FINDING PEACE THROUGH FAITH AND FORGIVENESS

20250117 FINDING PEACE THROUGH FAITH AND FORGIVENESS

 

First reading

Hebrews 4:1-5,11

None of you has come too late for God's promise

Be careful: the promise of reaching the place of rest that God had for the Israelites still holds good, and none of you must think that he has come too late for it. We received the Good News exactly as they did; but hearing the message did them no good because they did not share the faith of those who listened. We, however, who have faith, shall reach a place of rest, as in the text: And so, in anger, I swore that not one would reach the place of rest I had for them. God’s work was undoubtedly all finished at the beginning of the world; as one text says, referring to the seventh day: After all his work God rested on the seventh day. The text we are considering says: They shall not reach the place of rest I had for them.We must therefore do everything we can to reach this place of rest, or some of you might copy this example of disobedience and be lost.

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 77(78):3-4,6-8

Never forget the deeds of the Lord.

The things we have heard and understood,

  the things our fathers have told us,

these we will not hide from their children

  but will tell them to the next generation:

the glories of the Lord and his might

  and the marvellous deeds he has done.

Never forget the deeds of the Lord.

They too should arise and tell their sons

  that they too should set their hope in God

and never forget God’s deeds

  but keep every one of his commands.

Never forget the deeds of the Lord.

So that they might not be like their fathers,

  a defiant and rebellious race,

a race whose heart was fickle,

  whose spirit was unfaithful to God.

Never forget the deeds of the Lord.

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Gospel Acclamation

cf.Ep1:17,18

Alleluia, alleluia!

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

enlighten the eyes of our mind,

so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.

Alleluia!

Or:

Lk7:16

Alleluia, alleluia!

A great prophet has appeared among us;

God has visited his people.

Alleluia!

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Gospel

Mark 2:1-12

The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, word went round that he was back; and so many people collected that there was no room left, even in front of the door. He was preaching the word to them when some people came bringing him a paralytic carried by four men, but as the crowd made it impossible to get the man to him, they stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was; and when they had made an opening, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some scribes were sitting there, and they thought to themselves, ‘How can this man talk like that? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God?’ Jesus, inwardly aware that this was what they were thinking, said to them, ‘Why do you have these thoughts in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven” or to say, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he turned to the paralytic – ‘I order you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go off home.’ And the man got up, picked up his stretcher at once and walked out in front of everyone, so that they were all astounded and praised God saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this.’

 

 

17 January 2025, Friday, 1st Week in Ordinary Time

FINDING PEACE THROUGH FAITH AND FORGIVENESS

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SCRIPTURE READINGS: [HEB 4:1-5, 11; PS 77(78):3-4, 6-8; MARK 2:1-12]

Just like the Israelites during the time of Moses, we are all looking for a place of rest.  For them, they were seeking physical rest because they had been wondering in the desert for forty years, living in uncertainty over their food and defending themselves from the attacks of their enemies.  Our desire for rest is more than physical rest.  It is the desire for peace, love, joy and unity within our hearts and with our fellowmen, and most of all, with God.  Indeed, like the man in the gospel who was paralyzed by his lack of faith in God and his sins, we too are paralyzed by our past and the fear of the future.

If we have no peace, it is because of the lack of faith in God, which leads us to sin.  This is what Hebrews wants us to learn from the Israelites.  The author says, “Be careful: the promise of reaching the place of rest God had for the Israelites still holds good, and none of you must think that he has come too late for it. We received the Good News exactly as they did; but hearing the message did them no good because they did not share the faith of those who listened.”  It was because they lacked faith in God’s promise and divine providence that they began to take things into their own hands, disobey His will and choose their own path to happiness.  Because of our disobedience due to the lack of faith in God, we too refuse to listen to God and His Word.  In choosing our own foolish ways, we fall into sin.  Hence, the author urges the Christians and us as well, “We must therefore do everything we can to reach this place of rest, or some of you might copy this example of disobedience and be lost.”

