Before I heeded the call of Jesus to enter the seminary, I also explored the world of politics. I ran as Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman and successfully got the position. Further, I ran as a Sangguniang Barangay member and won the office. However, when I tried to serve the people through the office of the Barangay Chairman, I lost the election and failed to make it. I was so disappointed at that time and felt that I was rejected, dismissed, and embarrassed by my constituents. It took me several months to move on with the election.

In today’s gospel, Jesus went home to preach at the synagogues of Nazareth. However, he was rejected by his own townmates. As a result, he did not perform any miracles in his own hometown.

As a priest-in-process, the Gospel challenges me to see rejection as an opportunity to re-examine the direction in which I am heading. I realized that if I won that election, I would probably not be able to answer the call of God. The pain we face as sinful human beings in life cannot be compared with all the rejection that Christ experienced. The Lord willingly suffered them because of his great love for us. The rejections we experience should also make us more determined to treat others with love and respect. God has our good in mind, even in the rejections we encounter. As a priest-in-process, I must consider the rejections of this life as God’s redirection.

By: Sem. Arjay A. Ligamzon

Gospel: Luke 4:24-30

Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth:
“Amen, I say to you,
no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel
in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel
during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill
on which their town had been built,
to hurl him down headlong.
But he passed through the midst of them and went away.