MISSING THE MARK

20160527 MISSING THE MARK

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Green.

First reading

1 Peter 4:7-13 ©

Everything will soon come to an end, so, to pray better, keep a calm and sober mind. Above all, never let your love for each other grow insincere, since love covers over many a sin. Welcome each other into your houses without grumbling. Each one of you has received a special grace, so, like good stewards responsible for all these different graces of God, put yourselves at the service of others. If you are a speaker, speak in words which seem to come from God; if you are a helper, help as though every action was done at God’s orders; so that in everything God may receive the glory, through Jesus Christ, since to him alone belong all glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.

  My dear people, you must not think it unaccountable that you should be tested by fire. There is nothing extraordinary in what has happened to you. If you can have some share in the sufferings of Christ, be glad, because you will enjoy a much greater gladness when his glory is revealed.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 95:10-13 ©

The Lord comes to rule the earth.

Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king.’

  The world he made firm in its place;

  he will judge the peoples in fairness.

The Lord comes to rule the earth.

Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad,

  let the sea and all within it thunder praise,

let the land and all it bears rejoice,

  all the trees of the wood shout for joy

at the presence of the Lord for he comes,

  he comes to rule the earth.

The Lord comes to rule the earth.

With justice he will rule the world,

  he will judge the peoples with his truth.

The Lord comes to rule the earth.

Gospel Acclamation

Ps118:36,29

Alleluia, alleluia!

Bend my heart to your will, O Lord,

and teach me your law.

Alleluia!

Or	cf.Jn15:16

Alleluia, alleluia!

I chose you from the world

to go out and bear fruit,

fruit that will last,

says the Lord.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Mark 11:11-26 ©

After he had been acclaimed by the crowds, Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple. He looked all round him, but as it was now late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

  Next day as they were leaving Bethany, he felt hungry. Seeing a fig tree in leaf some distance away, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it, but when he came up to it he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season for figs. And he addressed the fig tree. ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again’ he said. And his disciples heard him say this.

  So they reached Jerusalem and he went into the Temple and began driving out those who were selling and buying there; he upset the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who were selling pigeons. Nor would he allow anyone to carry anything through the Temple. And he taught them and said, ‘Does not scripture say: My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples? But you have turned it into a robbers’ den.’ This came to the ears of the chief priests and the scribes, and they tried to find some way of doing away with him; they were afraid of him because the people were carried away by his teaching. And when evening came he went out of the city.

  Next morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered to the roots. Peter remembered. ‘Look, Rabbi,’ he said to Jesus, ‘the fig tree you cursed has withered away.’ Jesus answered, ‘Have faith in God. I tell you solemnly, if anyone says to this mountain, “Get up and throw yourself into the sea,” with no hesitation in his heart but believing that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. I tell you therefore: everything you ask and pray for, believe that you have it already, and it will be yours. And when you stand in prayer, forgive whatever you have against anybody, so that your Father in heaven may forgive your failings too.’ But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your failings either.’

MISSING THE MARK

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ 1 PT 4:7-13; PS 95:10-13; MK 11:11-26  ]

What is sin?  In Greek, the biblical word for sin is “harmatia”, which means to miss the mark, to go astray or to be lost.  So sin is simply the failure to become what we are called to be.  Sin is more than simply an act or even a thought.  It includes not just the sin of commission but also the sin of omission.  The failure to become the glory of God is sin.  St Paul said, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”(Rom 3:23)  Sin is therefore more than just failing to be a devoted parent, a holy priest or a teacher or good student.  It is the failure to be what we are, sons and daughters of God.

This was the case of Israel.   She failed to live up to the promises of God given to her.  She was chosen by God among all peoples to be His Chosen People so that they can be a light to all the nations.  God spoke through the prophet, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”  (Isa 49:6)  Instead of being the Chosen People of God, they were unfaithful to the covenant.  Instead of worshipping the Lord, they worshipped power, money and practiced social injustice.

The cleansing of the Temple is but a symbolic illustration of the sins of Israel.  The Temple of Jerusalem was supposed to be a place of worship, the glory of Jerusalem pointing to the heavenly Jerusalem.  Instead of helping people to worship God, it was used by the priests and officials to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor people.  They charged exorbitant fees when they had to change foreign currency to the Temple currency.  They would find fault with those who bought the animals for offering and worship outside the Temple, since all animals must be without blemish.  But they would sell them at a price much higher than those from the market.  Such corrupt and unjust practices deprived the poor from offering sacrifices and worship to God.

Indeed, the sin of Israel was the sin of the political and religious leaders.  How true it is in life that the higher you rise in the social, economic, political and religious ladder, the more corrupt we get!  Many who are in power use their office and position to enrich themselves instead of offering themselves for the service of the people.  It is not uncommon for those who are rich and powerful to bribe the junior officials to do their bidding and carry out their evil and corrupt deeds.  Otherwise, they would threaten to hurt their loved ones or to remove them from their jobs.   It is always the ordinary people who strive so hard to earn an honest living that are discredited, made use of, abused and then dumped.   Whilst the innocent and good people suffer, the evil ones seem to get richer and more powerful.  This has been and still is the sad reality of life caused by incompetent and self-seeking leaders.