The paralyzed man in the gospel was suffering from the effects of disobedience and sin.  He could not forgive his past mistakes.  Hence, he could not move forward in life.  He was wallowing in his past.  The stretcher that he laid on was his security.  Besides indulging in self-pity, as many of us do when we are suffering because of our mistakes and folly, he was seeking pity.  Because of his past failures, he lacked the confidence to face the future.  This is true for us too.  Imprisoned by our past and our shame, we have lost our self-esteem and pride.  That is why criminals and ex-offenders are fearful of returning to society to start a new life again because they are ashamed of their past and afraid that their past might be revealed.

Jesus, being the Son of Man and the Son of God, understands the struggles of humanity more than any one of us do.  He knows what it means to be tempted and to live a life of faith.  He too was tempted by Satan in the desert and throughout His ministry, especially at the Garden of Gethsemane.  That is why the author also affirms that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  (Heb 4:15f)

As the Compassionate High Priest, Jesus turned to the paralyzed man, aware of his deepest needs, and said to him with tenderness and love, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”  How beautiful the words of Jesus!  Those were sweet words of assurance and reminder to him that he was a child of God even though he thought that God no longer treated him as His child.  He thought that his physical illness was God’s punishment and rejection of him for his grievous sins.  However, the Lord assured him that God had forgiven his sins and that he was truly the child of God. We can imagine the joy and peace in his heart, for he had been set free from his past.  He could now find the strength to start his life all over again because his past no longer had a crippling effect on him.  He was ready to take up his stretcher and walk straight with the dignity of his state as a child of God.

Indeed, his sins were truly forgiven.  If anyone has doubts as to whether Christ can forgive our sins, as the scribes did, “How can this man talk like that? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins by God?” Jesus says, “Why do you have these thoughts in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your stretcher and walk’? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, he said to the paralytic – ‘I order you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go off home.'”   The fact that his sins were forgiven was proven by the fact that he was healed of his paralysis.  Since the Jews believed that physical ailment was the effect of sins, the healing is likewise a confirmation that his sins were truly forgiven.

Indeed, the sign of forgiveness is not just physical healing but when we are free to be God’s children again.  When we experience freedom in loving, in serving and in living out our dignity as the children of God, we know that we are redeemed.  When we are no longer ashamed of our past but can give thanks to God for all that we went through, our sins and our mistakes; and seeing them as grace at work in our moments of disgrace, then we know we are healed and forgiven.  If we think we are forgiven but lack the courage to speak about our past, or when we think of the past and we are still grieving and not celebrating, it means that we have not experienced real forgiveness from the Lord simply because we cannot forgive ourselves or do not truly claim His forgiveness for us.

In our brokenness and in our pain, we too must come to Jesus first for spiritual healing.  Often, people seek only physical healing when the cause of their physical suffering springs from emotional, psychological and spiritual pain.  Before any effective physical or even emotional and psychological healing can take place, we need to be healed spiritually through the forgiveness of our sins.   It is the past unpleasant and wounded memories that make us prisoners of ourselves and others.  We should turn to Jesus for forgiveness before we can begin the process of healing ourselves physically and emotionally.  Until we acknowledge our sins and ask for forgiveness, we cannot let go of our shame, of our mistakes and those who have hurt us.

The Church has given us the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Healing.  In this sacrament, the priest acts like the four men in today’s gospel who brought the paralyzed man to see the Lord.  The priest as a mediator of God’s mercy and forgiveness has the task of inspiring faith in the sinner who has lost confidence in himself, in others and even in God.  Just as the Lord healed the paralyzed man on account of the faith of his four friends, the Lord today heals sinners and penitents through the assuring words of healing and forgiveness spoken by the confessor.   We should make full use of this Sacrament for our spiritual healing so that God can work effectively in healing us of our physical and emotional suffering.  If not, our lack of forgiveness, whether of ourselves or of others, will hinder the grace of God from touching our hearts and minds.

