reception that you could ever have.

You expect your relatives and friends to treat you affectionately and you expect everybody to be affectionate to you.  But you were rejected, how would you feel? Of course, you'll feel bad, just imagine being rejected in your own native land.

How did Jesus handle His own rejection from His townmates in Nazareth? He took it humbly He never raised His voice, He never got angry with anyone there. He could have done something sinister but He did not. He instead still did His ministry by curing a few sick people of course He could have done more miracles but He was being insulted.

The crux of the matter here is Jesus’ humility as opposed to our arrogance when somebody rejects us. Take for example in our own sphere of environment. Don’t we feel bad when we don’t get what we want?

Let us therefore take with humility every rejection that we will encounter in our lives. Let us never react with anger for this is not proper to do.  Our fellowmen would respect and admire us more if we would become calm and humble in the midst of our rejections.

Can you be like Jesus who took with calmness and humility His rejection? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

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