“BOOMERANG”
Matthew 9:35-10:23
The Rev. Ms. Laurie A. McNeill
Montclair, New Jersey
June 12, 2005
Acceptance and rejection. We never know how we will be received. We do not know
whether our gifts will be prized or trivialized. When we make an offering of ourselves or our talents, our
efforts will be valued or refused.
Because we cannot control the response of the ones whom we approach, careful attention
should be placed on what we have to offer. When we extend a gift, we ought to bear in mind that
something may happen, the gift may be refused; thus, we ought to bear gifts that we, ourselves, would
desire to keep. Likewise, when we extend a part of ourselves to someone else, we ought to do so with
the possibility that the way we treat someone else is the way we may be treated, in turn.
Such is the nature of extending gestures. Each time we place ourselves or our talents before
others, we are to be prepared for acceptance or rejection.
The brutal impact of rejection is well described in the story of Cain and Abel. Located in the 4th
chapter of Genesis, their story deals with the despair of the one who is denied acceptance.
Cain and Abel, brothers, bring an offering before God.
Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground.
In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the
fruit of the ground, and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings
of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel
and his offering, but for Cain and his offering the Lord had no regard.
(Genesis 4:2b-5a)
Brothers bring an offering before God. One is accepted. One is rejected. No reason is given for the
distinction made between the two. We simply are told that “the Lord had regard for Abel and his
offering, but for Cain and his offering [God] had no regard.”
The reaction of Cain is visible. “So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.”
(Genesis 4:5b) God immediately recognizes the disappointment of Cain for the rejection of his offering.
Yet God does not understand why Cain remains crushed with disappointment. God expects Cain to
move on with his day, to move on with his life. God does not want Cain to get bogged down in
discouragement.
The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has
your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted?
And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for
you, but you must master it. (Genesis 4:5b-7)
It is as if God is conceding that just because on offering is rejected does not mean that God rejects the
one extending the offering. God cannot fathom Cain’s anger and gloomy disposition. Cain is capable of
persevering beyond his anger. God knows that Cain will experience acceptance in the future. He
 |
 |
 |