Not only the priest, but all of us can act as intermediaries in offering healing and forgiveness to one another.  Like the four men in the gospel, we must find all ways to bridge the gap between the sinner and God.  Like them, we must be creative in reaching out to sinners, lapsed Catholics and those who have left the Church because they were wounded by their own sins and the sins of others.  We must never give up on sinners, just as the four friends of the paralyzed man did not give up on him.  When they saw the crowd gathering round Jesus, they could have given up because it would have been very difficult to carry the paralyzed man to the Lord.  But because they had compassion for their friend and faith in the Lord, they were resourceful.  “They stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was; and when they had made an opening, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay.”  How much initiative and zeal do we have in seeking to reach out to sinners and lapsed Catholics?  Do we give up easily when they do not respond to our invitation?  Let us restore creation back to its original plan.  This is what Hebrews meant when he wrote that God’s work was completed on the Sabbath, the day of rest.  We too must do everything so that we all “can to reach this place of rest.”

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Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved. 

 

HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS WHEN YOU HEAR THE VOICE OF THE LORD

20250116 HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS WHEN YOU HEAR THE VOICE OF THE LORD

 

First reading

Hebrews 3:7-14

Keep encouraging one another

The Holy Spirit says: If only you would listen to him today; do not harden your hearts, as happened in the Rebellion, on the Day of Temptation in the wilderness, when your ancestors challenged me and tested me, though they had seen what I could do for forty years. That was why I was angry with that generation and said: How unreliable these people who refuse to grasp my ways! And so, in anger, I swore that not one would reach the place of rest I had for them. Take care, brothers, that there is not in any one of your community a wicked mind, so unbelieving as to turn away from the living God. Every day, as long as this ‘today’ lasts, keep encouraging one another so that none of you is hardened by the lure of sin, because we shall remain co-heirs with Christ only if we keep a grasp on our first confidence right to the end.

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 94(95):6-11

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

Come in; let us bow and bend low;

  let us kneel before the God who made us:

for he is our God and we

  the people who belong to his pasture,

  the flock that is led by his hand.

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

O that today you would listen to his voice!

  ‘Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,

  as on that day at Massah in the desert

when your fathers put me to the test;

  when they tried me, though they saw my work.

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

For forty years I was wearied of these people

  and I said: “Their hearts are astray,

  these people do not know my ways.”

Then I took an oath in my anger:

  “Never shall they enter my rest.”’

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

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Gospel Acclamation

Ps118:88

Alleluia, alleluia!

Because of your love give me life,

and I will do your will.

Alleluia!

Or:

cf.Mt4:23

Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom

and cured all kinds of sickness among the people.

Alleluia!

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Gospel

Mark 1:40-45

The leprosy left the man at once, and he was cured

A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.’ The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.

 

 

16 January 2025, Thursday, 1st Week in Ordinary Time

HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS WHEN YOU HEAR THE VOICE OF THE LORD

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SCRIPTURE READINGS: [HEB 3:7-14; PSALM 95:6-11; MK 1:40-45]

What does it mean to sin?  The author describes sin in terms of rebellion and disobedience taken from a quotation in Psalm 95:7-11.  “The Holy Spirit says:  If only you would listen to him today; do not harden your hearts, as happened in the Rebellion, on the Day of Temptation in the wilderness, when your ancestors challenged me and tested me, though they had seen what I could do for forty years.”  It is a reference to the Israelites who continued to test God and rebel against Him when they were on their journey from Egypt through the desert to the Promised Land.  In spite of the many signs and wonders that the Lord had done for them in Egypt through Moses; saving them from the pursuit of the Egyptian Army by separating the waters in the Red Sea for them to cross dry-shod, and guiding and protecting them by day and night via a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire.  And when they did not have water or bread, and even meat, the Lord provided them water from a rock, manna from heaven and even sent a wind to bring quails from the sea and let them fall around the Israelites’ camp.

