By Whom Are We Rejected and Accepted?

Prayer-Soldier

By Whom Are We Rejected and Accepted?

Scripture:

And Amasias said to Amos: You seer, go, flee away into the land of Juda: and eat bread there, and prophesy there. But prophesy not again any more in Bethel: because it is the king' s sanctuary, and it is the house of the kingdom. And Amos answered and said to Amasias: I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet: but I am a herdsman plucking wild figs. And the Lord took me when I followed the flock, and the Lord said to me: Go, prophesy to my people Israel. (Amos 7:12-15)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ: As he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and unspotted in his sight in charity. Who has predestinated us unto the adoption of children through Jesus Christ unto himself: according to the purpose of his will:

Unto the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he has graced us in his beloved son. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins, according to the riches of his grace, which has super abounded in us in all wisdom and prudence, that he might make known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he has purposed in him, in the dispensation of the fullness of times, to re-establish all things in Christ, that are in heaven and on earth, in him.

In whom we also are called by lot, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. That we may be unto the praise of his glory, we who before hoped Christ: In whom you also, after you had heard the word of truth, (the gospel of your salvation;) in whom also believing, you were signed with the holy Spirit of promise, who is the pledge of our inheritance, unto the redemption of acquisition, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:3-14)

And he called the twelve; and began to send them two and two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. And he commanded them that they should take nothing for the way, but a staff only: no scrip, no bread, nor money in their purse, but to be shod with sandals, and that they should not put on two coats. And he said to them: Wheresoever you shall enter into an house, there abide till you depart from that place. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you; going forth from thence, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony to them. And going forth they preached that men should do penance: And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. (Mark 6:7-13)

Reflection:

Do we ever fear being rejected because of our faith? As others speak and share their political views, do we shrink so we do not need to speak? Do we temper what we say so that others do not take notice of what it is we believe? Do we remain silent as others speak in what they profess to be politically correct terms?

There is a time to speak and there is a time to remain silent. We do not need to hand over our lives needlessly, but, neither should we remain silent when we are in position to express the blessings of His truth. It is partially for this reason we must be knowledgeable as to what our faith means, not just so we may practice it, but so we may share with those who are blinded by the world. It is through His faithful His truth is spread, but we can only do so if we study His Word, learn from His church, and seek the Holy Spirit to guide our speech.

If we are uncertain as to what we should say to those who speak against the wisdom of His Word, we may pray to the Holy Spirit to guide us. As we invite Him within our hearts, He will remind us of everything Jesus taught us (John 14:26). While others may seek to speak by what they perceive to be the lessons of the world, we should seek to speak the truth as revealed to us by the One who created the world.

If our speech is faithful to His Word and draws rejection, we should not worry, for our rejection shall place us in good company. Should we remain silent or temper our speech to be accepted by the world, we should worry, for we must consider who it is we ourselves reject as we seek the acceptance of the world.

If we are the receivers of good news, do we not desire to share it? How is it, then, we are reserved in sharing the blessings of the promise made to us from the cross? We might wonder, when we are faced with those of the world, who is it really who seeks to silence us? Who is it really who says to us, that we may not speak here or there, or that the words of our faith are words of hate when the truth is His Word is the Word of love?

If we receive His Word, it is so that we may share it; not to oppress, but to free from the ravages of sin; not to intimidate, but to invite to His table; not to shame, but to reveal a better way. We do not receive His Word so that it may be held in secret, but so that we may share of it freely so that all may be invited to share in His blessings. We must always be prepared to share the reason of our hope and we must be able to share it with the same love it was given by Him to us (1 Peter 3:15-16). It is through the sharing of His truth that those in the darkness may receive the hope and blessings of His Word. As we were blessed by those who revealed His light to us, we should not leave behind those who remain in the darkness because of their ignorance of His Holy Word.

We might be tempted to say, we were not called to speak, we were not given the gift, we have not been ordained to teach. It is true, we should be careful that we do not become wise in our own estimation or that we become the source of heresies, but we still should not fear to testify to His truth, for we testify more by what we do than what we say. If we are asked by what we are guided, we should not fear expressing by what Word we live. As we reveal this to others, we should pray that they will find the same hope and love as we.

As we live by the truth of His Word, we testify to His blessings. As we receive His light, we should seek for His light to be seen through us. It is when we compromise with the world so that we may be accepted by the world that His light becomes hidden so it will not be seen by those who need to see. Let us, then, live by His light so we might also extend our hands to help those who do not know the light and may be otherwise deceived to remain in the darkness.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier