RESPONSES

4th Sunday of Easter, Year C

Rejecting the Word of God

            Some hear, know and follow the Lord better than others. Some choose not to hear, know, or follow the Lord. This is apparent to those who are more directly involved in proclaiming God’s Word, such as parents, priests, preachers, and teachers. Those who have heard a call to proclaim God’s Word have experienced hearing the Lord, coming to know the Lord’s love, and following Him more closely. Hearing, knowing and following are normal stages which precede a call or a vocation to proclaim God’s Word.

            Many factors influence the acceptance of a call to the priesthood or religious life, such as family life, and contact with priests and religious. These factors may make the conditions more conducive to hearing, knowing, and following the Lord. The factors themselves however, don’t do it. Many have ideal conditions present in their lives for hearing, knowing, and following the Lord, and don’t. There is a mystery of grace, and an openness from within. “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.”

            This is true in all of our life with God. Many have ideal conditions and opportunities offered to them for hearing, knowing, and following the Lord and His Word, and yet reject them. Many have far less opportunities and far less favorable conditions, and yet become great hearers, lovers, and Christ followers. To those who do hear, know, and follow the Lord, their lives become deeply enriched. “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”

            In addition, some may be called to participate in the work of Christ’s kingdom and Church in some total way, such as a priest or religious. All the baptized and confirmed are called to participate in Christ’s work. To carry out Christ’s work, it is necessary to hold to His Word, vision, instructions and promises. For it is certain there will be trials in living the Gospel, and added ones in proclaiming it. The Book of Revelation gives us John’s vision of heaven, and those who heard, knew, followed and remained faithful to Jesus. “These are the ones who have survived the great period of trial…for the Lamb (Christ)…will shepherd them.”

            There will always be different levels of hearing, knowing, and following the Lord among people. Those who have heard, known, and followed on deeper levels, and have accepted a call to proclaim the Gospel, have to learn how to deal with different responses, including rejections. The Church has faced this in every age, and will always have to. Every parish and every family has to face the different responses to the Gospel, both positive and negative, acceptance and rejection. Some don’t hear, know, or follow the Lord in their lives. Some even actively reject the Gospel. Not listening or following is a form of rejection.

            There has been, and can be, whole families, communities and nations who reject the Gospel. There are those who think, based on some evidence, that Europe has all but rejected the Gospel. North America may also be on the way to rejecting the Gospel. Clearly many of the Gospel teachings are rejected by many who still hold to the name Christian and Catholic. Perhaps sometime in the third millennium missionaries will come from the Third World and re-evangelize Europe and the Americas. Today missionaries go to Russia, which was once a flourishing Christian nation.

            Everyone, especially those who have been called to proclaim the Gospel publicly, such as priests, have to learn the Gospel response to rejection of the Gospel and themselves. In the Acts of the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas give the principle the Church needs for all times in response to the rejection of the Gospel. “Paul and Barnabas spoke out fearlessly, nonetheless; ‘The Word of God has to be declared to you first…; but since you reject it and thus convict yourselves as unworthy of everlasting life, we now turn to the Gentiles’.”

            The account tells us “The Gentiles were delighted…and responded to the Word of God with praise…Thus the Word of the Lord was carried throughout the area”. Rejection by some can mean a call to carry the Gospel to others. Many hear the Gospel because others have rejected it. Whose rejection has led to your acceptance?

Divine Mercy reflection #1520

“I have opened My Heart as a living fountain of mercy. Let all souls draw life from it. Let them approach this sea of mercy with great trust.”