What is inexcusable is that in spite of all these signs, the people did not repent.  They refused to trust in the Lord and listen to His commands through Moses, His servant. They kept on doubting the love and power of God.  Indeed, their hearts were hardened.  And so the Lord said, “That was why I was angry with that generation and said: How unreliable these people who refuse to grasp my ways!  And so, in anger, I swore that not one would reach the place of rest I had for them.”  Further on, the author asked, “Now who were they who heard and yet were rebellious? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses? But with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?  And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who were disobedient?”  (Heb 3:16-18)

What is said of the Israelites could also be said of us as well.  Very often, we take for granted the blessings we receive from God.  In His mercy and grace, He has blessed us with a good job, good salary, a good spouse and obedient children.  We have good health and good friends.  Unfortunately, after some time, we forget that what we have is through God’s mercy and generosity.  We not only take them for granted but we abuse the position we have been given in our work or the resources we have.  Instead of using them for the service of others, we use them for evil, for ill-gotten gains, or to manipulate the lives of others.  We forget about God in life and no longer depend on Him.  But the price we have to pay would be immense.  And it might cause us to lose everything we have – our job, our family and our health.

So the author is giving his readers, and us, a warning.  He had just proven the unique supremacy of Jesus’ priesthood.  Accordingly, because Jesus is so unique we must render Him complete trust and obedience.  But if we harden our hearts and refuse to render Him the obedience and trust, we will have to face the terrible consequences of our decision.  Like the people of Israel, we will not be able to enter the Promised Land. There will be no rest, not just physical rest and rest for the soul.  We will be unsettled, disturbed, unhappy and guilty.  Hence, he said, “Take care, brothers, that there is not in any one of your community a wicked mind, so unbelieving as to turn away from the living God.”

What is equally important for us all, as the author reminds us, is that we all have a responsibility towards each other.  It is not only for the individual to strive to listen to the voice of the Lord but as a community, we must support each other in faith.  So long as we are still alive, we can be saved.  No one is condemned if he repents.  So long as there is hope, “Every day, as long as this ‘today’ lasts, keep encouraging one another so that none of you is hardened by the lure of sin, because we shall remain co-heirs with Christ only if we keep a grasp on our first confidence right to the end.”  We must help each other to overcome the deceitfulness of sin.  The lure of sin promises us happiness but it only leads us to perdition.  We must be careful not to be deceived by the tempting offers of sin.  We must never give up hope for those who have been led astray by sin.  As long as the person is still alive, we must call the person to repentance, to pray for him and help him to soften his heart to the voice of God, to remove his pride and accept the Word of God as truth.  Otherwise, we will lose the blessings promised to us as our forefathers did.

Most of all, the author tells us that we must remember the hope we received at the very beginning of our spiritual life.  We must not lose focus or the hope that we had received. In the letter to the Hebrews, the author exhorts his readers, “let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”  (Heb 12:1-3) We must persevere in hope.

We still have time to repent and listen to His voice.  The disobedience and distrust of Israel caused them to forfeit the blessings that they might have enjoyed from God.  To obtain God’s blessings, all we need is to cling to His promises and believe that what God says is true.  We must be willing to trust Him with all our heart.  But trust must be demonstrated by obedience.  If we trust Him and believe that He is our Lord, then we will listen to all that He tells us to do.  We will obey His instructions.  Today, unfortunately, we have many who apparently call themselves Catholics.  They would attend mass now and then.  They will choose those doctrines that they agree with and can accept.  They think it is alright not to believe those that they find difficult to accept, especially moral doctrines.  In other words, they pick and choose what they like and ignore those uneasy doctrines.

Whilst it is understandable that we might take time to come to accept and obey all the teachings of our Lord in the Bible and the Magisterium, we must also be aware that the offer for the Promised Land is not indefinite.  A time will come when our life will come to an end.  We will never know when that day would be.  So, whilst there is a tomorrow, we must not think that our tomorrow is guaranteed.  This is how the devil deceives us from deciding for God by telling us to postpone our decision till tomorrow.  But the truth is, tomorrow might never come.  This is why we must accept God’s offer today before it is too late.  Each day must be lived in such a way that it is the last day.  So, we are being challenged to take up the offer today by giving God the trust and obedience demanded of us.

