20160427 INTEGRATION
Readings at Mass
Liturgical
Colour: White.
First reading
|
Acts 15:1-6 ©
|
Some men came down
from Judaea and taught the brothers, ‘Unless you have yourselves circumcised in
the tradition of Moses you cannot be saved.’ This led to disagreement, and
after Paul and Barnabas had had a long argument with these men it was arranged
that Paul and Barnabas and others of the church should go up to Jerusalem and discuss
the problem with the apostles and elders.
All the
members of the church saw them off, and as they passed through Phoenicia and
Samaria they told how the pagans had been converted, and this news was received
with the greatest satisfaction by the brothers. When they arrived in Jerusalem
they were welcomed by the church and by the apostles and elders, and gave an
account of all that God had done with them.
But
certain members of the Pharisees’ party who had become believers objected,
insisting that the pagans should be circumcised and instructed to keep the Law
of Moses. The apostles and elders met to look into the matter.
Responsorial
Psalm
|
Psalm 121:1-5 ©
|
I rejoiced when I
heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’
or
Alleluia!
I rejoiced when I
heard them say:
‘Let us
go to God’s house.’
And now our feet are
standing
within
your gates, O Jerusalem.
I rejoiced when I
heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’
or
Alleluia!
Jerusalem is built as
a city
strongly
compact.
It is there that the
tribes go up,
the
tribes of the Lord.
I rejoiced when I
heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’
or
Alleluia!
For Israel’s law it
is,
there to
praise the Lord’s name.
There were set the
thrones of judgement
of the
house of David.
I rejoiced when I
heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’
or
Alleluia!
Gospel
Acclamation
|
Jn10:14
|
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the good
shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my own sheep
and my own know me.
Alleluia!
Or
|
Jn15:4,5
|
Alleluia, alleluia!
Make your home in me,
as I make mine in you,
says the Lord;
whoever remains in me
bears fruit in plenty.
Alleluia!
Gospel
|
John 15:1-8 ©
|
Jesus said:
‘I am the true vine,
and my Father is the
vinedresser.
Every branch in me
that bears no fruit
he cuts away,
and every branch that
does bear fruit
he prunes to make it
bear even more.
You are pruned
already,
by means of the word
that I have spoken to you.
Make your home in me,
as I make mine in you.
As a branch cannot
bear fruit all by itself,
but must remain part
of the vine,
neither can you
unless you remain in me.
I am the vine,
you are the branches.
Whoever remains in
me, with me in him,
bears fruit in
plenty;
for cut off from me
you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not
remain in me
is like a branch that
has been thrown away – he withers;
these branches are
collected and thrown on the fire,
and they are burnt.
If you remain in me
and my words remain
in you,
you may ask what you
will
and you shall get it.
It is to the glory of
my Father that you should bear much fruit,
and
then you will be my disciples.’
INTEGRATION
SCRIPTURE
READINGS: [
ACTS 15:1-6; JOHN 15:1-8 ]
In this age of
globalization and migration, we would think that the world should be more
united. We presume
that with improved digital technology and mass communication systems, there
will be greater mutual understanding. Unfortunately, there are also
downsides to globalization and migration. With so many cultures,
religions and races coming together, tensions are bound to arise. In the
old days it was easier to unite the people in a country, because most of them
shared a distinct culture and religion. But this is not the case
today. Indeed, all over the world, countries are faced with the challenge
of integrating migrants as, if not managed well, they could become a potential
source of conflict, misunderstanding and tension in society.
The Church today faces
the same challenge of integration. The Church is called Catholic, which means universal. How
do you maintain unity when members come from so many diverse nationalities,
cultures and languages? Before the era of globalization and migration, it
was not that difficult because most Catholics were homogenous within their own
communities. But regardless whether we are Catholic or not, the local
churches all over the world have to deal with the integration of migrants into
their local community. If not properly handled, the Church could become very
divisive as well, because we know that culture has to do with emotions rather
than with logic.
Consequently, we can
learn from the experience of the early Church, which we read in the Acts of the
Apostles. Right
from the start, they had to deal with the entry of the Gentiles into the
Church. Until then, the early Christians were mostly Jews. Whilst
accepting Christ as their Saviour and Lord, they remained true to their Jewish
faith. They continued to be circumcised, for that was the way to be
members of the Covenant. They also followed strictly the laws of Moses as
prescribed, even for food and rituals. With a great influx of Gentiles
into the Christian community, the Jewish Christians also felt uncomfortable
mixing and socializing with the Gentiles for fear of contamination. It
was in this context that this issue was brought before the leaders in
Jerusalem.
