Rejection and failure are facts of our existence.
As Christians we are sent into the world to preach the message of the Gospel, the message of Christ. We have each been given different gifts to accomplish this. We are taught to reflect Christ to such a degree that it is no longer we who live but Christ who lives in us. A properly formed Christian will preach Christ in all his words and actions; he will always work in a way that reflects the message.
To a Christian who has discovered his true vocation there is no separation between himself, his work, and his mission.
When we encounter rejection it is natural to consider that we have failed in our mission to convey the Truth. It is our responsibility to develop our talents to the highest degree. Our gifts are merely a starting point. It is our obligation to learn and study and expand upon our gifts a hundred times over. We cannot let rejection settle into our hearts, for then we allow ourselves to be content with less than we are capable of. Rejection is simply a way to let us know we still have work to do.
Even so, after we have studied, and trained, and practiced, and developed our gifts to their fullness, we may still encounter rejection from people who reject the message and the messenger. And in that case God has told us what to do, shake the dust from our feet, and move on.
Pax Vobiscum
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time