The gospel today invites us to take courage like the leper to cling to God’s promise.  With faith and confidence in our Lord, he even broke the rules and came to Jesus “and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.'”  He knew that Jesus would be able to heal him if He chose to.  He had no doubt about the power of our Lord.  He was humble and respectful, not coercive. As a consequence, Christ fulfilled his wish because of his humility and faith in Him.  “‘Of course I want to!’ he said.  ‘Be cured!’  And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured.”  Jesus’ desire to heal us of our leprosy, that is, of our sins, moved Him to not just heal the man but He “stretched out his hand and touched him.”  By so doing, Jesus indicated that He came to take our sins away by being made sin, as St Paul wrote to the Corinthians.  “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  (2 Cor 5:21) The gospel ended with an anticipation of what will happen to our Lord at the end of His life.  We read that “The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived.”  In other words, Jesus was made unclean, that is sin, because He was in contact with the leper.  He could not be within the community, which is what sin does to us.  We are excommunicated.  “Even so, people from all around would come to him.”  Jesus who takes our sins upon Himself continue to save us all who repent and seek forgiveness.  Let us therefore seize the opportunity to repent and turn to the Lord for healing and grace.

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Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.

NOT FORGETTING OUR HUMANITY IN OUR MINISTRY

20250115 NOT FORGETTING OUR HUMANITY IN OUR MINISTRY

 

First reading

Hebrews 2:14-18

He took to himself descent from Abraham

Since all the children share the same blood and flesh, Christ too shared equally in it, so that by his death he could take away all the power of the devil, who had power over death, and set free all those who had been held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it was not the angels that he took to himself; he took to himself descent from Abraham. It was essential that he should in this way become completely like his brothers so that he could be a compassionate and trustworthy high priest of God’s religion, able to atone for human sins. That is, because he has himself been through temptation he is able to help others who are tempted.

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 104(105):1-4,6-9

The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

or

Alleluia!

Give thanks to the Lord, tell his name,

  make known his deeds among the peoples.

O sing to him, sing his praise;

  tell all his wonderful works!

The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

or

Alleluia!

Be proud of his holy name,

  let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.

Consider the Lord and his strength;

  constantly seek his face.

The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

or

Alleluia!

O children of Abraham, his servant,

  O sons of the Jacob he chose.

He, the Lord, is our God:

  his judgements prevail in all the earth.

The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

or

Alleluia!

He remembers his covenant for ever,

  his promise for a thousand generations,

the covenant he made with Abraham,

  the oath he swore to Isaac.

The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

or

Alleluia!

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Gospel Acclamation

cf.Col3:16a,17

Alleluia, alleluia!

Let the message of Christ, in all its richness,

find a home with you;

through him give thanks to God the Father.

Alleluia!

Or:

Jn10:27

Alleluia, alleluia!

The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, 

says the Lord, 

I know them and they follow me.

Alleluia!

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Gospel

Mark 1:29-39

He cast out devils and cured many who were suffering from disease

On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon’s mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.

  That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.

  In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.

 

 

 

15 January 2025, Wednesday, 1st Week in Ordinary Time

NOT FORGETTING OUR HUMANITY IN OUR MINISTRY

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SCRIPTURE READINGS: [HEB 2:14-18; PS 105:1-4,6-9; MK 1:29-39]

We are all called to be healers in life. Like Jesus, we are called to proclaim the Good News to the poor. The Lord is clear about His mission.  Citing the prophet Isaiah at the start of His mission, He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (Luke 4:18f). Indeed, we are reaching out to those who are weak, sick, forlorn, downtrodden, depressed, or even possessed.  