The implications were
far reaching and any decision would determine the future of the growth of
Christianity. If they
required the Gentiles to be circumcised over and above the reception of baptism,
then Christianity would be reduced to another sect in Judaism. If they
were to say that the Gentiles need not become Jews and practice the customs of
the Jews and follow the laws of Moses as prescribed in the Old Testament, then
it would mean that Christianity had distinguished itself from Judaism.
Membership would no longer be by circumcision with all the implications of
being a Jew but simply faith in Christ through baptism.
Salvation therefore did
not depend on whether they became members of the Old Covenant through
circumcision, but whether they had faith in Christ. In other words, by accepting the
Gentiles into the Christian faith without requiring them to renounce their
culture, other than those values or practices that were deemed to be alien or non-compatible
to the gospel, the Christian Church had established herself as members of the
New Covenant; no longer under the old Law of Moses but only the Law of
Christ. Indeed, this would be the step forward to unite all peoples
regardless of their language of culture. Unity, above all, must be based
on faith in Christ. How we express our faith is another different matter
altogether.
Indeed,
this is the message of today’s gospel when Jesus spoke of the fundamental
integration that is required for us all. All unity must be founded on
our unity with the Lord. For this reason, at the beginning of the mass,
we say, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion
of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” The gathering of the Christian
community is founded on our union with the Holy Trinity. Hence, we
are called to be integrated first and foremost in him. “I am the vine, you are
the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for
cut off from me you can do nothing. Make your home in me, as I make mine in
you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, but must remain part of
the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.”
Secondly, we are to be
integrated with the leaders of the Church. One cannot be in union with Christ without being in
union with His appointed successors. The sure way of being united in the
Lord is to be in communion with the leaders of the Church. For this reason,
Paul and Barnabas sought clarification from the apostles at Jerusalem when
there was a dispute over the necessity of circumcision of the Gentiles
Christians. Paul recognized the authority of the apostles in making decisions
for the future of the Church as such matters were not found explicitly in the
bible. We must not so be simplistic to hold the principle that everything
is found in the Word of God. The bible is not a kind of encyclopedia that
gives an explicit answer to every question. Many of our modern day
questions are not found explicitly, but implicitly in the Word of God.
Hence, when new questions are raised, it is the task of Church leaders to come
together to discern the Lord’s will with regard to new issues.
Thirdly, discerning
leaders must be rooted in the Word of God. In the work of discernment, leaders must be in
touch with the Word of God. This is what the Lord says, “You are
pruned already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you.” Whilst
the bible does not give explicit answers, nevertheless, Church leaders are
required to make sure that their decisions are always based on the principles
founded in the Word of God. Indeed, no doctrines and dogmas can
contradict the bible even though they are not found explicitly in the
scriptures. The Word of God is applicable for all times but not to be
understood literally.
Fourthly, integrity of
life is the sign that we are integrated and in communion with Him and His
Church. This is seen in the fruits we bear in our lives. St Paul gives us the criteria of the
fruits of the Holy Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control; against such there is no law” (Gal 5:22f) Jesus
also made it clear “A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree
bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and
thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.” (Mt 7:18-20) We
must be weary of those Christians who claim to have the truth but will do
things in ways that are not in union with their leadership or in agreement with
the Word of God. Jesus warns such people, “Anyone who does not remain in
me is like a branch that has been thrown away – he withers; these branches
are collected and thrown on the fire, and they are burnt.”
In the final analysis,
let us realize that tension in the Church and among members of the community is
not always negative but the teething problems of growing up. It is, as Jesus tells us, part of the
pruning process which entails some trimming on the part of those who are
growing in the Spirit and those members that have become obstacles in the
growth of the Church because of complacency and routine. Jesus said, “I
am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that
bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to
make it bear even more.” It also calls for sensitivity to each
other, especially respect for each other’s cultures. There is a need for
sincere and honest dialogue, just like the early Christians. Instead of
cutting each other off, resulting in schism, we must remain together and united
in prayer when engaging each other. At the end of the day we must glorify
God by our unity and love for each other.
Written
by The Most Rev William Goh Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved
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