Do not fear rejection, says priest

PEOPLE must speak the truth, live an honest life and not fear rejection, a Catholic priest says.
Fr Jan Czuba, the former secretary of the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, said this during a recent NBC television and radio Sunday eucharist.
He said many people feared speaking the truth because they did not want to offend others and be rejected.
“God wants you and me to be His prophet, to be courageous and speak the truth,” he said.
“We should have and show in our families, communities and country the courage of our Christian convictions in our faith and in its practices even if we face hatred and rejection.”
Fr Jan gave the examples of the prophet Jeremiah in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament of men who faced rejection from their own people for speaking God’s Word and the truth.
He said Christians needed to face rejection with prophetic courage and optimism.
“Perhaps, we have experienced the pain of rejection, betrayal, negligence or abuse even from our close friends, or maybe family members when we reach out to them as God’s disciples with good intentions,” Fr Jan said.
“Perhaps, we ourselves are guilty of offering such rejection.”
“Let us learn to correct our mistakes and face rejection with courage.
“It is very important to see that if we want to be Christ’s disciples, we have to have courage to face the reality and to speak the truth.
“Let us not be like the people in Jesus’ town and reject God in our lives.
“We reject God when we refuse His help.
“We reject God when we refuse help from others whom He has sent.
“Sometimes, we refuse to recognise His presence in those who love us and those who care for us.”
Fr Jan said such unwillingness only prevented Christians from recognising God’s direction, help and support.
“We have to recognise that the Holy Spirit is working in us and is working in other people as well,” he said.
“We can have many friends in life, especially those who will come to tell us what we want to hear, but they do not have the courage to tell us the truth.
“True friendship is based on truth, we have to have the courage to accept if others come and share with us the truth.”