20150518 THE FRUITS OF PIETY ARE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP AND COMMUNITY BUILDING

20150518 THE FRUITS OF PIETY ARE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP AND COMMUNITY BUILDING

Readings at Mass

First reading

Acts 19:1-8 ©

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul made his way overland as far as Ephesus, where he found a number of disciples. When he asked, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ they answered, ‘No, we were never even told there was such a thing as a Holy Spirit.’ ‘Then how were you baptised?’ he asked. ‘With John’s baptism’ they replied. ‘John’s baptism’ said Paul ‘was a baptism of repentance; but he insisted that the people should believe in the one who was to come after him – in other words, Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus, and the moment Paul had laid hands on them the Holy Spirit came down on them, and they began to speak with tongues and to prophesy. There were about twelve of these men.

  He began by going to the synagogue, where he spoke out boldly and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. He did this for three months.

Psalm

Psalm 67:2-7 ©

Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.

or

Alleluia!

Let God arise, let his foes be scattered.

  Let those who hate him flee before him.

As smoke is blown away so will they be blown away;

  like wax that melts before the fire,

  so the wicked shall perish at the presence of God.

Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.

or

Alleluia!

But the just shall rejoice at the presence of God,

  they shall exult and dance for joy.

O sing to the Lord, make music to his name;

  rejoice in the Lord, exult at his presence.

Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.

or

Alleluia!

Father of the orphan, defender of the widow,

  such is God in his holy place.

God gives the lonely a home to live in;

  he leads the prisoners forth into freedom.

Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.

or

Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation

Jn16:28

Alleluia, alleluia!

I came from the Father

and have come into the world,

and now I leave the world

to go to the Father.

Alleluia!

Or

Col3:1

Alleluia, alleluia!

Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ,

you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is,

sitting at God’s right hand.

Alleluia!

Gospel

John 16:29-33 ©

His disciples said to Jesus, ‘Now you are speaking plainly and not using metaphors! Now we see that you know everything, and do not have to wait for questions to be put into words; because of this we believe that you came from God.’ Jesus answered them:

‘Do you believe at last?

Listen; the time will come – in fact it has come already –

when you will be scattered,

each going his own way and leaving me alone.

And yet I am not alone,

because the Father is with me.

I have told you all this

so that you may find peace in me.

In the world you will have trouble,

but be brave: I have conquered the world.’

THE FRUITS OF PIETY ARE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP AND COMMUNITY BUILDING

SCRIPTURE READINGS: ACTS 19:1-8; JOHN 16:29-33

What is piety?  Unfortunately, this word “piety” which is so closely connected with being pious, is commonly used as a derogatory term.  It is used for those who engage in some superficial and superstitious practices of religion.  In fact, the word “pious” comes from the Latin root, meaning “dutiful”.  So when applied to religion, it can mean someone who simply observes the duties of religion, and performs them dutifully and religiously. Such a person is called “devout.”

Yet, the truth is, piety is more than just mere external practice of religion.  The value of piety is that it encourages a personal relationship with God.  Indeed, because of the emphasis on communal worship today, the personal dimension of prayer is sometimes lacking.  In communal worship, the whole community is required to observe some common liturgical rules.  But in private devotions, there is freedom in creativity, and spontaneity in expressing one’s love and devotion to the Lord.  So piety is something very personal, and it helps one to develop a personal relationship.

Consequently, we must not despise or suppress pious practices.  Even the Church recognizes that whilst we promote a liturgical spirituality, yet at the same time, we also encourage popular piety, because such expressions of faith help our faithful to develop a personal relationship with the Lord.  Accordingly, pious practices such as praying the Angelus, fasting, praying the rosary, morning prayers or even external gestures of respect and adoration, help to cultivate a personal relationship with God.

Indeed, the real problem of the early Christians was that they had no personal relationship with Jesus.  We read that although they were believers of the Lord, they were only baptized with John’s baptism.  This baptism, according to Paul, was only a baptism of repentance.  Hence, he insisted that the people should believe in the One who was to come after him – in other words, Jesus. And we read, “When they heard this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  Why is there a need to be baptized in the Lord Jesus?  For only when they have a relationship with Jesus, could they then be filled with the power of God!  And indeed, we read that, “The moment Paul had laid hands on them the Holy Spirit came down on them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy.”

