It's bad enough to be rejected, but it is even worse to be rejected by those who had accepted us. "If an enemy had reviled me, I could have borne it; if he who hates me had vaunted himself against me, I might have hidden from him. But you, my other self, my companion and bosom friend! You, whose comradeship I enjoyed; at whose side I walked in procession in the house of God!" (Ps 55:13-15) It is the very worst to be rejected by Christian spouses or by our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Jesus was and is rejected by those He created and died for. By our sins, we continue to crucify Him and hold Him up to contempt (Heb 6:6). Jesus, Who never rejected anyone (Jn 6:37), is the most rejected of all people (see Jn 10:31). He will grace us to stop rejecting Him and to forgive all those who have rejected us and may continue to do so.

On the first day of Easter, we will be challenged to reject Satan and all his works. This includes rejecting unforgiveness and vengeance towards all who have sinned against us. If we respond to being rejected by likewise rejecting those who have rejected us, then we are not rejecting Satan and His works. Then we are not living our baptismal promises and are thereby rejecting Jesus. Forgive! Reject Satan, not Jesus!

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Giles H. Pater, October 17, 2002

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 21, 2002