VOLUNTARY DENIAL OF OUR PRIVILEGES

20160808 VOLUNTARY DENIAL OF OUR PRIVILEGES

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: White.

First reading

Ezekiel 1:2-5,24-28 ©

On the fifth of the month – it was the fifth year of exile for King Jehoiachin – the word of the Lord was addressed to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldaeans, on the bank of the river Chebar.

  There the hand of the Lord came on me. I looked; a stormy wind blew from the north, a great cloud with light around it, a fire from which flashes of lightning darted, and in the centre a sheen like bronze at the heart of the fire. In the centre I saw what seemed four animals. I heard the noise of their wings as they moved; it sounded like rushing water, like the voice of Shaddai, a noise like a storm, like the noise of a camp; when they halted, they folded their wings, and there was a noise.

  Above the vault over their heads was something that looked like a sapphire; it was shaped like a throne and high up on this throne was a being that looked like a man. I saw him shine like bronze, and close to and all around him from what seemed his loins upwards was what looked like fire; and from what seemed his loins downwards I saw what looked like fire, and a light all round like a bow in the clouds on rainy days; that is how the surrounding light appeared. It was something that looked like the glory of the Lord. I looked, and prostrated myself.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 148:1-2,11-14 ©

Your glory fills all heaven and earth.

or

Alleluia!

Praise the Lord from the heavens,

  praise him in the heights.

Praise him, all his angels,

  praise him, all his host.

Your glory fills all heaven and earth.

or

Alleluia!

All earth’s kings and peoples,

  earth’s princes and rulers,

young men and maidens,

  old men together with children.

Your glory fills all heaven and earth.

or

Alleluia!

Let them praise the name of the Lord

  for he alone is exalted.

The splendour of his name

  reaches beyond heaven and earth.

Your glory fills all heaven and earth.

or

Alleluia!

He exalts the strength of his people.

  He is the praise of all his saints,

of the sons of Israel,

  of the people to whom he comes close.

Your glory fills all heaven and earth.

or

Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation

Ps147:12,15

Alleluia, alleluia!

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!

He sends out his word to the earth.

Alleluia!

Or	cf.2Th2:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

Through the Good News God called us

to share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 17:22-27 ©

One day when they were together in Galilee, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men; they will put him to death, and on the third day he will be raised to life again.’ And a great sadness came over them.

  When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel came to Peter and said, ‘Does your master not pay the half-shekel?’ ‘Oh yes’ he replied, and went into the house. But before he could speak, Jesus said, ‘Simon, what is your opinion? From whom do the kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from foreigners?’ And when he replied, ‘From foreigners’, Jesus said, ‘Well then, the sons are exempt. However, so as not to offend these people, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that bites, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and for you.’

VOLUNTARY DENIAL OF OUR PRIVILEGES

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [  EZEKIEL 1:2-5, 24-28; MATTHEW 17:22-27]

In the gospel today, the question of the payment of the Temple tax was raised.  In asking this question, the answer could be rather tricky.  If Peter had replied that Jesus did not have to pay the Temple tax, then he would only have caused the authorities to resent Jesus and create more trouble, hampering His ministry.  Without thinking, the immediate response of Peter was, “Oh yes, he replied, and went into the house.” Again, as before, Peter seemed able to get the right answer but always the wrong meaning.

On the other hand, it did not seem right for Jesus to pay the Temple tax as it infringes on His identity and the status of the Israelites.  God, as we know, is the only King of Israel.  The argument of Jesus is clear, that by paying the Temple tax, they would be disclaiming that God is their king.  As Jesus said in the gospel, “From whom do the kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from foreigners?”  The answer of Peter was obvious and hence the reply of Jesus: “Well then, the sons are exempt.”  Then there was also the other question of Jesus’ position in the Temple.  He claimed Himself to be the son of the heavenly Father.  He was with His Father in the Temple.  It was the Father’s House. Since the Temple is His house, there was no necessity for Jesus to pay taxes as well.  Indeed, which child pays rent to his parents for staying in the parental house?  It is their privilege!

Yet, it is significant that Jesus never claimed privileges as a leader.  Although He had the right not to pay the Temple tax, yet His response was, “However, so as not to offend these people, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that bites, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and for you.”  A good leader never abuses His privileges.  We have many who take advantage of their office and system. They are calculative, whether at work or at home. Just because we are living in our parents’ house, we take things for granted and do not contribute our fair share to the maintenance of the household, whether financially or in kind.  Just because electricity is paid for by others or the company, we do not turn off the air conditioners and lights when we vacate the room.  When it comes to food, we order too much and waste them, simply because we are not paying the bill.

