20151020
OPEN THE DOOR OF OUR HEARTS TO THE OVERWHELMING
POWER OF THE GRACE OF GOD IN CHRIST
Readings at Mass
|
First reading
|
|
Romans
5:12,15,17-21 ©
|
Sin entered the world
through one man, and through sin death, and thus death has spread through the
whole human race because everyone has sinned; but the gift itself considerably
outweighed the fall. If it is certain that through one man’s fall so many died,
it is even more certain that divine grace, coming through the one man, Jesus
Christ, came to so many as an abundant free gift. If it is certain that death
reigned over everyone as the consequence of one man’s fall, it is even more
certain that one man, Jesus Christ, will cause everyone to reign in life who
receives the free gift that he does not deserve, of being made righteous.
Again, as one man’s fall brought condemnation on everyone, so the good act of
one man brings everyone life and makes them justified. As by one man’s
disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be
made righteous. When law came, it was to multiply the opportunities of failing,
but however great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater; and so,
just as sin reigned wherever there was death, so grace will reign to bring
eternal life thanks to the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
|
Psalm
|
|
Psalm 39:7-10,17
©
|
Here I am, Lord! I
come to do your will.
You do not ask for
sacrifice and offerings,
but an
open ear.
You do not ask for
holocaust and victim.
Instead,
here am I.
Here I am, Lord! I
come to do your will.
In the scroll of the
book it stands written
that I
should do your will.
My God, I delight in
your law
in the
depth of my heart.
Here I am, Lord! I
come to do your will.
Your justice I have
proclaimed
in the
great assembly.
My lips I have not
sealed;
you know
it, O Lord.
Here I am, Lord! I
come to do your will.
O let there be
rejoicing and gladness
for all
who seek you.
Let them ever say:
‘The Lord is great’,
who love
your saving help.
Here I am, Lord! I
come to do your will.
|
Gospel
Acclamation
|
cf.Lk8:15
|
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are those
who,
with a noble and
generous heart,
take the word of God
to themselves
and yield a harvest
through their perseverance.
Alleluia!
|
Or
|
Lk21:36
|
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stay awake, praying
at all times
for the strength to
stand with confidence
before the Son of
Man.
Alleluia!
|
Gospel
|
Luke 12:36-38 ©
|
Jesus said to his
disciples:
‘See
that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting
for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as
soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake
when he comes. I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at
table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the
third, but happy those servants if he finds them ready.’
|
OPEN THE DOOR OF OUR HEARTS TO THE OVERWHELMING POWER OF
THE GRACE OF GOD IN CHRIST
|
SCRIPTURE
READINGS: Rm 5:12.15.17-21; Lk 12:35-38
When we
consider the situation of the world today, with the moral crisis worsening each
passing day and the threats of war and terrorism, we cannot but at times feel
that sin seems to reign over the world. Even in our own lives, we feel
like giving up the fight against sin because we seem to be in a losing battle
all the time. When we are discouraged at the state of the world, then
today’s scripture readings give us hope and courage.
In the
first reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans, we read one of the most
inspiring and consoling messages from Paul. He compares the situation of
the world with Adam to that of Christ the Second Adam. His argument is
that if, through the fall of Adam, it is certain “that so many died, it is even
more certain that divine grace, coming through the one man, Jesus Christ came
to so many as an abundant free gift.” Again, “if it is certain that death
reigned over everyone as the consequence of one man’s fall, it is even more
certain that one man, Jesus Christ, will cause everyone to reign in
life.” If Adam’s fall “has brought condemnation on everyone” then one
man’s disobedience brought condemnation on everyone, so “by one man’s obedience
many will be made righteous.” Indeed, Paul summed up so aptly that
“however great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater.” All
this is possible, “thanks to the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ
our Lord.”
If the
thesis of Paul were true, then how is it that sin reigns in our lives instead
of grace that brings eternal life? This is because Jesus Christ comes as
“an abundant free gift” from God. Being the gift of God to us, it can
only be received freely. The gift of God is not forced on us. The
grace of God is free but man must respond willingly to that gift.
For this reason, the gospel today exhorts us to be ready to open the door of
our hearts to welcome Jesus, the grace of God. He is knocking at the door
of our hearts. Yes, Jesus said, “be like men waiting for their master to
return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and
knocks.” Indeed, Jesus who has returned to the Father after His Ascension
has returned to bring us the gifts from God.
The
tragedy is that, like the servants in today’s gospel, we are not ready to
welcome Him. Why are we not ready? Is it because we are
afraid? Perhaps so! Many of us are afraid of the master’s return.
We are fearful that when He comes, He might ask from us things which we are not
willing to give or to do. We are anxious that He might ask us to give up
our wealth, our time, our freedom, our friends and loved ones and, most of all,
our sins! We are worried that we would be poorer and cannot live without
all these. Truly, humanity is not ready to welcome Christ because we do
not want to change our lives. Instead of living a life of truth, freedom
and joy, we prefer to live under the slavery of sin and death.
However
such fears are unfounded. The surprising good news of today’s gospel is
that when Jesus comes, He will not be asking us to serve Him. Instead,
the parable tells us, “Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he
comes. I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at
table and wait on them.” So, it will be Jesus, the master of servants,
who will serve us, His servants, at table. He has come to give us
gifts. He has come to bless us with His riches in our poverty; with His
love in our emptiness; with His freedom in our slavery; with lasting joy in our
passing happiness, with forgiveness in our bitterness and with peace in our
hearts. So we need not fear Jesus. He is not making us less happy
or less fulfilled. On the contrary, He comes to give us true and lasting
joy.
But we
must be ready and be watchful. Jesus advised us, “See that you are
dressed for action and have your lamps lit.” It is important that we be
vigilant because the Lord is coming at any moment in our lives. “It may be in
the second watch he comes, or in the third, but happy are those servant if he
finds them ready.” If not the Lord will pass us by. In fact,
He comes so often knocking at our hearts. When we are studying, He comes
to help us in our studies; when we are called to do His work, He comes to
enlighten us; when we find it difficult to forgive and let go, He comes to set
us free; when we lose faith and trust, He comes to assure us of His love and
presence. But if our lamps are not lit, and we are not dressed for
action, then we will miss His presence.
How can
we light our lamps and be dressed for action? By being dressed in a life
of prayer and good works! Our lamps will be lighted when we spend time in
prayer and loving intimacy with the Lord. Our good works that flow from
our love for the Lord would be the dress we wear as servants of the Lord.
Indeed, if we do not want to fall into discouragement, then we must pray and
work, ora et labora. This is the only way to open our hearts to Christ
who comes to assist us.
Today,
we are grateful that we have the Eucharist. For in the Eucharistic
celebration, He comes to give us Himself, His entire being. Indeed,
the last stanza of the responsorial psalm says, “O let there be rejoicing and
gladness for all who seek you. Let them ever say: ‘The Lord is
great’, who love your saving help.” Only when we realize that Jesus comes
as the Servant of servants to give us Himself so that we can serve like Him,
then we can pray with the psalmist when we say, “Here am I, Lord, that I may do
your will.”
Written
by The Most Rev William Goh
Roman
Catholic Archbishop of Singapore
© All Rights Reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment