It is told that a Hindu philosopher taught his students that all suffering and evil are illusions.

One day some of his students decided to test their teacher’s true belief on the subject. So, they set a wild elephant loose in the garden where their teacher was strolling and meditating. When he saw the wild elephant bearing down on him, he ran to the nearest tree, scampered his way up to the very top in order to avoid danger.               

Later, the students chased the wild elephant from the garden. When their teacher came down from the tree, one of the students said, “Respectfully, sir, if suffering and evil are all illusions, why did you run from the wild elephant?” To which the teacher replied, “What elephant?”

Wild elephant experiences are those times of distress you face with apprehension and fear. They come to everyone and you cannot pretend that they don’t.

A survey says the three greatest fears are failure in all its forms, loneliness, and death. Fear of failure overwhelms many people, causing them to live as though they don’t have the potential to change, grow and develop. Failure is communicated through rejection; when your efforts are rejected (“That wasn’t good enough.”), when you are rejected (“You can’t do anything right.”).

Fear of failure can cause you to question and analyze yourself in a negative and destructive manner. You tend to view yourself differently and put yourself down, which can lead to behavior which leads to more rejection.

Sunday’s Gospel account of Jesus preaching in his home territory demonstrates that Jesus was not always blessed with success and positive responses to the Gospel message. But, in the experience of rejection, Jesus’ reaction is not to give up in disgust or irritation; his response is to persevere even though “they took offense at him. He was not able to work any mighty deed there...he was amazed at their lack of faith.” Even though rejected, Jesus still attempted to bring light and hope to the few people who believed.

Caught in the fear of failure and rejection, people can easily be tempted to avoid the tough problems because they think they are too big ... “What can I do?” What you are called by Jesus to do is to persevere.

In daily life each of us is sent by God to proclaim the Gospel even though there will be some who persistently and consistently refuse to hear the Gospel. In the end, it is God who is rejected or accepted.

The Gospel message is taught by the attitudes you show others at home ... at work ... at social events ... in school where you may face rejection. Everyone is responsible for what he or she does  or doesn’t do.

In those kinds of situations Ezekiel states, “As the Lord spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet.” In other words, “My grace is sufficient for you. You and I carry this burden together.”

It is the presence of a loving and sustaining God who sees you through each day, no matter what the day brings.

St. Augustine once wrote, “I am afraid of Jesus’ passing (Timeo Jesum transeuntem). He might, in fact pass without my realizing it, pass without my being ready to receive him.”

His passing is always a passing of grace.

God’s grace is always enough to set you on your feet to do what is right.