20161112 CHRISTIAN FORMATION IS EXPRESSED IN PASTORAL CHARITY
Readings at Mass
Liturgical
Colour: Red.
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First reading
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3 John 1:5-8 ©
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My friend, you have
done faithful work in looking after these brothers, even though they were
complete strangers to you. They are a proof to the whole Church of your charity
and it would be a very good thing if you could help them on their journey in a
way that God would approve. It was entirely for the sake of the name that they
set out, without depending on the pagans for anything; it is our duty to welcome
men of this sort and contribute our share to their work for the truth.
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Responsorial
Psalm
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Psalm
111(112):1-6 ©
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Happy the man who
takes delight in the commands of the Lord.
Happy the man who
fears the Lord,
who takes
delight in all his commands.
His sons will be
powerful on earth;
the
children of the upright are blessed.
Happy the man who
takes delight in the commands of the Lord.
Riches and wealth are
in his house;
his
justice stands firm for ever.
He is a light in the
darkness for the upright:
he is
generous, merciful and just.
Happy the man who
takes delight in the commands of the Lord.
The good man takes
pity and lends,
he
conducts his affairs with honour.
The just man will
never waver:
he will
be remembered for ever.
Happy the man who
takes delight in the commands of the Lord.
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Gospel
Acclamation
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Jm1:21
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Accept and submit to
the word
which has been
planted in you
and can save your
souls.
Alleluia!
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Or
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cf.2Th2:14
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Through the Good News
God called us
to share the glory of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Luke 18:1-8 ©
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Jesus told his
disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart.
‘There was a judge in a certain town’ he said ‘who had neither fear of God nor
respect for man. In the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him
and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time he
refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear of God nor
respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her
just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.”’
And the
Lord said ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see
justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to
help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily.
But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’
CHRISTIAN
FORMATION IS EXPRESSED IN PASTORAL CHARITY
SCRIPTURE
READINGS: [ 3 JOHN1: 5-8; LUKE 18:1-8 ]
As
Christians, it is our duty to nurture our faith in scripture, doctrines and in
spiritual life. Christian formation is necessary not only to strengthen our own
faith and spiritual life but for the sake of sharing the love of Christ with
others in words and deeds. Indeed, the goal of an integrated Christian
formation in scripture, morality, doctrines and spiritual life is directed at
the exercise of pastoral charity and apostolic zeal.
In the
first reading, St John praised Gaius for his hospitality towards fellow
Christians in accommodating and supporting Christian missionaries.
Although not an apostle or missionary himself, he expressed his apostolic zeal
by the exercise of pastoral charity towards his fellow Christians, especially
those itinerant preachers of the faith. Clearly, Gaius had this ecclesial
mindedness and he saw the mission of the Church as one. This was in
direct contrast to Diotrephes, one of the leaders of a Christian community, who
refused to have anything to do with other spiritual leaders. He wanted to
control the Church by himself and refused to welcome any teacher. He
isolated himself from the rest of the Christian community and built his own
kingdom, not the Church of Christ. He was not a servant but an autocrat!
Why is pastoral charity the
goal of all apostolic zeal and work? This is because the Church is called to
communion in the Trinity so that she can call others into communion with
God. The Church is the sign and instrument of unity of the human
race. This is the mission of the Church. All pastoral activities
and missionary endeavours are to bring about communion among men through
communion with God. This communion is achieved principally through charity,
which presupposes justice.
Charity is the primary work
of the Church, not justice. Pope Emeritus Benedict in the encyclical “God
is Love” reminds us that justice is the work and responsibility of the
government. It is the duty of the state to enact harmonious and fair laws that
respect the dignity of the individual, especially the weak and poor and for the
good of society. The Church is not responsible for implementing the laws of
justice. Nevertheless if the government, just like the unjust judge in today’s
gospel, fails to do its work, it is the moral duty of the Church to be the
prophet of justice for the voiceless. The Church has the moral
responsibility to speak out for justice, especially when the rights of the
human person or the poor are marginalized or oppressed. If the Church speaks so
passionately against injustice, it is because justice is the presupposition for
unity.
