Following Jesus includes being rejected as he was. This is not a pleasant thought, for we all from the depths of our being wish to be accepted. It's a more acute longing when we are expending all of our energy, time and talent to living as Jesus did (as best we can) and yet, not only seem to have no effect on others, but are ridiculed and rejected. St. Marcellin suffered much at the hands of fellow priests who berated his lack of education, his "farm boy" upbringing, his work ethic, and labeled him unfit to be a priest, least of all the founder of a congregation of teaching brothers. Yet, utilizing his strong will, stubborness, if you will, he stuck to what he sensed to be God's call and two hundred years later, the fruits of his efforts continue to reach thousands of students and inspire countless others to adhere to his simple spirituality of imitating Jesus and Mary.
The parable of the landowner (Mt 21:33-43, 45-46) foreshadowed the fate of Jesus and speaks loudly today to us of our own "fate" as his disciples, as well as to those who reject him and us, for the rejection continues to this day. May we be among those who accept Jesus and follow him despite the opposition we receive.
Bro. Rene
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