20250919 PURIFYING OUR MOTIVES FOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE
19 September 2025, Friday, 24th Week in Ordinary Time
First reading |
1 Timothy 6:2-12 |
We brought nothing into the world and can take nothing out of it
This is what you are to teach the brothers to believe and persuade them to do. Anyone who teaches anything different, and does not keep to the sound teaching which is that of our Lord Jesus Christ, the doctrine which is in accordance with true religion, is simply ignorant and must be full of self-conceit – with a craze for questioning everything and arguing about words. All that can come of this is jealousy, contention, abuse and wicked mistrust of one another; and unending disputes by people who are neither rational nor informed and imagine that religion is a way of making a profit. Religion, of course, does bring large profits, but only to those who are content with what they have. We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it; but as long as we have food and clothing, let us be content with that. People who long to be rich are a prey to temptation; they get trapped into all sorts of foolish and dangerous ambitions which eventually plunge them into ruin and destruction. ‘The love of money is the root of all evils’ and there are some who, pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith, and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds.
But, as a man dedicated to God, you must avoid all that. You must aim to be saintly and religious, filled with faith and love, patient and gentle. Fight the good fight of the faith and win for yourself the eternal life to which you were called when you made your profession and spoke up for the truth in front of many witnesses.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 48(49):6-10,17-20 |
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Why should I fear in evil days
the malice of the foes who surround me,
men who trust in their wealth,
and boast of the vastness of their riches?
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
For no man can buy his own ransom,
or pay a price to God for his life.
The ransom of his soul is beyond him.
He cannot buy life without end,
nor avoid coming to the grave.
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Then do not fear when a man grows rich,
when the glory of his house increases.
He takes nothing with him when he dies,
his glory does not follow him below.
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Though he flattered himself while he lived:
‘Men will praise me for all my success,’
yet he will go to join his fathers,
who will never see the light any more.
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Gospel Acclamation | Ps94:8 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Harden not your hearts today,
but listen to the voice of the Lord.
Alleluia!
Or: | Mt11:25 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father,
Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom
to mere children.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 8:1-3 |
The women who accompanied Jesus
Jesus made his way through towns and villages preaching, and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and several others who provided for them out of their own resources.
PURIFYING OUR MOTIVES FOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [1 Tim 6:2-12; Ps 49:6-10,17-20; Lk 8:1-3]
We are all called to Christian service in different ways. Some are called to serve in the Church full-time as priests, religious, or even lay workers. Others are called to serve as volunteers, leading ministries or organizations. Still others are called to serve Christ according to their vocation in life and in society–whether in public, civil, or corporate organizations. Regardless, we are all called to serve in holiness and to sanctify both our life and our work. However, there are certain expectations required of a Christian leader, particularly those who serve in the Church, though this does not exclude those who serve in society.
Above all, we must seek to be true to the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. St Paul advised Timothy, “Anyone who teaches anything different, and does not keep to the sound teaching which is that of our Lord Jesus Christ, the doctrine which is in accordance with true religion, is simply ignorant and must be full of self-conceit – with a craze for questioning everything and arguing about words.” There is a real danger that leaders today may compromise the Gospel to suit the whims and fancies of contemporary society. Instead of leading people to conversion of heart and mind to the Gospel of Christ, they propose all kinds of new theories, ideologies, and interpretations so as to appear progressive, liberated, and popular. This is why any Christian teacher, writer, or leader must ask whether their thoughts and ideas are truly in line with the values of the Gospel–or whether they have twisted Christ’s teaching to conform to the world. Many do this in order to seek popularity and acceptance rather than lead souls to Christ.