To effectively reach out to them, it is essential we feel with them in their pains. This is why “It was essential that he should in this way become completely like his brothers so that he could be a compassionate and trustworthy high priest of God’s religion, able to atone for human sins.” Indeed, the author of Hebrews wrote, “Since all the children share the same blood and flesh, Jesus too shared equally in it, so that by his death he could take away all the power of the devil, who had power over death, and set free all those who had been held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.”

Jesus therefore not only showed us the way, but also walked the way. He did not simply tell us what we should do to be saved. He practiced what He taught in the Sermon on the Mount, especially in loving our enemies, not retaliating when persecuted, and doing all things for the love of God and our fellowmen. He was a peacemaker, a man who lived simply and depended on divine providence. He was pure in heart and He identified with the sufferings of every man. Indeed, in today’s gospel we see His close association with our human sufferings.   He knows our feelings and our needs being a man Himself.

Upon leaving the synagogue, and hearing that Simon’s mother-in-law had a fever, without delay, “He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up.  And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.” Jesus felt with His disciples in their need. He did not just make use of them to help Him in His mission. When they needed help, Jesus was there for them. We can be so involved in church ministry and helping others, yet abandon our loved ones at home when they need our presence and our help. If we are to gain loyalty from those who help us in our work, we must also be there for them when they need our support and assistance. We should never take our supporters for granted.  When those who help us know we are personally concerned about their well-being, they will be willing to serve us more. This is an important lesson for those of us who are bosses.

Despite His busy day at the synagogue and after attending to Simon’s mother-in-law, Jesus still healed those who were sick. Again, we see how sensitive He was. Observing Sabbath law, the people waited until sunset to bring the sick to the Him for healing. “That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.” Jesus must have felt great sympathy for them in their pain and suffering.  So He made Himself available to assist them.

Whilst it is important that we aid those who need help, we must not forget our limitations.  We are human with weaknesses and constraints. Unless we are aware of our limitations and imperfections, we will be judgmental or impatient with others. “That is, because he has himself been through temptation he is able to help others who are tempted.” Jesus is the great high priest that we can turn to for mercy and compassion. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15f).

We must remember that the work we are doing is the work of God in us. Saint Paul wrote, “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10). Only because God works in and through us can we do what we are doing. We must not get carried away by doing good works, as if they were solely due to our own strength and ingenuity. This leads us to pride and our downfall. Many great leaders started humbly, and God used them greatly. But when they became great, they thought highly of themselves and allowed their pride to ruin them.

Even as we go out to help others, we must remember we are not building our kingdom, but God’s kingdom. The Baptist said, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29f). Our task is to lead people to Jesus, not to ourselves. Jesus was very much aware of His mission and did not allow success to carry Him away. The Gospel tells how “Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.”  Jesus did not stay on in the village even though He was in great demand. He was focused on His mission, to announce the coming of God’s kingdom, not in building His own kingdom.

The secret of Jesus’ effectiveness in His mission and staying focused was being in close intimacy with His Father. He did not allow His ministry to continue without basking in His Father’s presence and love. He took instruction from His Father. This was why, “In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, he went off to a lonely place and prayed there.” He knew that human strength alone would not bring about conversion of heart. He depended on the Spirit of God to touch the hearts and open the ears of believers. In the final analysis, if we want to serve the People of God as ministers, we must put prayers before ministry and everything else. Without being in constant union with God, we will end up being tired, frustrated, and burnt out. We will lose our perspective. We will be doing the work for God, but not the work of God. Prayers help us to get in touch with ourselves, our needs, and our struggles. Prayers help us hear God’s wisdom and fill ourselves with His love. Let us pay attention to the psalmist’s advice, “Be proud of his holy name, let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice. Consider the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face.”

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Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved. 

 

LEADERSHIP WITH AUTHORITY

20250114 LEADERSHIP WITH AUTHORITY

 

First reading

Hebrews 2:5-12

The one who sanctifies and the ones who are sanctified are of the same stock

God did not appoint angels to be rulers of the world to come, and that world is what we are talking about. Somewhere there is a passage that shows us this. It runs: What is man that you should spare a thought for him, the son of man that you should care for him? For a short while you made him lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and splendour. You have put him in command of everything. Well then, if he has put him in command of everything, he has left nothing which is not under his command. At present, it is true, we are not able to see that everything has been put under his command, but we do see in Jesus one who was for a short while made lower than the angels and is now crowned with glory and splendour because he submitted to death; by God’s grace he had to experience death for all mankind.

