BEING FAITHFUL TO OUR VOCATION IS TO CO-OPERATE IN GOD’S PLAN FOR HUMANITY

20161014 BEING FAITHFUL TO OUR VOCATION IS TO CO-OPERATE IN GOD’S PLAN FOR HUMANITY

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Green.

First reading

Ephesians 1:11-14 ©

It is in Christ that we were claimed as God’s own,

chosen from the beginning,

under the predetermined plan of the one who guides all things

as he decides by his own will;

chosen to be,

for his greater glory,

the people who would put their hopes in Christ before he came.

Now you too, in him,

have heard the message of the truth and the good news of your salvation,

and have believed it;

and you too have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit of the Promise,

the pledge of our inheritance

which brings freedom for those whom God has taken for his own, to make his glory praised.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 32:1-2,4-5,12-13 ©

Happy the people the Lord has chosen as his own.

Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just;

  for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.

Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp,

  with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs.

Happy the people the Lord has chosen as his own.

For the word of the Lord is faithful

  and all his works to be trusted.

The Lord loves justice and right

  and fills the earth with his love.

Happy the people the Lord has chosen as his own.

They are happy, whose God is the Lord,

  the people he has chosen as his own.

From the heavens the Lord looks forth,

  he sees all the children of men.

Happy the people the Lord has chosen as his own.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Ps18:9

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your words gladden the heart, O Lord,

they give light to the eyes.

Alleluia!

Or

Ps32:22

Alleluia, alleluia!

May your love be upon us, O Lord,

as we place all our hope in you.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 12:1-7 ©

The people had gathered in their thousands so that they were treading on one another. And Jesus began to speak, first of all to his disciples. ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees – that is, their hypocrisy. Everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. For this reason, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in hidden places will be proclaimed on the housetops.

  ‘To you my friends I say: Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. I will tell you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has the power to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Can you not buy five sparrows for two pennies? And yet not one is forgotten in God’s sight. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. There is no need to be afraid: you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.’

BEING FAITHFUL TO OUR VOCATION IS TO CO-OPERATE IN GOD’S PLAN FOR HUMANITY

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [  EPHESIANS 1:11-14; LUKE 12:1-7 ]

Inspite of scientific and technological progress, the truth is that the materialistic and sensual man remains unfulfilled.  He is also lost.  There is a feeling of incompleteness and also paralysis.  He does not know what he is living for except to have a career, make money and live a luxurious life.  But life cannot simply be lived on this level.  Anyone who has gone through life will tell you that power, success and money cannot bring you happiness.  Indeed, when you arrive at that stage, you will feel even more frustrated and can even become nihilistic because everything seems meaningless.

Indeed, the key to life is meaning!  When we ask what the meaning of life is, what we are really asking is, what is our goal, destiny and purpose in life?  As Christians, we are fortunate because the purpose and goal of life is revealed to us.  We need not search for our origin or destiny because we know our origin and destiny; we also live with purpose.  What, then, is the meaning of life?

Today, in the first reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians, we are given the grandiose vision of God for the world.  The letter of St Paul to the Ephesians is called the Queen of Epistles because it gives us the vision and mission statement of God.  In biblical and Pauline terms, this vision and mission statement is what the mystery of God is all about.  The mystery of God for St Paul is His divine plan for creation and humanity.

There are two parts to this vision and mission statement.  In the first section of this outline of the plan of God, St Paul shows us that “the mystery of his purpose, the hidden plan he so kindly made in Christ from the beginning to act upon when the times had run their course to the end: that he would bring everything together under Christ, as head, everything in the heavens and everything on earth.”  Christ therefore is the basis and the agent of true unity in the world.   Indeed, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has “blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ.”

Secondly, St Paul says that God “has chosen us in Christ even before the world began to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence, determining that we should become his adopted sons, through Jesus Christ for his own kind purposes, to make us praise the glory of his grace, his free gift to us in the Beloved, in whom, through his blood, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins.” Indeed, when we contemplate on our great calling to be sons in the Son, that is, to share in the life of God, the Trinitarian life of love and giving in absolute freedom, we cannot but also marvel with St Paul “the richness of the grace which he has showered on us in all wisdom and insight.”