When we compromise the Gospel of our Lord, St Paul says “All that can come of this is jealousy, contention, abuse and wicked mistrust of one another; and unending disputes by people who are neither rational nor informed and imagine that religion is a way of making a profit.” Indeed, when preachers, teachers, and leaders are self-conceited, their goal is not so much to make Christ known and loved, but to promote themselves and gain followers. Instead of offering the light and wisdom of Christ, they make themselves the centre of attention. Using subtle arguments, they confuse people’s minds and lead them not to godliness but to worldliness. A true teacher brings unity and peace; a false one brings division, quarrels, and confusion. Such leaders lack charity and put others down. Such leaders are corrupt and spiritually sick. Those who advocate apostasy seek only to destroy the Church.
Among the greatest scandal and sin of religious leaders are pride and envy. Envy exists not only among clergy and religious but also among lay leaders in ministries and organisations. They speak with insolent pride and lack charity, especially toward those who disagree with them. They seek recognition and become envious if others are promoted or honoured above them. Competition among choirs, youth groups, or even those in humanitarian services often leads to disparaging remarks about rivals. Such jealousy and rivalry divide the Church and reveal that some are serving not to honour the Lord but to glorify themselves.
This explains why Paul reminds us that we must not use religion for personal gain. This refers not only to financial profit but also to worldly pursuits such as glory, power, honour, or influence. There is always a temptation to exploit the Church for selfish advantage. Pope Francis had repeatedly warned against “spiritual worldliness,” when clergy and laity alike serve the Church while chasing the very things the world pursues, only disguised in religious terms. When we use religion to enrich ourselves, or exploit Church resources to satisfy greed and pride, we betray the sincerity of our service. Like St. Paul, we may seek financial contributions only for the mission of the Church and for the poor–not to finance a lavish lifestyle. Thus, Paul warns: “People who long to be rich are a prey to temptation; they get trapped into all sorts of foolish and dangerous ambitions which eventually plunge them into ruin and destruction. ‘The love of money is the root of all evils,’ and there are some who, pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith, and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds.” Greed leads to other sins, bringing pain and sorrow. The desire for wealth is insatiable, rooted in insecurity, and it leaves one only more anxious, selfish, and restless.
In the final analysis, the true gain of religion, according to St Paul, is happiness found in authentic friendship and service among the people of God. Money and possessions cannot bring real joy; only true fellowship with God’s people can provide lasting satisfaction. Indeed, eternal life itself is nothing less than sharing in the love and life of God. Hence, St. Paul urges us to cultivate simplicity of lifestyle, contentment of heart, and love for our brothers and sisters: “Religion, of course, does bring large profits, but only to those who are content with what they have. We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it; but as long as we have food and clothing, let us be content with that.” Contentment does not depend on how much we possess but on our inner attitude toward life. It is not self-sufficiency, but rather the joy that comes from within, not from without. Great men and women have always been content with little because their joy comes not from material pleasures but from meaning, purpose, love, and personal relationships. The secret of happiness lies not in things but in people–above all, in our personal relationship with God, which is the supreme joy and happiness we can find in this world.
Today, we are called to reflect on the lives of the holy women of Jerusalem. We read in the gospel, “With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and several others who provided for them out of their own resources.” They came from different walks of life, yet each served the Lord according to her means. They were able to work together in harmony because they served the same Lord whom they loved. Out of gratitude for His love and compassion, they supported Him in His ministry without selfish motives.
We, too, must seek to serve the Lord out of love and gratitude to Him; not because we like to, or for recognition or attention. Sometimes, people serve in the Church for attention, glory and honour – the very things the world desires. We must serve the Lord purely for Him and for the people He loves. When we draw people to ourselves rather than to Him, we are making use of our status and position in the Church for our selfish interests. As John the Baptist says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (Jn 3:30) Indeed, the responsorial psalm reminds us, “How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Then do not fear when a man grows rich, when the glory of his house increases. He takes nothing with him when he dies, his glory does not follow him below. Though he flattered himself while he lived: ‘Men will praise me for all my success,’ yet he will go to join his fathers, who will never see the light anymore.” Following the words of St Paul, let us therefore, “aim to be saintly and religious, filled with faith and love, patient and gentle. Fight the good fight of the faith and win for yourself the eternal life to which you were called.”
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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