The WORD today reminds me that I should
continue working for God despite facing worldly rejections.
A lot of great people
experienced rejection. Great artists does not always get record label contracts
or output the first time they try. Great literary works experienced a lot of
rejections from publishers. Even great athletes experienced being cut from the
team. However, what
made them great is that they kept trying and did not let rejections stop
them.
Rejection should not stop us,
rather they should inspire us.
In the readings, we see how Jesus
himself was rejected. In the first reading and psalm, we see that Jesus, the
cornerstone or the foundation of our faith, was rejected by the builders
themselves - the church leaders at that time. However, like great people, this
did not stop Jesus. He did not let rejections get the best of him. He knew he
was destined for something great. He knew what God wanted him to do. He knew
which approval mattered. He kept going and doing what he was supposed to do.
In the gospel, we see the
disciples also experiencing rejection. They were working overnight but did not
get fish. However, when someone told them to fish on the other side, they
obeyed despite feeling tired and rejected, and they were eventually rewarded
with so much more for not letting rejections stop them.
In life, as followers of
Christ, we will also experience rejection. However, we should be reminded of
what Jesus did. He continued despite these rejections. He knew his purpose was
great, and that God is there approving what he was doing. In the same way, as
we experience rejections and persecutions in life, we should focus on one
approval that really matters – God’s. We just need to hang on to his word that
he has great plans for us, and continue doing what he asks of us. We should ask
him for strength to carry on and do what is right. Eventually, as we surrender
to Him, we will be rewarded and all those rejections will not matter.
What were some
rejections I faced in life? How did I feel about those? What did I do when I
experienced rejections? Did I stop or did I let the rejection encourage and
motivate me? Do I call on God for help and strength and comfort? What is he
telling me today?
May we always focus on God, and
not let worldly rejections stop us from working and doing God's tasks for us on
earth.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for
another day to live. Thank you for another reminder. Lord, I am sorry for the
times I feel like giving up when i experience rejections. Sorry for the times I
actually gave up. Sorry for putting others’ approval ahead of yours. I ask you
to give me the strength to just focus on you and the task you want me to do.
Help me continue doing your work, no matter how many rejections I face from
people. Give me strength to move and work, no matter what the world tells me.
As I do this, I know you will help and strengthen me, and that you are
glorified and will do great things through me. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflections:
April 17,
2020
Easter
Friday; St. Stephen Harding
FIRST
READING
After the
crippled man had been cured, while Peter and John were still speaking to the
people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees
confronted them, disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming
in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They laid hands on Peter and John and
put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. But many
of those who heard the word came to believe and the number of men grew to about
five thousand.
On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly class. They brought them into their presence and questioned them, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders: If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”
On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly class. They brought them into their presence and questioned them, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders: If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”
RESPONSORIAL
PSALM
R. The stone
rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. or R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say: “His mercy endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD say, “His mercy endures forever.”
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. or R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. or R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation! O LORD, grant prosperity! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD; we bless you from the house of the LORD. The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. or R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say: “His mercy endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD say, “His mercy endures forever.”
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. or R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. or R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation! O LORD, grant prosperity! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD; we bless you from the house of the LORD. The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. or R. Alleluia.
ALLELUIA
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Jesus revealed
himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in
this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana
in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said
to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.”
So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples
did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught
anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net
over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it,
and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple
whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that
it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped
into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from
shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they
climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus
said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went
over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them,
“Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are
you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread
and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time
Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
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