20160907 DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE A TOMORROW?
Readings at Mass
Liturgical
Colour: Green.
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First reading
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1 Corinthians
7:25-31 ©
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About remaining
celibate, I have no directions from the Lord but give my own opinion as one
who, by the Lord’s mercy, has stayed faithful. Well then, I believe that in
these present times of stress this is right: that it is good for a man to stay
as he is. If you are tied to a wife, do not look for freedom; if you are free
of a wife, then do not look for one. But if you marry, it is no sin, and it is
not a sin for a young girl to get married. They will have their troubles,
though, in their married life, and I should like to spare you that.
Brothers,
this is what I mean: our time is growing short. Those who have wives should
live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had
nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there
were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as
though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world
should not become engrossed in it. I say this because the world as we know it
is passing away.
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Responsorial
Psalm
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Psalm
44:11-12,14-17 ©
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Listen, O
daughter, give ear to my words.
Listen, O daughter,
give ear to my words:
forget
your own people and your father’s house.
So will the king
desire your beauty:
He is
your lord, pay homage to him.
Listen, O
daughter, give ear to my words.
The daughter of the
king is clothed with splendour,
her robes
embroidered with pearls set in gold.
She is led to the
king with her maiden companions.
Listen, O
daughter, give ear to my words.
They are escorted
amid gladness and joy;
they pass
within the palace of the king.
Sons shall be yours
in place of your fathers:
you will
make them princes over all the earth.
Listen, O daughter,
give ear to my words.
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Gospel
Acclamation
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1Jn2:5
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Whenever anyone obeys
what Christ has said,
God’s love comes to
perfection in him.
Alleluia!
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Or
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Lk6:23ab
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Rejoice and be glad:
your reward will be
great in heaven.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Luke 6:20-26 ©
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Fixing his eyes on
his disciples Jesus said:
‘How happy are you
who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God.
Happy you who are
hungry now: you shall be satisfied.
Happy you who weep
now: you shall laugh.
Happy are you when
people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on
account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, for
then your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors
treated the prophets.
‘But alas for you who
are rich: you are having your consolation now.
Alas for you who have
your fill now: you shall go hungry.
Alas for you who
laugh now: you shall mourn and weep.
‘Alas
for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors
treated the false prophets.’
DO YOU
REALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE A TOMORROW?
SCRIPTURE
READINGS: [ 1
COR 7:25-31; LUKE 6:20-26 ]
In the olden days, most
people believed that there was a tomorrow after death. As a result, they
lived a good life, knowing that there would be retribution in the next
life. So many of our forefathers lived in view of the fullness of life
promised to them. They lived with the great hope that the sufferings in
this life cannot be compared to the life hereafter. They waited for the
“inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven”
for them. (1 Pt 1:4
) This was the same attitude of the early Christians in
the first reading. St Paul reminded them, “I say this because the world
as we know it is passing away.” This attitude is true even of
non-Christians. Although they might not believe in the resurrection of
the dead, most would believe a certain continuity of life and the doctrine of
karma, what you sow is what you reap.
) This was the same attitude of the early Christians in
the first reading. St Paul reminded them, “I say this because the world
as we know it is passing away.” This attitude is true even of
non-Christians. Although they might not believe in the resurrection of
the dead, most would believe a certain continuity of life and the doctrine of
karma, what you sow is what you reap.
But in the modern
generation, the thought of tomorrow and of life after death seems to be
something too far-fetched or too remote even to think of. Like the
Corinthians, we are all so engrossed with this life, busy doing many things
besides enjoying ourselves, that we hardly spare a thought for tomorrow.
Furthermore, with a longer life span and finitude of life masked by cosmetics
and aesthetic surgery, we delude ourselves into thinking that we are still
young and can live for many more years. Indeed, if we honestly examine
ourselves, most of us, even believers in Christ, live as if there is no
tomorrow. The fact that our faith in life after death does not affect the
decisions as to how we live today, shows that it is just an idea, not a
conviction. At most, we might worry only when we are sick or facing the
possibility of death.
