Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion – March 24, 2024

03-24-2024Weekly ReflectionRev. Mark Hellinger

When I was leaving my very first priestly assignment as a young parochial vicar, I was, naturally enough, very sad. I was speaking to a brother priest who worked with me in the parish as the other parochial vicar, and, with the arrogance that can only come from inexperience said, “At least I know that, as I leave this parish, all the people really loved me.” My friend, older, with a few more years of priesthood under his belt, laughed hard and said, “No, no they didn’t! What, are you crazy? Not everyone loved you!” I was horrified! I was dismayed!

In truth, I was angry! I demanded to know what he meant! My brother priest simply stated: “You’re human; you have flaws, and you’re not everyone’s cup of tea! Some people don’t like the super-catechetical homilies that you gave! Some felt you paid no attention to the senior citizens and were always at the school! Don’t worry about it! 10% of the parish loves you and will remember you fondly. 10% of the parish will be happy you’re in a new assignment. 80% will really have no opinion whatsoever! They just love the sacraments and support their priests.”

As I mentioned, I was sad. Was I a failure? Did I not make a difference in the lives of my parishioners, even after five years of service as their parish priest? And, most of all, why didn’t everyone like me? After all, I’m a really great guy, aren’t I?

It has taken me many years, but I have come to the realization that, no matter what I do, no matter what I don’t do, not every single person whom I encounter will absolutely love and adore me! Even if I try to do every single thing right, even if I try to be a really super-nice guy to all, some people will not like me! Maybe I remind them of someone else! Perhaps I bring to mind a bully or a pest from elementary school. And, maybe, just maybe, it’s actually me; perhaps I can be annoying, obnoxious, unthinking, and hurtful, both unintentionally, and, in my sinful nature, intentionally. There can a million compliments given after a homily or a class for me, but the one critique given, that’s what I will remember! It’s all part of fallen human nature. It’s a simple fact — not everyone will always like me. And, sadly, if I’m honest with myself, there’s some people whom I encounter about whom I’m not too crazy, either!

The Lord Jesus, who is truly the only perfectly just man, and who is the only one worthy of adoration, predicts his rejection and ultimately His blessed Passion in the scripture passage we read from today in the Gospel of Mark. If the Lord Jesus, He who alone is perfect, can be not be accepted and loved by all, why should we, humble creatures, created in God’s image and likeness, but still, due to the Original Sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve, fallen, expect anything different?

For those of us who are ordained to service to God’s people, for those engaged in lay and religious apostolates of pastoral work, we want to be liked. Let’s face it, being liked helps bring people to Church and to the Lord Jesus. But it’s also nice to be liked; we also, even the most introverted among us, kind of liked being liked!

We should remember that, in humility, our job, our task, indeed the task of all Christians, is not about being liked and admired. It’s all about being good and just, being Christ to all whom we meet. It’s all about being, even when we are going to be considered obnoxious and going to be rejected, Christ. Our job, in spite of our flaws and failings, is to cultivate the peace of Christ to the world. Pray for that grace, in spite of our insecurities.