However,
the Church is called to go beyond justice to serve in charity and
compassion. To remain on justice alone is still on the level of human
love. Hence, the scripture readings invite us to extend hospitality first
and foremost to fellow Christians, especially teachers of the faith; secondly
to other Christians. This is because our support for missionaries is
ultimately for the proclamation of the gospel. In the same vein, it is also
inconceivable and a scandal that our fellow Christians need to be supported by
non-Christians when we are called to be the sign and instrument of love and
unity. Indeed, it is a scandal to have amongst us Catholics and
Christians who are deprived of the basic needs of life. This is a
contradiction to our very essence as a Church of communion and love.
On the
level of the Church, we must exercise ecclesial-mindedness. There is a
danger that we can become too myopic in the way we see ourselves. The
parish must be concerned for the diocese and the latter for the universal
Church. There is only one Church of Christ and therefore we must care for
each other. Within the parish, all organizations are inter-related
and these must work with the parish for the good of all. Hence, it would
certainly be against Christian charity to favour one group over the
other. We must not see ourselves as competitors but as fellow
missionaries for the Lord. So too, a parish cannot be thinking only of
herself, but she must be concerned for the needs of poorer parishes and the
diocese at large. When a group or a movement does not align itself with
the rest of the Church, it is in danger of becoming inward-looking and a sect
that introduces deviant teachings. It is for this reason that the Church
always underscores that we must all, for the sake of unity, have reverence for
the local bishop and strive to work with him; and the bishop in turn must work
in collegiality with the rest of the bishops and the Holy Father in the
universal Church.
For
this to happen, we must begin with ourselves in whichever organization or
movement we are in. Quite often, we tend to draw parameters in service
and charity. We are contented with doing the minimum or what is our
responsibility. Beyond our duty, we would not lift a finger to
help. When we become so parochial minded, then we are certainly not
living out the call to pastoral charity. Indeed, we must exercise more
charity towards each other. Whether in work or service, we must offer
fraternal care and support for each other’s needs. To look after each
other beyond the call of duty is to practice pastoral charity, which is our
expression of apostolic zeal. For by caring for our fellow brothers and
sisters in their ministry and work, we know that the Church will gain at the
end. If we cannot practise pastoral charity in the parish or organization
or in our homes, it is difficult to believe that we have genuine pastoral zeal,
since apostolic fervour is the desire that all peoples come to know Christ
either through us directly or through our fellow brothers and sisters labouring
in the Lord’s harvest.
Due to
the presence of sin in the Church, there are occasions when justice and charity
are not exercised. In the gospel, like the widow, we are
called to pray to God and trust in His divine providence and mercy. When
justice is not being done or seen to be done, or when we feel so helpless in
the face of injustices, we can, instead of taking things into our own hands,
trust that God will in His own time and in His own way bring about justice and
charity in the Church. It would be a contradiction for those who claim to
be speaking for justice and for the good of the Church and society to be so
unjust and lacking charity in their attempts to bring about justice. We
must recognize the difference between the area of concern and the area of
influence. So long as we, in all honesty, speak for justice according to
the power of influence we have, we would have done our part and our conscience
is clear. To incite others and cause greater disunity in the Church shows
a lack of charity and compassion. Indeed, Jesus reminds us that it is not
by our effort alone that will bring about justice and unity, but only through
our faith in God. The question is, “when the Son of man comes, will he
find any faith on earth?”
Let us
reflect and pray for the faith of the widow, never giving up hope on anyone or
in any situation but persevere in our prayers and faith in God. We can be
confident that He will hear our prayers because He is obviously more than the
unjust judge; and genuinely concerned about our welfare and happiness.
God who is our Father will not fail us. All we need to do is to surrender
everything to Him after we have done all we possibly could. Yes, Jesus
assures us, “Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day
and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice
done to them, and done speedily.”
Written
by The Most Rev William Goh Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights
Reserved
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