HANDLING REJECTION! ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Tuesday, 3^rdOctober 2017,

Twenty Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Zech 8: 20-23;

Ps 86: 1-7;

Lk 9: 51-56

HANDLING REJECTION!

Luke’s Gospel reminds us that just because people don’t meet our expectations, we should not condemn them. God created all of us as unique individuals who have unique roles to play in life. The Samaritan village were not to be the people holding a reception for Jesus; another village was to take on that role. We can’t get discouraged when life “appears to not go our way” - rather we need to stay in relationship with God and trust that each event happens for a reason. We need to be people with prayerful hope who do not incite fear but rather trust that God will lead us to our destinations.

James and John, wanted to curse the Samaritan village for not having being welcoming, for they were hurt by the rejection. Rejection and other forms of hurt caused by others can be difficult to let go of. It can easily sit within our hearts, acting like a mold that slowly grows and takes over. When this happens, we have a very hard time forgiving and letting go of the hurt. The best way to approach the hurt caused by another is to immediately act as our Lord did. It must be let go of right away and we must move on. God is the only one to issue vengeance, not us. When we fail to do this and harbor the hurt feelings, they ultimately do us more harm than anyone else.

Reflect, today, upon any feelings of anger or hurt that you still harbor in your heart. Make the conscious choice to forgive and move on. Forgiving does not mean that you act as if the hurt caused you was okay. On the contrary, an act of forgiving another is also an acknowledgment that there was wrongdoing. Forgiveness allows you to keep that hurt from doing you more unnecessary damage. In the end, it is also an open invitation to the other to repent and reconcile with you. Leave vengeance and wrath to the Lord and seek to keep your heart at peace.

Prayer: Lord, I pray for the grace to forgive. I especially forgive those who have hurt me the most and offer them to You. I love You, dear Lord. Help me to love others as You love. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.