Today, in the last part of this hymn which we have read, St Paul reminds us that it is “in Christ that we were claimed as God’s own, chosen from the beginning, under the predetermined plan of the one who guides all things as he decides by his own will; chosen to be, for his greater glory, the people who would put their hopes in Christ before he came.”  In other words, we were not chosen simply for ourselves but for His greater glory.

Consequently, we who are privileged to know our calling because we “have heard the message of the truth and the good news of our salvation, and have believed it; and have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit of the Promise, the pledge of our inheritance which brings freedom for those whom God has taken for his own, to make his glory praised” now have an obligation to make known to the whole world, their calling as well.  Indeed, we have a duty to share the vision of God with the whole of humanity waiting for salvation and fulfillment so that they too can be restored to their true freedom as sons of God by being freed from slavery to this world and the emptiness of life.

How can we do this if not by revealing the glory of God in and through our lives in this world?  Yes, in this great plan of God, each one of us is called to live a holy and spotless life, and show forth His glory in us through our contribution to the world, the building of humanity and the fostering of unity and peace, through the promotion of justice, truth and the dignity of the human person which is so much needed in the world today.  This is particularly true for those called to be leaders of society and church.  Being chosen for leadership, the future of humanity depends on them.  But all, regardless, are called to reveal the glory of God.   We need to discern how the Lord is calling us to witness His love in the world.

What is important in the discernment of vocation is that we must never exclude the possibility of being called to the priesthood or religious life.  Priests and religious are called to witness to the love of God in a special way and more direct manner of proclaiming the Good News both in word and in deed.  To be priest is to be a bridge between God and man.  Priests are called to bring humanity to God so that they know their true destiny and high calling in life.  In this way, humanity can live in peace and love.

Whichever vocation we choose, we must be true to the voice of God.  We should not choose something simply because we like to do or because it gives us satisfaction and fulfill our needs, be it material, affective, psychological or egoistic needs. Consequently, there is a danger of hypocrisy as the gospel warns us.  ”Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees – that is, their hypocrisy. “  We, too, because of pressure from society or even from our loved ones, might end up choosing a vocation that is not truly ours.

For what is hypocrisy, if not to be what we are not?   A hypocrite is a person who pretends to be what he is not.  He puts on a mask just to please people.  In a certain sense, when we do not follow our calling in life, we are actually cheating ourselves and even those whom we purport to serve.  If we are not really called for a particular vocation, we can never excel in that particular area.  Most of all, we find ourselves lacking fulfillment and happiness in what we do because we have no passion or conviction or even aptitude for it.

This explains why Jesus said, “Everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear.”  Indeed, those who are not faithful to their calling in life will only be exposed later on and regret that they made the wrong choice.

Yes, the gospel invites us to be faithful to our calling, regardless whether it is to be involved in the civil and public life of society, in politics or economics, or to be his priests and religious.  We must not allow material gains or the pressures of society to make us fearful of choosing what is in our hearts.  For if we are afraid to be true to ourselves, we will only suffer more misery later on.  Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  I will tell you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has the power to cast into hell.”  Clearly, we must not allow ourselves to sell our soul, that is, our spirit or enthusiasm or conviction to the world.  Truly, our soul is more important than material gains or worldly benefits.   Our personal and spiritual fulfillment is more satisfying and fulfilling than money, power and fame.  Money and pleasure cannot replace the higher need for love and service.

So, today we must be courageous in being faithful to our vocation, especially when it is a calling to the priestly and religious life or even civil and political office.  We must not be afraid to make conscientious choices.  We must find the strength to climb every mountain and every hill to find our dream.  Today, the Lord consoles us that He who has chosen us to be part of His divine plan will be the one who will help us to bring it to fulfillment.  We need not worry.  After all, He said, “Can you not buy five sparrows for two pennies? And yet not one is forgotten in God’s sight.  Why, every hair on your head has been counted.  There is no need to be afraid: you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.’”  Yes, we are worth more than just mere creatures because we are called to be sons in the Son.  We only have to do our part and God who chose us will never allow His plan to be wrecked by man.  All He wants of us is to cooperate generously with Him.

In this way, we will find true happiness for ourselves because we are faithful to our calling in Christ to be His glory in the world through our vocation.  At the same time, humanity will benefit from us and together with humanity, we become one with each other because we are called to be one in God and in Christ.   By so doing, the plan of God for humanity will be realized.

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