SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY

20260430 SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY

 

 

30 April 2026, Thursday, 4th Week of Easter

First reading

Acts 13:13-25

God has raised up one of David's descendants, Jesus, as Saviour

Paul and his friends went by sea from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia where John left them to go back to Jerusalem. The others carried on from Perga till they reached Antioch in Pisidia. Here they went to synagogue on the sabbath and took their seats. After the lessons from the Law and the Prophets had been read, the presidents of the synagogue sent them a message: ‘Brothers, if you would like to address some words of encouragement to the congregation, please do so.’ Paul stood up, held up a hand for silence and began to speak:

  ‘Men of Israel, and fearers of God, listen! The God of our nation Israel chose our ancestors, and made our people great when they were living as foreigners in Egypt; then by divine power he led them out, and for about forty years took care of them in the wilderness. When he had destroyed seven nations in Canaan, he put them in possession of their land for about four hundred and fifty years. After this he gave them judges, down to the prophet Samuel. Then they demanded a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin. After forty years, he deposed him and made David their king, of whom he approved in these words, “I have selected David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will carry out my whole purpose.” To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David’s descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. Before John ended his career he said, “I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his sandal.”’

How to listen

---

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 88(89):2-3,21,22,25,27

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

or

Alleluia!

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord;

  through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.

Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever,

  that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

or

Alleluia!

I have found David my servant

  and with my holy oil anointed him.

My hand shall always be with him

  and my arm shall make him strong.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

or

Alleluia!

My truth and my love shall be with him;

  by my name his might shall be exalted.

He will say to me: ‘You are my father,

  my God, the rock who saves me.’

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

or

Alleluia!

---

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Rv1:5

Alleluia, alleluia!

You, O Christ, are the faithful witness,

the First-born from the dead,

you have loved us and have washed away our sins with your blood.

Alleluia!

---

Gospel

John 13:16-20

Whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me

After he had washed the feet of his disciples, Jesus said to them:

‘I tell you most solemnly,

no servant is greater than his master,

no messenger is greater than the man who sent him.

‘Now that you know this, happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly. I am not speaking about all of you: I know the ones I have chosen; but what scripture says must be fulfilled: Someone who shares my table rebels against me.

‘I tell you this now, before it happens,

so that when it does happen

you may believe that I am He.

I tell you most solemnly,

whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me,

and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.’

 

SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Acts 13:13-25; PS 89:2-3, 21, 22, 25, 27; John 13:16]

The First Reading recounts the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas as they set out to proclaim the Good News.  Sent by the Holy Spirit, they travelled without a pre-mapped plan.  Much like Jesus, they went where the Spirit led them.

The Christian mission, unlike business or political enterprises, cannot be reduced to mere human planning and strategising; rather, it is led by the Holy Spirit.  “So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.”  (Acts 13:4)   We might think that they should have held more meetings to strategise their approach to winning converts to the Lord, but this was not their way.  Instead, they listened intently to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Because they believed that the mission belonged to the Lord, they allowed the Holy Spirit to lead the way.

But it also did not mean that they left everything to the Holy Spirit.  When the Lord gave them an opening or an opportunity, they were quick to seize it.  Are we ready to seize the opportunity to witness to the Lord?  As the Responsorial Psalm puts it, “I will sing forever of your love, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.  Of this I am sure, that your love lasts forever, that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.”   St Paul was always ready to seize the opportunities given to him.  Firstly, he responded to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to be set apart for the mission of proclaiming Christ to other places.   We can be sure that this was not on his mind.  He was clearly quite content to help Barnabas in instructing the Church at Antioch.  (cf Acts 11:26)   In today’s reading, he was at Antioch in Pisidia.  “After the lessons from the Law and the Prophets had been read, the presidents of the synagogue sent them a message: ‘Brothers, if you would like to address some words of encouragement to the congregation, please do so.’ Paul stood up, held up a hand for silence and began to speak.”  He did not hesitate or lose the occasion to announce the Good News.