  As it was his purpose to bring a great many of his sons into glory, it was appropriate that God, for whom everything exists and through whom everything exists, should make perfect, through suffering, the leader who would take them to their salvation. For the one who sanctifies, and the ones who are sanctified, are of the same stock; that is why he openly calls them brothers in the text: I shall announce your name to my brothers, praise you in full assembly.

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 8:2,5-9

You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.

How great is your name, O Lord our God,

  through all the earth!

What is man that you should keep him in mind,

  mortal man that you care for him?

You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.

Yet you have made him little less than a god;

  with glory and honour you crowned him,

gave him power over the works of your hand,

  put all things under his feet.

You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.

All of them, sheep and cattle,

  yes, even the savage beasts,

birds of the air, and fish

  that make their way through the waters.

You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.

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Gospel Acclamation

Jm1:21

Alleluia, alleluia!

Accept and submit to the word

which has been planted in you

and can save your souls.

Alleluia!

Or:	cf.1Th2:13

Alleluia, alleluia!

Accept God’s message for what it really is:

God’s message, and not some human thinking.

Alleluia!

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Gospel

Mark 1:21-28

Unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority

Jesus and his disciples went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.

  In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit and it shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.

 

 

14 January 2025, Tuesday, 1st Week in Ordinary Time

LEADERSHIP WITH AUTHORITY

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SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Heb 2:5-12; Ps 8:2,5-9; Mark 1:21-28]

God is so gracious in creating human beings and giving us the honour of being next in line to Him.  In the letter of Hebrews, the author, citing from Psalm 8 wrote, “What is man that you should spare a thought for him, the son of man that you should care for him? For a short while you made him lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and splendour.”  This is also echoed in our responsorial psalm.  Indeed, the dignity of human beings is truly a grace of God.  We are given authority over everything on this earth.  We are called to share His authority over creation.  This is what it means to be created in the image and likeness of God.   “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” (Gn 1:28)

However, we have been poor stewards of God’s creation.  The situation in the world today shows that instead of helping God to protect and grow creation, we are destroying the planet earth and its inhabitants, including fellow human beings.  We have abused creation and used it selfishly for ourselves at the expense of plants, animals and the good of our fellowmen.   The author is cognizant of this reality when he wrote, “You have put him in command of everything. Well then, if he has put him in command of everything, he has left nothing which is not under his command.  At present, it is true, we are not able to see that everything has been put under his command.”

Indeed, what is lacking today is strong, exemplary and enlightened leadership.  True and real leaders are very few in the world today.  Some leaders are just good and capable in their professional fields, but beyond their expertise they are not leaders in life, in love and truth.  Today, leaders are seen in a functional way.  They are there to perform a task.  This explains why some leaders can be very good in organizations skills, counselling, administration, strategizing, preaching and teaching, but their lifestyles contradict what they do in public life.  It is a sad reality that today’s leaders, whether political, corporate, community or religious, have lost their credibility and authority to lead.  Instead of instilling and evoking trust from those they lead, they are seen with great suspicion and distrust.  Without trust, how can leaders lead effectively?  This explains why leaders who are exposed for their hypocrisy, can no longer lead.

How can we regain the authority of leadership, an authority that does not need to depend on our office but on our personality?  In the letter to the Hebrews, we are told that Jesus is our leader in salvation.  “As it was his purpose to bring a great many of his sons into glory, it was appropriate that God, for whom everything exists and through whom everything exists, should make perfect, through suffering, the leader who would take them to their salvation.”  Jesus is the perfect leader that all leaders are called to imitate and all are called to follow.  This is because, as the gospel says, “his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.”   Jesus was the only credible leader in His day that taught with authority, unlike the religious and political leaders of His time.  They found Jesus different from the leaders that they knew.   Jesus must have stood up as a charismatic leader who taught effectively, so much so we read that “his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.”

