20261111 CHRISTIAN LIVING IN THE WORLD
11 November 2026, Wednesday, 32nd Week in Ordinary Time
First reading | Titus 3:1-7 |
It was purely by his own compassion that God saved us
Remind your people that it is their duty to be obedient to the officials and representatives of the government; to be ready to do good at every opportunity; not to go slandering other people or picking quarrels, but to be courteous and always polite to all kinds of people. Remember, there was a time when we too were ignorant, disobedient and misled and enslaved by different passions and luxuries; we lived then in wickedness and ill-will, hating each other and hateful ourselves.
But when the kindness and love of God our saviour for mankind were revealed, it was not because he was concerned with any righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us, by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our saviour. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace, to become heirs looking forward to inheriting eternal life.
Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 22(23) |
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me,
to revive my drooping spirit.
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me along the right path;
he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness
no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff;
with these you give me comfort.
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
You have prepared a banquet for me
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing.
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell
for ever and ever.
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
Gospel Acclamation | cf.2Th2:14 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Through the Good News God called us
to share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 17:11-19 |
No-one has come back to praise God, only this foreigner
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’
CHRISTIAN LIVING IN THE WORLD
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [TITUS 3:1-7; LUKE 17:11-19]
The Scripture readings for today invite us to reflect on how we as Christians should conduct ourselves in the world. This question is even more important to us today than it was during the time of St. Paul, when the world was still relatively homogeneous–a time when most people belonged to the same religion and culture, without a multiplicity of religions and races, and where foreigners were a small minority. Today, however, in a world of global migration and mass communication, we find ourselves learning how to navigate a multiracial, multireligious, and politically diverse landscape so that harmony can exist among all peoples of different cultures, races, and religions.
During the Medieval period in Europe, Christianity was the principal religion for all peoples. But after the Enlightenment, new philosophies were born that challenged the status quo, bringing about not only the Industrial Revolution but also religious, social, and political revolutions. In such a diverse and complex world, trying to impose our faith on others would only bring about retaliation and, worse still, religious, cultural, and political conflict.
How, then, do we preserve harmony in this world while remaining faithful to Christ as the Saviour of the world? Today, interreligious dialogue is widely discussed. In Singapore, for instance, there is an ongoing emphasis on forming and promoting religious and racial harmony circles to foster greater appreciation and respect for one another’s religion and culture. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Catholic Church had the foresight–well before many others–to engage positively with people of other faiths by issuing the landmark Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate, 1965).
This declaration provides us with guidelines on how Christians must conduct themselves toward other faith communities, particularly Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism. Commemorating the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate during an interfaith prayer service at the close of the “International Meeting for Peace: Religions and Cultures” in Rome, Pope Leo cited the declaration, reminding us: “We cannot truly pray to God as Father of all if we treat any people as other than sisters and brothers, for all are created in God’s image.”
Indeed, this direction of the Church aligns faithfully with the scriptures advocated in today’s readings. Some Catholics and Protestants feel that interreligious dialogue is wrong because it seems to compromise our faith in Christ as the Saviour of humanity. Yet interreligious dialogue does not require any faith tradition to compromise its beliefs. Rather, it is a respectful sharing of one’s religious experiences, faith, values, and practices with people of other traditions. There is no attempt to force our beliefs on others; after all, without genuine faith, one cannot truly embrace a religion. Faith is not merely an intellectual argument–it is a matter of the heart. This is why conversion is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit.
In this light, St. Paul exhorts the Christians in Crete, under the leadership of Titus, to be prudent in establishing their relationships with non-Christians. What should be the Christian attitude toward all people–especially non-believers–and toward the social and political institutions of the day? This was an important question then, and it remains crucial for us today. How do we fulfil Christ’s mandate to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world without causing unnecessary offense to those who do not believe, particularly when social and political institutions are opposed to the exclusive claims of Christianity? This calls for great sensitivity toward government authorities and toward people of all faiths and cultures.
Clearly, the Church has no intention of promoting social, religious, or political disorder. Christianity is meant to bring peace, justice, and mercy to all peoples. The Church must respect the existing context in which she finds herself, which includes obedience to legitimate government officials and representatives. In other words, Christians must show themselves to be good, respectable, and loyal citizens. People of other faiths should see us as individuals who truly care for the common good of all, regardless of race, language, or religion. We are called to serve the community and collaborate with the government and fellow citizens for the greater good of the country–whether in upholding moral and ethical values, promoting social integration, caring for the poor and suffering, or building up the nation and the economy. Indeed, Paul reminded Christians to “be ready to do good at every opportunity; not to go slandering other people or picking quarrels, but to be courteous and always polite to all kinds of people.” Only when we live righteous, honest, and charitable lives can we inspire others to appreciate our faith, even if they know little about us.
We must avoid the slippery slope of proselytism and coercive methods of indoctrinating people of other faiths. Rather, conversion must come through attraction, not compulsion. We are called to live our lives and share our faith in a way that appeals to those seeking deeper meaning in life or a closer encounter with God. The Good News must remain an open invitation, but no one should be forced or coerced into accepting it. People must genuinely desire to know the Lord and become Christians. Doctrinal arguments and threats may, at most, make converts, but they do not make true disciples. What we seek is a conversion of the heart and mind, and a desire to live out the Gospel as Christ has shown us. No one will believe in our faith unless they see that our lives and values are distinct, inspiring, and life-giving. St. Paul cautioned Christians against behaving like pagans when he wrote: “Remember, there was a time when we too were ignorant, disobedient and misled and enslaved by different passions and luxuries; we lived then in wickedness and ill-will, hating each other and hateful ourselves.”
Before we seek to convert others, we ourselves must be renewed in Christ and transformed by the Holy Spirit. We must never forget that our conversion is not simply the result of our own initiative; it is primarily the work of grace and mercy in our lives. As St. Paul reminds us: “But when the kindness and love of God our saviour for mankind were revealed, it was not because he was concerned with any righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us.” Salvation must be received as a gift from God through Christ Jesus. We are converted when we realise that Christ is God’s mercy in person, revealing the kindness and love of God through His death on the cross. Our faith originates from God, who initiated this relationship so that we might experience His unconditional love and mercy.
Most of all, we are Christians not simply because we have studied the Scriptures or know our doctrines, but because of the new life given to us “by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit which he so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our saviour. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace, to become heirs looking forward to inheriting eternal life.” Through baptism, we receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit–the love of God dwelling in our hearts. From that moment, we become a new creation in Christ and channels of God’s grace working in and through us for His glory.
Finally, we are called to imitate the example of our Lord in the Gospel when He healed the ten lepers. Jesus not only broke down the social and religious barriers of His time by allowing the lepers to approach Him for healing, but He also healed a Samaritan–someone belonging to a group despised and ostracised by the Jews. Yet throughout His ministry, Jesus consistently highlighted the goodness of the Samaritans. He told the parable of the Good Samaritan, and in today’s Gospel, He underscores that it was only the Samaritan who returned to give thanks for his healing. If Samaritans can set a good example, surely people of other faiths and cultures can also inspire us to become better Christians. Above all, this serves as an assurance that even non-Christians are loved and accepted by God, and that they too are offered salvation–whether by coming to know Him directly as Christ, or through the subtle workings of His grace in other ways.
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.