He readily made use of the invitation to address the Jews.  Again, Paul was very much in touch with his audience.  He was quick to adapt the message about Jesus in a way that the Jews could understand and accept.  He did not begin by proclaiming Christ as the Saviour and Lord.  On the contrary, he began by acknowledging their faith in the history of salvation, beginning from Israel’s election.  He led them through their common history of how God liberated them from slavery in Egypt and led them through the desert for forty years, looking after them, providing for their needs.  Then, He gave them the land of Canaan by driving out their enemies.  To provide unity and stability, God gave them Judges and later acceded to their demands for a king.  And it was to King David that God made a promise that he would be the one to carry out His plan.  Finally, to realise this promise, God raised up for Israel one of David’s descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel.

This was a diplomatic and convincing way to demonstrate that Jesus is the Messiah, foretold by the prophets in accordance with the plan of God.  Such a presentation makes sense because salvation is not an abstract divine intervention, but a concrete, gradual unfolding of God’s plan in our lives.  By showing the continuity of faith and the final realisation of God’s plan in Christ, Paul helped them to open their minds to the possibility that his message was true.  Indeed, we read later, when they “were going out, the people urged them to speak about these things again the next sabbath.  When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.”  (Rom 13:42f)

In the Gospel, Jesus took the same path as well, seizing whatever opportunities there were to fulfil the plan of God.  We are told that at the  Last Supper, just before the Passover feast, Jesus used that occasion to anticipate His passion, death and resurrection by celebrating the memorial meal.  Knowing that one of His apostles would betray Him, He still found the chance to reach out to Judas. By offering him a piece of bread as a sign of friendship and washing his feet, He sought to teach him humble service and surrender to God’s will.  Indeed, whenever the Lord found an opportunity to proclaim the Father’s love, He seized it.

Whether it was Paul or the Lord, they sought to give encouragement to those under their charge.  What people need most today are words of encouragement.  Life can be rather trying because of the many demands that are made of us,  especially given the elevated expectations and high quality of life we all strive for.  This has taken its toll on our family relationships and our lifestyle.  Furthermore, the intensity of competition and self-centeredness make this world seem like a hostile and divisive place to live in.

What people want to hear is that God is faithful to us.  This is what the psalmist sought to proclaim,  “I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.  I have found David, my servant and with my holy oil anointed him.  My hand shall always be with him and my arm shall make him strong.  My truth and my love shall be with him; by my name his might shall be exalted.  He will say to me: ‘You are my father, my God, the rock who saves me.'”   This was what Paul showed in his message to the Jews in Antioch; that Jesus was the fulfilment of the promise of God to King David and his people.  Jesus was the one destined and announced by John the Baptist to be the Saviour and Messiah.   And therefore, in fulfilling that Davidian promise, God is a faithful God.

God’s fidelity to us is incarnated in time and in history.  The grace of God does not destroy nature but elevates it.  So, when God’s grace enters human history, God makes use of individuals through their strengths and even their weaknesses to fulfil His divine plan.  Salvation is ongoing.  The process is ongoing, even though it has been technically accomplished already in Christ.  God continues to make use of us to bring His salvation to the whole world.  Each one of us is called to sing the praises of God as well.

We are called to represent our Lord.  Jesus said, “I tell you most solemnly, whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”  Just as the Father sent the Son, we are now sent out in the power of the Holy Spirit. We must remain humble and cooperative in the service of the Kingdom.  We are called to do His will and not our own.  If each of us does our part, just as our forefathers did despite their weaknesses,  we too, will usher in the Kingdom of God.

Each one of us must seize whatever opportunities the Lord gives to us.  There are many occasions when the Lord opens the door for us to reach out and to proclaim His name.  It could be through an act of kindness, an inspiring thought, or a word of encouragement. Even the trials and tribulations of life could offer us an invitation to announce Christ to the world — such as a breakup in a relationship, a misfortune, or a sickness.  In all these occasions, the Lord is giving us access to touch people’s lives.  Alas, many of us are not alert to the prompting of the Spirit. The Lord warns us, “Now that you know this, happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly. I am not speaking about all of you: I know the ones I have chosen, but what scripture says must be fulfilled: Someone who shares my table rebels against me.”   Knowing that we have done what is required of us will give us peace;  unlike Judas, who, although unable to derail the plan of God, suffered guilt and shame.  So, happiness is just at our doorstep.  Like Paul and Barnabas, if we just focus on proclaiming and sharing the Good News with people according to our circumstances, we will find life an immense joy and fulfilment. Indeed, as the Lord said, “No servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the man who sent him.”  We, too, must follow the path of our Lord in service and love.

