Saturday of the 4th Week of Easter
Acts 13:44-52 | Psalm 97:1-4 | John 14:7-14
The Jews […] stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. (Acts 13:50-51)
Jesus certainly foresaw that His disciples would encounter difficulties in their evangelical journeys. His command to “shake the dust from your feet” where welcome was wanting appears no less than four times in the Synoptic Gospels, twice in Luke alone. As far as I can tell, the Bible only records this one instance of the disciples doing so, here in Pisidian Antioch.
I believe Jesus was saying, in effect: “I know My message will be difficult to swallow for many people, so don’t beat yourselves senseless against such walls of stone. Share My Gospel with everyone you meet as I have commanded you; if they do not accept it, you have done your duty. As you move on, leave them firmly behind, for they are dust, and to dust they shall return (Genesis 3:19). Sodom and Gomorrah will be child’s play compared to the suffering they will endure for their rejection (Matthew 10:15).”
Many of us probably carry some measure of regret, of not being able to convince a loved one to stop self-destructing, or a colleague who lost valuable data by ignoring our pleas to back up regularly, or a lapsed Catholic who refused our entreaties to return to Holy Mother Church. I believe the Lord would say: “Good and faithful servant, you have done your duty both to Me and your fellow men. What happens next is no longer your responsibility; lay down your burden and let Me handle the rest.”
A good deed rebuffed is one of the hardest things to dismiss from our consciousness, but we need to let go of our present “entanglements”, so that we can help others in need who are more welcoming.
Lord, You commanded us to love one another as You have loved us, but when our love is unrequited, give us the strength and courage to let go and move on, so that we can share Your love with others who would accept it and share it in their turn, so as to grow your kingdom here on earth. Amen.