What is the secret of Jesus’ leadership?  Firstly, we are told that Jesus knew Himself.  A leader must have self-awareness.  He must know his identity and his motives.  A leader without self-awareness often causes much harm to others.  If we do not know our identity, our purpose and direction in life, how can we help others to find life, meaning and purpose.  This explains why when the devil sought to expose Jesus’ true identity, Jesus silenced him immediately.   Jesus did not need the devil to reveal His identity.  Hence, when the devil said, “‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us?  I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’  But Jesus said sharply, be quiet! Come out of him!'”  This was the same temptation in the desert after His baptism.  The devil said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'”  (Mt 4:6f) In commanding the spirit to come out of the man with authority, Jesus showed His authority because He acted from His being as the Son of God.

Secondly, Jesus knew His motive and was clear of His mission.  Why did the devil want to proclaim Jesus’ identity to the people?  Wouldn’t that work for Jesus’ mission?  His work would have been made easier to have the devil introduce Jesus to the people as the Holy One of God.  But that would be a cheap victory and cheap victories do not last.  This is true in daily life.  If you want to learn, you can check the answer first and then try to solve a mathematical problem.  But that kind of learning will not be a real discovery.  We learn best by going through the trials of life.   When people do the work for us, we never learn.  Indeed, the devil wanted Jesus to have a quick victory.  He even offered Him at the beginning of His ministry, the kingdom that He was called to establish. He brought Him “to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.'”  (Mt 4:8f) Jesus knew that conversion of the people must come through a gradual understanding of His mission, teaching and His identity.  There are some things that we cannot rush through.  This is particularly true for those wanting to be baptized.  Some ask to be baptized after three months of instruction in the faith because they do not want to wait too long to attend RCIA classes.  This is the problem of the Church today, because we have too many half-baked, ill-formed Catholics.

Thirdly, Jesus was a real leader because He walked with His people.   The letter of Hebrews made it clear, “For the one who sanctifies, and the ones who are sanctified, are of the same stock; that is why he openly calls them brothers in the text: I shall announce your name to my brothers, praise you in full assembly.”  Jesus is a leader not by sitting on the armchair and directing others how they should live their lives.  God could have saved us from afar, sitting on His throne in heaven.  But He chose to empty Himself in His Son, Jesus, who assumed our humanity and is one of us and one with us.  He went through the same trials and temptations like anyone of us.  He too had to suffer like us.   “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.   Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”  (Heb 5:7-9) 

Fourthly, Jesus walked in front of His people.  It is not enough for a leader to be identified with those whom he leads, but he must always walk in front of them like a shepherd leading his flock.   Jesus said, “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.”  (Jn 10:3f) In other words, a leader must show the way and lead the way.  Again, the letter of Hebrews says, “but we do see in Jesus one who was for a short while made lower than the angels and is now crowned with glory and splendour because he submitted to death; by God’s grace he had to experience death for mankind.”  Indeed, Jesus submitted Himself to death so that He could overcome the power of death over humanity.  It is the fear of death that cripples humanity and makes them live recklessly and selfishly only for this world, for themselves, because they think that life ends at death.   But with death overcome by His death and resurrection, Jesus shows us that death is the last enemy to be destroyed so that life could come.  (cf 1 Cor 15:24-26)

So today, if we seek to be credible leaders and truly regain our identity as the sons and daughters of God, and good stewards of His creation and people, then we must come to Jesus, reflect on Him so that we too will learn the true meaning of sonship, leadership and stewardship in the world.   We must know ourselves more and more, examine our motives, our focus and our purpose in life.  Only then can we be like Jesus in leading our brothers and sisters into glory so that they can find fulfilment and happiness in life.  By so doing, we find our happiness.

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Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.