26TH TUESDAY HOMILY OF ORDINARY TIME—YEAR B
26TH TUESDAY HOMILY OF ORDINARY TIME—YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: BE PREPARED TO BE OPPOSED
BY: Fr. Ernest Cross
James and John were shocked to learn of the rejection Jesus faced during His visit to a Samaritan town. The reason for this rejection was clear: Jesus and His apostles were Jews, and given the historical animosity between Jews and Samaritans, they were not welcomed in Samaria. Why, then, were James and John, along with possibly other disciples, surprised by such resolute opposition? Why were they so angry that they wanted to call down fire upon the Samaritans? It seems they had not prepared their missionary mindset for rejection and opposition. They may have thought that with Jesus’ fame and authority, He would be welcomed joyfully wherever He went. Perhaps they had even advertised Jesus as a miracle worker and healing Messiah to the town’s elders, hoping to ensure a warm reception. Yet, to their dismay, the townspeople adamantly refused to accept Him.
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Dear brothers and sisters, we must cultivate a strong mindset that accepts the reality of rejection. People will often reject us and our message of good news, regardless of how good we are to them. Today, despite the glorious deeds of missionaries in Africa, many still face recrimination from the very people they serve. Numerous villages in Africa and Asia continue to reject educational and healthcare projects initiated by the Church out of prejudice. Modern secularism in the Western world often ridicules and detests the name of Jesus, despite the Church’s significant contributions to development and civilization.
Should the Church be disgruntled and pray for the demise of its adversaries? No, for the Church understands that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces that originate in darkness (cf. Eph 6:12). Pope Francis reminds us that we must not fight people but rather confront the evil that inspires their actions. In times of opposition, we are called by God and His Church to pray against the evil spirits that incite transgressive behavior among the enemies of the Church. We should forgive their ignorance and arrogance and pray for their repentance. Vengeance belongs to God; the Church belongs to God. He created both you and your rejector, and in His providence and immanence, He will sort everything out, including our idiosyncrasies. We are all merely instruments in the hands of God.
God bless you.
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