REJECTION

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Monday in the 3^rd Week of Lent  is, “Rejection.”

A question: “How well do I do with rejection?”

OTHERS

We all know people who have been rejected and they take a dive. They get depressed.  “How well do I do with rejections?”

The guy dumps the girl or vice versa. So and so gets fired. A friend is one of the 3 finalists for a job – and they don’t get it. Bummer.

Rejection is part of life – a tough reality at times – and it’s good if we can recover – and recover well.

I assume it would be helpful to jot down a few instances when we were rejected – hurt by another – not understood – “dissed” or what have you – and then to jot down how long we were “under the weather” or “down” as a result. I assume it would be helpful if we jotted down 3 things we did that helped. For example: I talked it out with someone. Or I found myself taking long walks. They really helped. Or I said to myself: “This is part of life!”

In thinking about this, I was thinking that teenage dating and teenage love has the advantage of  not lasting. Kids won’t know this when it happens. However if he or she learns – what it is to be rejected – they might toughen up for future hurtings. Hopefully they come up with tricks and sayings – on what to do on the rebound.

In March Madness only 1 team makes it.

In team sports, not everyone makes the team – and not everyone who makes the team – plays the game. That’s got to be tough at times.

In the major seminary, I was a manager in baseball. Looking back I don’t remember being that sensitive to those on the team who weren’t the starting  9 kids who played the game. I didn’t realize that at the time, but I’ve always resented being on the bench for a whole season while on Bay Ridge Robins. I only got in to play one out for the whole season. Bummer.

TODAY’S READINGS

The title of my homily is, “Rejected”. It got the thought when I noticed that today’s two readings have a few people who were rejected.

In the first reading - [2^nd Kings 5: 1-15] -  we begin with hearing about Naaman the Syrian – who gets leprosy – a sure path to rejection.

He goes down to Israel for a cure at the advice of a little girl – basically a slave captured in Israel – and servant of his wife – and asks the king of Israel to be cured.

Naaman is rejected by the king of Israel.

Elisha the prophet hears about what happened. He sends a message to the king to tell him to tell Naaman to come and see him. Naaman does and Elisha tells him to plunge himself into the Jordan 7 times.

This time Elisha is rejected.

Naaman’s servants plead him – telling him its no big deal. Do it.

He does it and is healed.

In today’s gospel [Luke 4: 24-30]  Jesus is rejected. They want to throw him off a cliff.

But Jesus rejects them and heads elsewhere.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “Rejection.”

It’s part of life.

The key is how we deal with rejections.

Today’s readings give two suggestions.

First of all: Dwell on the next, the future, and don’t get stuck in the past.

For example: Next! The person who is cut from a job ought to do all the things one can do to get another job. Write out the resumes. Check the newspapers for when and where job applications are happening. Read the book: Dress for Success. Wear the best for the job interview, etc. etc. etc.

For example: The person who has been dumped from a relationship. Talk to friends – who are very honest. Maybe find out characteristics that aren’t helpful. If one hopes for marriage partner, try good dating  dot coms – and see what one learns about oneself.

Secondly: Run! Sometimes the best advice is pick up the pieces and get away from disastrous situations and relationships – move on. If healthy run – like Forest Gum ran – after he discovered Jenny dumped him. Run Forest run!

For example: We can’t stand or understand someone who rejects us every time we meet them. They never look us in the eye. They are always eying everyone else in the room than us. They ignore us. Go up the down staircase as they say. Ignore those who ignore us. I know this is contrary to going the extra mile that Jesus talks about – but if there is no hope for improvement, run baby run........