Better still, a good leader would even deny himself such privileges so that he could be one with His people.  Jesus gave up His rights for the greater good of the gospel.  Paul continued to work for his living although he had a right to demand that the community paid for his upkeep. “Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ . . . I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision . . . What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.” (1 Cor. 9:15-18)  Again when speaking on the issue of eating meat offered to idols, he said, “We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that There is no God but one.”  (1 Cor 8:4) However, he added, “But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” (1 Cor 8:9)

From them, we learn that we should not use the privileges offered to us unless it is for a greater cause and for the good of the gospel and service of our people.  Not many of us are able to do what Jesus and Paul did.  Even in the Church and not just in the corporate world, we are very calculative with our rights, privileges and entitlement. We want to be accorded special privileges and honor because we hold a certain office. It is about our ego and about ourselves, not about service to the Church or the people entrusted to us. Even within the church, we have parishioners and church committee members who are always demanding special privileges.  We expect reserved seats in the church during services.  We demand personal attention from our priests simply because we have contributed to the church.  Yet all the time we are saying that our services to God are unconditional and free.

As leaders, we should dispense with the privileges given to us when it serves the gospel.  We must lead by example; help out in the house and clean up even when it is not our duty, not expect to be served and wait our turn like everyone else. Those who are accorded privileges should make use of them only because protocol demands it or it helps us to carry out our office more efficiently. This will teach us to be humble and be able to feel with others, especially the ordinary people.  This way, we will also not get accustomed to the trappings of high office, so that the day we step down, we will not have a difficult time adjusting to the life of the ordinary.

Thirdly, Jesus as a leader never used His power for His own benefits.  No leader likewise must use his position for his self-interests.  For this reason, some scholars found it inexplicable that He could have told Peter to “go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that bites, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and for you.”  Such a claim is highly uncharacteristic of Jesus because in the Temptation story, Jesus rejected absolutely the use of power for His glory and needs.  Neither has He been known to use His power to satisfy His own needs nor take the easy way out.

Indeed, there are some people who are too lazy to work or to be responsible for their own lives.  They test God time and again by taking the easy way out.  They do not study but want to do well in their exams.  Instead of working for their needs they beg or live on the goodwill of others.  Instead of earning money the hard way, they turn to lady luck, hoping to strike it rich through gambling and games of chance.  This is irresponsible.  This happens often to people who come from well-to-do families, or when young people inherit wealth from their parents. They are used to a pampered life and take things for granted; incognizant of the sacrifices their parents had made to provide for them.  They will suffer later on because they would not be able to live without the comforts of life.  At the same time, they are not working hard or being responsible with their life.

Certainly, Jesus was not encouraging Peter to be lazy or complacent.  On the contrary, it was more likely that it was a saying that had the effect of telling Peter to go to the lake and catch some fish so that he could pay off the required taxes.  This instruction or story of Jesus cannot be taken too literally.  Rather, we must understand the meaning and intention of the story.  Whatever we can do, let us manage ourselves.  We need not use our office or position to be served so that we can have an easier and comfortable life.  Privileges are important only because of the greater responsibility and tasks imposed on the office holder.  For example, a parking lot is reserved for the bishop at events, not because he is a VIP, but so that he can be properly disposed before mass or the delivery of a speech, as looking for a parking lot can often be stressful. It is not a privilege for himself per se but so that he can be freed to do other important matters.

Only by living out our lives in this manner like the Lord, can we show forth the glory of God.  This was what the prophet was telling the Israelites in exile.  God was found not only in the Temple of Jerusalem but also in Babylon.  The God of Israel was also present in Babylon.  Hence, they should continue to worship Him in their hearts and keep alive the presence of God.  This was the call of the psalmist when he said, “Your glory fills all heaven and earth. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights.”  If they worked hard, lived a life of integrity, the Lord would one day restore their fortunes and their land.

Wherever we are we are called to be the glory of God.  Let us follow the example of our Lord who went through the passion to manifest the glory and power of God rather than taking things into His own hands by garnering the people for a political revolution.  Indeed, St Paul expressed the self-emptying of Jesus of all privileges when he wrote, “though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.” (Phil 2:6f)

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