There can be no personal relationship with Jesus without the Holy Spirit.  And there can be no power without the work of the Holy Spirit in us.  This is because without the Holy Spirit, we can never know Jesus personally to have a relationship with Him.

For this reason, many Catholics who have been baptized do not really know Jesus, because of their lack of consciousness of the Holy Spirit.  As a result, they do not bear the fruits of a personal relationship with Him, namely, that of the transformation of life and the evangelical zeal, as demonstrated in the lives of the apostles, particularly that of St Paul, whose apostolic and missionary zeal we read about.

Recognizing this lack, Jesus disputed the claim of the disciples that they knew Him.  “‘Now we see that you know everything, and do not have to wait for questions to be put into words; because of this we believe that you came from God.’ Jesus answered them: ‘Do you believe at last? Listen; the time will come – in fact it has come already – when you will be scattered, each going his own way and leaving me alone.’” Indeed, if they knew who Jesus was, they would have stood by Him instead of deserting Him when He was arrested.   The truth is that they could never know Jesus fully and plainly, without the assistance of the Holy Spirit.  Realizing the incapacity of His disciples to bear witness for Him, Jesus promised to send them the Advocate, who will help them to understand His words, and lead them to Him.

But that is not all.  It is also clear therefore, that only the Holy Spirit, who is the personal love of the Father and Son, can give us a personal relationship with the Father and the Son.  It is within this context that we can now proceed further to speak of piety in relation to filial piety.   For the true purpose of piety is to help us experience the love of the Father, and relate to Him as our Father.   Consequently, even though Jesus knew of His imminent trial and passion, He was not defeated.  As He said, “Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.”  Because Jesus knew the Father, He did not feel alone in His mission.  With the assurance of His Father standing up for Him, He went ahead to Jerusalem to face His enemies.

Thus, within this perspective, we can proceed further by speaking of piety in terms of filial piety.  Quite often, piety is spoken in relation to filial piety.  Why?  Because when we experience a deep relationship with Jesus, we come to know that God is our Father.  As such, we become aware of our sonship in Christ.  God is our Father, and we are His children.  True piety therefore leads us to be aware that we are God’s children.  As such, to be pious is to recognize ourselves as sons and daughters of God, and to relate to Him as our forgiving, loving, and compassionate Father.  Indeed, it takes the gift of piety to pray the Our Father from the heart.

Only with such filial piety, assured of His Fatherhood, can we find courage in times of trials like Jesus.  Thus, He told the disciples, “I have told you all this so that you may find peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but be brave: I have conquered the world.’” So, to have filial piety is to give us confidence and courage in all our trials.  Hence, filial piety gives us peace in times of trials.  So long as we know as Jesus did, that we are the sons and daughters of our heavenly Father, we need never fear that we would be all alone in our sufferings and loneliness because He is with us and He will give us the strength to overcome all obstacles and difficulties in Him.

Furthermore, this discovery of our filial relationship with the Father will also enable us to develop a relationship with our brothers and sisters.  That is why piety helps us build community too.  Because we are adopted sons and daughters of God in Christ, we recognize our common brotherhood.  If we address God as our Father, it is also a tacit recognition that we are all brothers and sisters.  Consequently, we must reiterate that piety will lead us all to a deeper appreciation of our common experience as sons and daughters of God.  Now we are further strengthened not only by the love of the Father but we are empowered by the love of Christ and His body, the Church, in being faithful to our vocation and responsibilities in life.

Thus, to build community is not about having more human and social fellowship, such as parties etc.  Rather, we must build the vertical community with the Trinity, before building the horizontal community.   What is even more important is to give people a sense of the God experience. The point is that we cannot be in relationship with one another rightly unless we are in a right relationship with God.  And this happens when we are engaged in a Trinitarian relationship with the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit.

Hence, the gift of piety helps us to develop a personal relationship with all, beginning with God, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit, and manifesting that love in our relationships with others.  The resultant effect is that we become more and more a community of worshippers and a community of faith.

Written by The Most Rev William Goh

Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore

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