Monday, March 24, 2014

Monday, March 24, 2014

Today's Word:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032414.cfm

In today’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims that “no prophet is accepted in his own native place.” Imagine how a prophet feels rejected by his own people. Even more so since he lived in community with them and sincerely believed that his message was worth sharing. Indeed, rejection hurts the body and soul. Now imagine we are this prophet’s reluctant audience who selfishly prefers to hear what we want to hear, not what we need to hear. Finally, imagine the true prophet Jesus who was rejected and crucified by those He deeply loved. Rather than reject His detractors, Jesus teaches us a lesson that is difficult to embrace – the message of accepting, loving, and forgiving – once we rise above the self-absorbed rubble that is ourselves.

The ancient philosopher Socrates taught there are three types of people. The ignorant person does not know he does not know. The arrogant person does not know but thinks he knows. The wise person knows he does not know everything. He is wise because he possesses humility – an openness to listen and recognize that no one, including himself, has a monopoly on knowledge. For the Christian, this humility is expressed in acceptance, love, and forgiveness. Think about it. To forgive someone is to love her even more since we consider her worthy of reconciliation again and again. And let us not forget to forgive ourselves, for Jesus teaches that we are that worthy person, too.


Recall the prayer of St. Leo the Great (one that Sr. Monica Kevin shares in her Fordham Christmas cards): “For unless, in humility, He had come down to us, none of us, by our own merits, could ever go up to Him.” Amen to that.

Robert J. Parmach, Ph.D                                                                                                   
Freshman Dean, FCRH

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