A True Disciple Faces Rejection

14th Sunday, Year B, Church of Immaculate Conception, Dobi, FCT, 07.07.2024. Homily by Archbishop I.A.Kaigama.

Readings: Ezekiel 2:2-5; 2 Cor. 12: 7-10; Mark 6:1-6

A True Disciple Faces Rejection

Progressing by the grace of God is how I can describe your pastoral growth in Dobi. The outstation under St. Paul Parish Gwagwalada started in 2001 and by 2005 it had become a parish now with 17 outstations. The first and only time I was here since becoming the Archbishop of Abuja was to commission the church built by Dr. Mrs. Adaora Umeoji for a people who on their own would perhaps by now still be struggling with basic elements of the church foundation. I commend you for being a responsive and vibrant faith community with determination. Your efforts are already bearing much fruits. And with 130 confirmations today, the growth can be said to be remarkable.

When on the 29th of June we had the 3rd congress of the Indigenous populations in the Federal Capital Territory, with the Gbagyi, Koro, and Gwandara participating, I was so deeply touched and impressed with their eager response and the progress being made. The first Gbagyi priest died shortly after ordination. Now, we have one Gbagyi priest on active pastoral service. We have one Koro priest on postgraduate studies at CIWA, Port Harcourt. There are also 12 Gbagyi seminarians and five from the Koro tribe; there is an aspirant from the Gwandara tribe who has just been admitted to the spiritual year and will soon begin studies for the priesthood.

My dear people of Immaculate Conception Parish Dobi, we in the Archdiocese of Abuja look forward to having a rich harvest of priests, religious, and seminarians who are indigenes of the FCT. Kindly keep that intention in prayer; support those aspiring in your prayers and work with all the pastoral agents in the Archdiocese to achieve the mission of Christ to evangelize. You too must be involved.

Jesus Christ and Prophet Ezekiel in our readings today, though selflessly carrying out their duties of serving humanity, experienced rejection. St. Paul laments how persecution from the opposing side seems to have discouraged his zeal to work for God and His people. We, too, as we try to be good Christians and doing our part to evangelize, shall be faced with rejection and persecution. But because God’s work is never that of vanity, and His Word serves as consolation to those who are tempted to give up on the project of evangelization, Jesus declared that “Blessed are you when men persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account, rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in heaven” (Mt 5:11-12). St. Luke puts it this way: “Happy are you when people hate you, reject you, insult you, and say all kinds evil to you, all because of the Son of Man! Be glad when that happens and dance for joy, because a great reward is kept for you in heaven.” (6:21-23).

Instead of despairing, we are urged to be always ready for more persecutions will come, but if discomfort is the only way to salvation, then embracing it becomes the best option, as there is no crown without a cross. We should be firmly determined that nothing separates us from the love of God (cf. Rm 8:35).

So, God speaks to us today as He said to Ezekiel in our first reading: “Son of man, I am sending you to the rebels who have turned against me.” We are therefore called to be that voice that cries against injustice, oppression, immorality, corruption, malice, laziness, rejection, and ungodliness. By virtue of our baptism and confirmation, we are considered to be good Christians, mature in faith, and ready to serve, defend, and promote the kingdom of God.

When Jesus was about 30 years old, He left Nazareth and was traveling about preaching and working miracles of healing elsewhere. He once returned to His birthplace and started teaching in the Synagogue. His fellow citizens “were astonished” by his wisdom and knowing Him as “the son of Mary”, as the carpenter who had lived in their midst, instead of welcoming Him with faith, they were shocked and took offense (cf. Mk 6:2-3).

Jesus took as an example the experience of the prophets of Israel, who in their own homeland were an object of contempt, and identified Himself with them. Due to the people’s closed minds against Him, Jesus “could do no mighty work there [Nazareth], except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them” (Mk 6:5).

On the other hand, St. Paul In the second reading describes his burden for the sake of the gospel. This burden was like a thorn in his flesh which included “insults, hardships, persecutions, loneliness, and agonies.”

The Evangelist writes that the lack of trust and belief in Jesus in His native city caused Him to marvel “because of their unbelief” (Mk 6:6). There is also much rebellion in our time against God, against nature, against the divine institution (the Church), and the fabrics of our moral, social and cultural heritage. A true disciple or prophet of God must face rejection at one time or another. Some adversaries may even put believers to death thinking they are doing God a favour(cf. Jn 16:2).

I urge you the Parish priest, Fr. Joseph Olisa, your team of collaborators, the candidates for confirmation, and indeed all the parishioners of Immaculate Conception Parish, Dobi, to keep the flame of faith burning; shun whatever is not in accordance with the will of God and cast all your burdens, worries, challenges, etc unto Christ and find inner peace and rest in Him.

Today’s message is a powerful one to all of us who have experienced rejection and who feel they are at the margins of the society. It is also a message to the special people of Immaculate Conception Parish, Dobi, not to be discouraged. Even if those in authority think you may not be good enough for the good things of our modern society, Jesus would say, the world will only need to wait to see the marvelous things He will do for you and with you, and they will marvel, just like the people in today’s Gospel.

We shouldn’t be surprised if people reject us because we oppose destroying innocent lives through abortion or extrajudicial killing; when we speak out in defense of human rights; when they reject us because of our nationality or tribe or economic status, or simply because we are Catholics. This rejection may even come from family members. We shouldn’t be surprised when this happens. Jesus said this would happen (cf. Luke 12:53).

When such rejections occur, what do we do? How do we react to them? It is often easy for the rejected one to lose heart; to stop loving; to grow angry; to become bitter and resentful; to withdraw and be on his or her own. We must resist these temptations. It would only mean seeking the easy way out. But that is not what Christianity is all about.

We should courageously fulfill our prophetic callings even in the face of adversity. Our task is to endure obediently, ensuring that goodness prevails over evil, truth over falsehood, light over darkness, and peace over conflict. Jesus’ response to rejection teaches us how to handle rejection constructively by focusing on our calling and purpose rather than letting others dictate our self-worth.

May God strengthen us through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, as we carry out our prophetic obligations. Amen.