20160509 THE GIFT OF FORTITUDE
Readings at Mass
Liturgical
Colour: White.
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First reading
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Acts 19:1-8 ©
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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.
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Responsorial
Psalm
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Psalm 67:2-7 ©
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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!
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Gospel
Acclamation
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Jn16:28
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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!
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Or
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Col3:1
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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!
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Gospel
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John 16:29-33 ©
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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
GIFT OF FORTITUDE
SCRIPTURE
READINGS: [ ACTS 19:1-8;
JOHN 16:29-33 ]
“In the world you will
have trouble, but be brave: I have conquered the world.” Indeed, every day, we face
so many challenges. This life is truly very trying. Troubles come
every day and often not singly. Be it in relationships or coping with our
work, business and responsibilities in life, we can get discouraged. At
times we feel that the situation is so hopeless; that nothing seems to change
and we feel like giving up. How then can we be brave and persevere
so that we will not let the trials of life defeat us?
We must consider how
Jesus overcame the persecutions and suffering in His own life. Where did He find the strength to
complete His Father’s mission? His strength came from His conscious
awareness of the Father’s presence. That is why He said, “And yet I am
not alone, because the Father is with me.” The Father was with Him
in the Holy Spirit. He filled Jesus with His love by bestowing upon Him
the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew the power and love of His
Father just as the psalmist wrote, “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.” His Father will protect Him. His
Father is not only love but all powerful to destroy the foes. Jesus too
would have prayed, “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.” Indeed, this consciousness of His Father’s
love and power gave Him peace in the midst of trials.
We cannot overcome our
difficulties merely by our own strength or will. If we just rely on our own
strength, we will fail. Christianity is more than just right doctrines or
right actions. The capacity to do good and to remain firm in our beliefs
is dependent not on the efforts of man alone but on the grace of God, which is
given to us through Christ in the Holy Spirit. It is the work of
God in and through us, not ours. For this reason, St Paul “insisted that the
people should believe in the one who was to come after him – in other words
Jesus.” Salvation is by faith in the name of Jesus. In the early Church,
Christians were baptized in the name of Jesus, that is, in His strength and
power. Only Christ can enable us to live the new life of grace.
The truth is that the
baptism of John the Baptist was not complete. Paul asked the disciples of John the Baptist at
Ephesus the following question, “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.” They were only baptized with
John’s baptism, which was merely a baptism of repentance. Whilst
repentance is necessary for one to accept the new life, it does not empower one
to live accordingly. Repentance is the first stage of conversion.
To be sorry for our sins and the desire to embrace a greater life is the
initial step to take in the work of conversion. But it is not sufficient
because desiring to live the laws does not mean we can do it.
How does He empower us
to live the life of grace if not by sending us the Holy Spirit? The same Spirit that empowered Jesus in
His ministry is that same Spirit Jesus was preparing His disciples to
receive. Only in the Holy Spirit can we find the capacity, that is, the
love of God, to love as Jesus did; and the charism, the gifts of the Spirit to
enable us to carry out our mission. Reception of the Holy Spirit is
the key to be empowered. Indeed, today, the Lord promises us the gift of
fortitude to overcome the fear and discouragement in our mission. “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 in tongues and to prophesy. There were about twelve of these
men.”
How is the gift of
fortitude given to us in the Holy Spirit?
Firstly, fortitude in
life comes from knowing that we are not alone. Indeed, Jesus was able to face the
passion and the crucifixion because He knew that the Father was with Him.
He declared, “And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” So
too we are never alone because Jesus promised that He would not leave us
orphaned. He will send us the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, the love of God,
His Spirit and that of His Father to dwell in us. They will make their
home in us. So with the divine presence and love in us, we can take heart
that we are not alone. Even when we think we are alone, Christ is with
us. Sometimes, He would send His angels to help us through our friends
and even strangers.
Secondly, fortitude
comes from being understood and from understanding. To know that Jesus understands us
and feels with us gives us courage to carry on. In life, we all face
trials, but when we have someone who feels with us and is able to empathize
with us, we find the strength to endure the trials of life. Jesus fully
understands us. The great thing about Jesus is not that He has come to
reveal to us who God is but who we are. He is not only truly God
but truly man. He understands our struggles and the temptations of
life. For this reason, Jesus is always full of compassion. He does
not judge us or condemn us because He knows how hard we try. Even when we
fail, He does not judge us by our actions but by our sincerity to do
good. His ability to sync with us human beings is the cause of
our peace. Jesus knows our weakness. Hence, when they said they
now know Jesus; that He was God and man, the response of Jesus was
perceptive. Jesus was able to read their hearts and this made Him
reply, “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.”
But it is not enough
that He understands us, we must also try to understand Him and have confidence
in Him. So in
prayer, we will also come to understand His plans for us and learn to trust in
His divine providence. When we understand His care for us, we can then
learn to let go and let Him take over.
He assures us that He
forgives us. He
does not keep grudges. He knows we are weak. He loves us for what
we are and seeks to help us become what God wants of us. It was for this
reason, knowing that the disciples would betray Him, that He assured them that
He understands them and have forgiven them, so that they will not condemn and
hate themselves. Within this context, He said, “I have told you all this
so that you may find peace in me.” Peace comes from forgiveness that is
freely given and received.
Precisely, in the Holy
Spirit, we come to experience the Father’s love through Jesus who forgives us
and then sends us the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins. We do not have to condemn ourselves for
the Lord knows that we will sin. But even before we sin, He has
already forgiven us. He knows that when we sin we hurt ourselves even
more, especially when we know that He loves us much. There is no greater
guilt than to hurt those who love us. This thought of His
unconditional love and forgiveness for us will empower us to change because of
love, not of fear.
In the final analysis,
only the love of the Holy Spirit, the love of God can give us the capacity to
overcome our fears and trials in life. St Paul had the courage to proclaim the gospel boldly in
the synagogue because he too felt the presence of God’s love for Him.
Most of all, he was inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit who gave him
courage and fortitude in the face of his enemies. “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.”
Written
by The Most Rev William Goh Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved
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