The Beauty of Rejection, The Beauty of Love

We all have a natural desire to be known and loved!  So when we encounter rejection from those who seem to know and love us, we feel the rejection in a very powerful way.  As I interact with many in their faith, rejection is the greatest fear I encounter.

So it might surprise you when I say, that there is actually beauty in rejection.  That which is our greatest fear, can be the very instrument in which we come to the Lord.  It was actually through rejection that I came to know the Lord in a very intimate way. Rejection??? Why not start with encountering the Lord through His Love?  Yes, I have encountered a fraction of God's infinite Love.  But I was really opened to His love in the midst of my brokenness and rejection.  Through rejection by those close to me: from family, to friends, to my missionary work, and I would argue, even my body has rejected me through various illnesses.  It was in the rejection I was forced to ask the greatest question: "IS THE LORD ENOUGH?"

In the midst of rejection, can we completely rely on the Lord ALONE? The answer to this question is a necessity for everyone.  In the short time I've been in my parish internship, I've found so many hurting from rejection.  Through illnesses that have taken loved ones, to those who are struggling to find work, to those in the nursing home who have been ignored by so many.  It's in their pain, my heart aches, but also beauty is seen.  For they continue to hold onto the Lord in a very powerful way.  Their holiness is incomparable!

I'm reminded of the Story of St. Therese of Lisieux, patroness to my missionary work with FOCUS, but more importantly patroness to all missionaries in the Church.  St. Therese was a cloistered Carmelite dedicating her life at the age of 15 solely to prayer and rejecting what the world had to offer.  She died at a very young age of 24. On her death bed, she overheard her religious sisters asking the question, "I wonder what Mother superior will say about this one?" Because of her illness at a young age, her religious sisters didn't see any of her contributions to the community or the Church. They did not see what the Lord had done in her life. She was rejected and even forgotten by the religious community she dedicated her life too beginning at the age of 15! St. Therese of Lisieux rejoiced in overhearing the conversation. She rejoiced in the rejection, because she knew that even though her religious sisters from her community had forgotten her, the Lord was holding her more closely! It didn't take long after her death, that her memoir/autobiography became renown and eventually St. Therese of Lisieux was canonized in the Church and raised by JPII declaring her as a Doctor of the Church and patroness to missionaries.

So the next time you encounter rejection, in whatever form, remind yourself that The Lord is enough!  Throw yourselves into the arms of The Lord and  I guarantee you that the rejection will never be much sweeter, for in the cross of the rejection, you will have been brought closer to resurrected Lord!