What is the cause? It
springs from a loss of the sense of the Sacred and faith in God. Through
science and technology and in an age of information, many people no longer turn
to God to solve their problems. They think so highly of themselves, that
they can manage on their own and solve all the problems of the world.
This has led to materialism and individualism. Being absorbed by the
world, God becomes more and more distant from their lives. Left to
themselves, without understanding that life is much deeper and richer when we
live on the transcendental level, they sink to living merely a sensual
life. The more they live this kind of life, the emptier they
become. In truth, for those who live such a life, especially when they
have become successful and have all the material things they need and want,
they are often restlessness and lonely. They know that something is
missing in their life, which they experience as a deep vacuum.
Unfortunately, many do not realize that it is their spirit seeking for
God. This is what the Lord warns us of today, “But alas for you who are
rich: you are having your consolation now. Alas for you who have your fill now:
you shall go hungry. Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and
weep. Alas for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way
the ancestors treated the false prophets.”
In the gospel, when Jesus presented
the Blessed Life to His disciples, He was precisely speaking about what
fullness of life entails. It means to live in a spirit of poverty,
knowing that happiness in life is to live simply and be freed from the worldly
concerns of life. When we live with detachment and are grateful for what we
have, we will always be happy because we are not a prisoner of anyone. We
are called to live in love for the truth. Even when we are rejected and
hated because of our Christian belief, we should be at peace. Truth and
love will prevail at the end; if not in this life, it will be so in the next
life. It is this confidence of the final liberation that made many
Christians give their life for their faith and devote themselves to the service
of God and the Church as hermits, monks, religious and priests. Many more
spend their whole life in service to the poor and needy.
St Paul in the first
reading lived with such a vivid hope for the fullness of life in the
future. In his letter to the Philippians, he wrote, “For to me to live is
Christ, and to die is gain. If it is to be life in the flesh, that means
fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard
pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is
far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your
account.” (Phil 1:21-24
) Again in the second letter of Peter, St Peter wrote,
“The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is
forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all
should reach repentance.” (1 Pt 3:9
)
) Again in the second letter of Peter, St Peter wrote,
“The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is
forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all
should reach repentance.” (1 Pt 3:9)
St Paul saw the urgency of
preparing ourselves for the next life. Within this context, he advised
the Christians that in whatever they did, they had to focus their eyes on the
Lord. Accordingly “those who have wives should live as though they had none,
and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those
who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about;
those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of
their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become
engrossed in it.” He was not saying that we cannot marry, or enjoy life
here and now, but that we must bear in mind that because “the world as we know
it is passing away.” We must not deceive ourselves into thinking that we are
here forever. Hence, it is important that we live our lives in
perspective.
Living for the future does
not mean that we do not live in the present. Rather, the present is lived
even more fully because of the future. Realizing what is ahead of us, we
will not take the things of this life too seriously. They are means by
which we are called to love and grow in grace. Realizing that the future
is a life lived with God in love, then this life must already be a foretaste
here and now. “Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous
to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count
the forbearance of our Lord as salvation.” (1 Pt 3:14f
)
)
What actually makes us
happy today is not whether we have much food, a beautiful house, a great career
or fame, but whether we are making a difference in the life of our
fellowmen. Only when we live in such a way that is contributive to
Church, society and country, can we be happy with ourselves and be at
peace. Knowing that we can bring much joy to those who are suffering,
food to those who are without, shelter to those who have none, relief and cure
to those who are sick, work to those who are without jobs, reconciliation to
those who are alienated from their loved ones, peace to those who are troubled
in their conscience, forgiveness to those who condemn themselves, and all the
good works we can think of, will make us more human and fulfilled. That is why,
as we weep with them, identifying ourselves with them in their poverty and
their sickness and suffering, we learn to feel with them. In reaching out
to them, they will draw out the goodness that is latent in our hearts. By
so doing, we will find a joy that the world cannot give. “How happy are you who
are poor: yours is the kingdom of God. Happy you who are hungry now: you
shall be satisfied. Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.”
Written
by The Most Rev William Goh Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights
Reserved
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