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.

THE CENTRALITY OF OUR MISSION

20260429 THE CENTRALITY OF OUR MISSION

 

 

29 April 2026, Wednesday, 4th Week of Easter

First reading

Acts 12:24-13:5

'I want Barnabas and Saul set apart'

The word of God continued to spread and to gain followers. Barnabas and Saul completed their task and came back from Jerusalem, bringing John Mark with them.

  In the church at Antioch the following were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. One day while they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping a fast, the Holy Spirit said, ‘I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them.’ So it was that after fasting and prayer they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

  So these two, sent on their mission by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. They landed at Salamis and proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; John acted as their assistant.

How to listen

---

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 66(67):2-3,5-6,8

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

or

Alleluia!

O God, be gracious and bless us

  and let your face shed its light upon us.

So will your ways be known upon earth

  and all nations learn your saving help.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

or

Alleluia!

Let the nations be glad and exult

  for you rule the world with justice.

With fairness you rule the peoples,

  you guide the nations on earth.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

or

Alleluia!

Let the peoples praise you, O God;

  let all the peoples praise you.

May God still give us his blessing

  till the ends of the earth revere him.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

or

Alleluia!

---

Gospel Acclamation

Jn20:29

Alleluia, alleluia!

‘You believe, Thomas, because you can see me.

Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.

Alleluia!

Or:

Jn8:12

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia!

---

Gospel

John 12:44-50

I, the light, have come into the world

Jesus declared publicly:

‘Whoever believes in me

believes not in me

but in the one who sent me,

and whoever sees me,

sees the one who sent me.

I, the light, have come into the world,

so that whoever believes in me

need not stay in the dark any more.

If anyone hears my words and does not keep them faithfully,

it is not I who shall condemn him,

since I have come not to condemn the world,

but to save the world.

He who rejects me and refuses my words has his judge already:

the word itself that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day.

For what I have spoken does not come from myself;

no, what I was to say,

what I had to speak,

was commanded by the Father who sent me,

and I know that his commands mean eternal life.

And therefore what the Father has told me

is what I speak.’

 

THE CENTRALITY OF OUR MISSION

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Acts 12:24-13:5; Ps 67:2-3,5-6,8; John 12:44-50]

Today, the Church continues to emphasise the importance of mission in the life of a Christian.  This task is all the more urgent because of widespread secularisation. Furthermore, an emphasis on inter-religious dialogue has given many Catholics the impression that all religions are essentially the same — mere alternate paths to the one God. Consequently, many feel there is no longer a necessity to witness to Christ.  Consequently, we compromise the Gospel message, replacing it with humanitarian and support services, labelling these as “missions” as well. As a result, the Church’s mission risks becoming merely a social endeavour, no different from the work of a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

This reductionist understanding of mission has inadvertently contributed to a decline in priestly vocations. If the mission is merely a matter of doing good and helping in humanitarian services, then the specific necessity of the priesthood vanishes.  Indeed, many priests today forget that their primary calling is to exercise their unique sacerdotal office.   Priests are not called to be social administrators; rather, they are called to advance the cause of our Lord, which is the salvation of the world.  A priest who celebrates the Eucharist, the Sacrifice of the Lord, unites himself and the Church to Christ in a profound way, offering himself to save the world from ignorance and sin.  Through the celebration of the Eucharist, the priest makes present the saving love of Christ on the cross.

Consequently, the work of evangelisation flows from our love for the Lord and our personal experience of His saving work in our lives.  Our mission, therefore, is to lead people to the Lord; this zeal is born from our union with Him in the celebration of the Sacrifice of the Mass.  It is the grace we receive through the Eucharist that gives us the impetus to draw others to Him by proclaiming the Gospel and His saving love.

Indeed, the primary mission of the Church is not principally a call to do good or perform acts of charity.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus underscores that His mission is not to judge the world, but to save it.  “I have come not to condemn the world, but to save the world.”  The condition of salvation is not morality, but faith in Him.  This is not to say that humanitarian services are not part of the mission or that they are unimportant; rather, they flow from our faith in Christ and our love for Him, which is then expressed in our love for our neighbours.  The foundation of our mission is not merely charity for our fellowmen, but the love of Christ and His saving work.  We do not just do good for others; we love them for the sake of Christ, who comes to save us all.