The parable of the Fig Tree in today’s gospel is Jesus’ attempt to highlight the tragic state of the People of God.  It is not meant to be understood literally but allegorically.  The people of Israel were given the Promise but they failed to bring it to fruition and realization.  Promise without fulfillment is not the work of God but the failure of man!   God has always intended Israel to be great and to be a leader for all to come to God by living a covenanted life of love, unity, charity and a life of virtue and integrity. Israel was supposed to be a model nation for how one could live a life of communion with God and with each other so that she could prosper not just economically and politically but most of all, religiously. But like the Fig Tree, there were only leaves but no fruits. The consequence for failing to bear fruit is that eventually, like Israel, we will wither and die, if not we will be chopped down.  (cf Lk 13:9; Mt 7:19)  This is the warning of Jesus for those who are not responsible with the gifts given to them.  They will eventually destroy themselves.

Truly, many people with good prospects in life end up as failures.  Some even commit suicide because they do not know how to manage their lives properly with the gifts given to them.  Instead of using their talents for good, either they are irresponsible and squander their talents, wealth and time away or they use what they have for evil, dishonest and selfish pleasures or gains.   This is the greatest tragedy that can happen to anyone.  If we are poor or do not have such privileges, no one can blame us.  We can live with a clear conscience and with dignity that we have done all that we could within our limitations.  But those who have been blessed with much but give little back to society not only do society a disfavor but most of all, themselves and their loved ones.

For this reason, St Peter urges us to use our gifts in such a way “that in everything God may receive the glory, through Jesus Christ, since to him alone belong all glory and power for ever and ever.”   Indeed, whatever gifts we have come from God and must be used for His greater glory.  The Benedictines’ Motto is “in omnibus glorificetur Deus”, that is, “in all things may God be glorified!”  We too must use all that we have for the glory of God.  Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”  (Mt 5:16)

Consequently, St Peter reminds us of our grave responsibility to make good and proper use of our gifts.   He wrote, “Each one of you has received a special grace, so, like good stewards responsible for all these different graces of God, put yourselves at the service of others.  If you are a speaker, speak in words which seem to come from God; if you are a helper, help as though every action was done at God’s orders.”  In all that we do, we must remember that we are acting on behalf of God.  We are called to serve God in His people.  As His agent and messenger, we are to mediate His love, compassion, and bring His word to others.   In the final analysis, it is God whom we are serving; not even His people.  St Paul also wrote, “Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ.”  (Col 3:23f)

All gifts must be employed for the service of love.  St Peter exhorts us, “Above all, never let your love for each other be insincere, since love covers over many a sin.  Welcome each other into your houses without grumbling.”   When we do everything in love and for love, we will avoid sinning like the Israelites and the Jews.  When we use all we have for the good of others, there will be no danger of being tempted to corruption, injustice and greed for money or power.   Love also covers a multitude of sins because we will overlook the sins and imperfections of others.  By so doing, we will exercise compassion, sensitivity and forgiveness towards those who fail us.  That is why Jesus speaks of the importance of forgiveness in relation to prayer.  “And when you stand in prayer, forgive whatever you have against anybody, so that your Father in heaven may forgive your failings too.  But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your failings.”  When we do not forgive, then we will not be able to love our brothers and sisters sincerely.

But prayer is not only linked to forgiveness and charity, it is connected to faith in God’s power.  Jesus asks us to pray so that we can be docile and receptive to the power of God and His grace for us.   We must pray in faith as Jesus said, “have faith in God. I tell you solemnly, if anyone says to this mountain, “Get up and throw yourself into the sea,” with no hesitation in his heart but believing that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.  I tell you therefore: everything you ask and pray for, believe that you have it already, and it will be yours.”  Prayer is to believe that the promise He has made us would be fulfilled.  This was how Abraham prayed.  “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go.” (Heb 11:8)  Hence, the author said, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  (Heb 11:1)  In faith, let us live out the promise given to us!

Finally, there is a warning.  If we do not use the gifts of God well, there is an inevitable judgment and condemnation.  It will not be so much God who will condemn us but we will condemn ourselves for failing to be what the Lord meant us to be.  St Peter said, “Everything will soon come to an end, so, to pray better, keep a calm and sober mind.”  We will be ready to face our end and the judgment of history if we have lived an honest and responsible life.  But if we pass the test, then St Peter says, “If you can have some share in the sufferings of Christ, be glad, because you will enjoy a much greater gladness when his glory is revealed.”   Let us then be purified by the fire of love so that this Temple of ours, the body of the Lord will be holy and glorify God.

Written by The Most Rev William Goh Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved