Fourth Sunday of Easter
The study of Church history often reveals that second best was not so bad after all. The recent movie on Francis Cabrini tells the story of someone who was rejected by one congregation, had her plans changed by a pope but then went on to create one of the most incredible systems of health care resources in the United States. The cards, as they say, were not dealt in her favor; a religious women of Italian descent butting heads against Catholic prejudice, Italian prejudice, and prejudice against women. The Jesuits have their own story to tell Francis Xavier was not Ignatius's first choice to go off to Asia and now is considered the co-patron of the Missions along with St. Teresa of Lisieux, a woman whose fame and importance hardly rests on her ability to establish multinational cooperations. The Jesuit José Anchieta had such frail health that everyone wondered if he would make it to the next meal. His missionary work in Brazil would strain the forces of a dozen strong Jesuits. The reading today recalls that “the stone rejected will be the cornerstone” a recall of the theme prevalent in the gospels. In the gospels we read how the Kingdom of God is like a grain of wheat, a mustard seed, a bit of yeast, not something large. All this should be of some comfort to us knowing that at times we don’t think we have much to offer in advancing the Kingdom of Christ.