The Gospel today summarises the first part of the Gospel of John, known as the ‘Book of Signs’.  From Chapter 13 onward, it is called the ‘Book of Glory’, as it concerns His imminent passion, death, resurrection, and the sending of the Holy Spirit.  This discourse marks the end of the public ministry of Jesus, which calls for judgment and decision.  Consequently, John synthesises the central themes of His teaching, namely, darkness and light, judgement and salvation, and rejection or faith.  The reason for accepting Him is that He and the Father are One.  Jesus declared publicly: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me, sees the one who sent me. For what I have spoken does not come from myself; no, what I was to say, what I had to speak, was commanded by the Father who sent me, and I know that his commands mean eternal life.  And therefore, what the Father has told me is what I speak.”  Clearly, Jesus is the Word of the Father — the Word of God.  Hence, faith is directed not only toward Him but toward the Father who sent Him.  Jesus speaks in the name of the Father and is sent by Him.

Consequently, the salvation that Jesus brings is to enlighten us to what is true and good.  The image of light in a world of darkness is used by the Lord to speak of salvation.   “I, the light, have come into the world, so that whoever believes in me need not stay in the dark any more.”  The world is dark because it is alienated from God and therefore lives in sin.  But Jesus has come to reveal the truth about ourselves.   He will send us the Holy Spirit to “prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.”  (Jn 16:8-11)

So we are called to take a decision for Christ. Salvation depends on our response.  The Word of God can be preached to us, but if we are not ready to accept it, then we will ultimately bring judgement upon ourselves.  Jesus said, “If anyone hears my words and does not keep them faithfully, it is not I who shall condemn him, since I have come not to condemn the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me and refuses my words has his judge already: the word itself that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day.”  It is important to take note that the Lord will not be judging us at the end of time.  Rather, we will be judging ourselves in the light of His words and the truth that He has revealed to us.  It will not be God who will prevent us from entering into the fullness of life in His kingdom. But we exclude ourselves because we judge ourselves to be unworthy of that life.

Who, then, are the unworthy?  First, those who hear the Word of God but do not keep it.  Second are those who totally reject Christ by refusing His teachings.  The former category refers to us: Christians who accept Christ but do not integrate His teaching into our lives and live according to them.  Because of His very presence, we will be filled with shame when we meet Him at the end of our lives.  The latter rejects Christ completely — and therefore the Father as well.  The judgement rendered to this group will be based on the very words given to them; because they rejected those words, they face condemnation.  In rejecting Jesus’ teachings, which come from God and offer eternal life, they deprive themselves of salvation.

This explains why in the First Reading from Acts of the Apostles, the Church sees the urgency of spreading the Gospel.  This is because salvation depends on our accepting Jesus and recognising Him as the Light of the World.  “The word of God continued to spread and to gain followers. Barnabas and Saul completed their task and came back from Jerusalem, bringing John Mark with them.”  Through the ministry of Barnabas and Saul, the Gospel was proclaimed — first to the Jews, and then, upon being rejected, to the Gentiles.

The mission they undertook was not an initiative of their own.  It was not about building their kingdom or choosing to do something they liked — as some of us do when we volunteer in the church or join a ministry.  Rather, they received it as a call from God through the Holy Spirit. “One day while they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping a fast, the Holy Spirit said, ‘I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them.'” Truly, it was a response to the command of God speaking to them through the Holy Spirit. “So, these two, sent on their mission by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. They landed at Salamis and proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.”  We, too, must embrace our call to evangelisation.

It is also significant that they were conscious of not relying on their own strength and strategy. Instead, they continued to rely on the power of God and His grace.  They never took for granted that they could fulfil the mission or bring about the conversion of hearts simply through their preaching or good works.  They know that it was the Holy Spirit who would give them the words and provide the opportunities to spread the Gospel and touch the hearts of their listeners.  Hence, they always included fasting and prayer in their missionary work, to prepare their hearts, ensuring they served with a pure motive — all for the glory of God, and not for their own glory and interests.  “So it was that after fasting and prayer, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”  Effective mission depends on prayers and fasting!

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.