20171018
LONELINESS AND TRIALS IN THE MINISTRY
Readings
at Mass
Liturgical
Colour: Red.
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First reading
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2 Timothy 4:10-17 ©
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Demas has deserted me for love of this life and gone to
Thessalonika, Crescens has gone to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia; only Luke is
with me. Get Mark to come and bring him with you; I find him a useful helper in
my work. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak I left
with Carpus in Troas, and the scrolls, especially the parchment ones. Alexander
the coppersmith has done me a lot of harm; the Lord will repay him for what he
has done. Be on your guard against him yourself, because he has been bitterly
contesting everything that we say.
The first
time I had to present my defence, there was not a single witness to support me.
Every one of them deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it.
But the Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole
message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued
from the lion’s mouth.
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm 144(145):10-13a,17-18 ©
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Your friends, O Lord, make known the glorious
splendour of your reign.
All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign
and declare your might, O God.
Your friends, O Lord, make known the glorious
splendour of your reign.
They make known to men your mighty deeds
and the glorious splendour of your reign.
Yours is an everlasting kingdom;
your rule lasts from age to age.
Your friends, O Lord, make known the glorious
splendour of your reign.
The Lord is just in all his ways
and loving in all his deeds.
He is close to all who call him,
who call on him from their hearts.
Your friends, O Lord, make known the glorious
splendour of your reign.
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Gospel Acclamation
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cf.Jn15:16
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Alleluia, alleluia!
I chose you from the world
to go out and bear fruit,
fruit that will last,
says the Lord.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Luke 10:1-9 ©
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Your peace will rest on that man
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The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of
him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to
them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the
harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am
sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no
sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first
words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace
will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same
house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves
his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where
they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are
sick, and say, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.”’
LONELINESS AND TRIALS IN THE MINISTRY
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ 2 TIM 4:10-17; LUKE 10:1-9 ]
Many of us
are happy to share in the ministry of Jesus. We are called to proclaim the Good News
in words and deeds. “Cure those in it who are sick, and say, ‘The kingdom
of God is very near to you.'” But not many realize that our ministry is
more than just doing good, healing people, praying over the sick or serving the
poor. As Jesus reminds us, “I am sending you out like lambs among
wolves.” We have to deal with enemies from within and
without. When it comes to working together, we will have differences
in approaches. We have to contend with different personalities and different
views.
Besides
dealing with our enemies, we also need to contend with the sacrifices of the
ministry; time, resources, energy, sleep and convenience. We might be
rejected and unwelcomed. “Whatever house you go into, let your first words be,
‘Peace to this house!’ And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go
and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you.”
It calls for
lots of sacrifices and adaptation, like the first missionaries. That was what Jesus
told them. “Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have
to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house.
Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before
you.” It is not easy to be a real missionary. We do not have
missionaries today who have to suffer what our forefathers had to go
through. Many of our missionaries today even live in comfortable houses
and are well taken care of.
It was for
this reason that the Lord sent the disciples to go out two by two. “The Lord
appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all
the towns and places he himself was to visit.” We need to help each other
in the ministry. We cannot undertake this ministry
alone. We cannot travel alone in this journey. Dangers and
difficulties must be faced together.
But, perhaps
the difficult part of being in the ministry is loneliness and abandonment. Quite often, we would
have to carry our crosses alone when no one understands us. This was the
cross Jesus carried in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was alone in His
agony in the garden. St Paul in the first reading also spoke of his
loneliness in the ministry.
His
loneliness came from disappointment with those who were supposed to help him
but who turned out to be irresponsible. That was what St Pope Gregory the Great
remarked when he reflected on today’s gospel, “The harvest is rich but the
labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his
harvest.” He said that labourers were few because those few who were
chosen as labourers did not commit themselves to the ministry fully. This
was how Paul felt when he lamented, “Demas has deserted me for love of this
life and gone to Thessalonika.” Indeed, this is true even in today’s
time. We have many priests and religious but how many of them are
actually laboring in the vineyard for the People of God. Many have become
worldly minded and only take care of their own comforts and enjoyment in life.
Then there
are those who are out to oppose us for whatever reasons. It could be jealousy
or envy. It could be because we did not give them what they
want. It could be because of pride. That was how lonely Paul
felt, “Alexander the coppersmith has done me a lot of harm; the Lord will repay
him for what he has done. Be on your guard against him yourself; because he has
been bitterly contesting everything that we say.” He was finding
fault with Paul.
Most of all,
there is the loneliness of having to stand up alone for what we believe. “The first time I had
to present my defences, there was not a single witness to support me. Every one
of them deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it.” Being
alone to stand up for the truth is perhaps the true sign of martyrdom.
Jesus was abandoned by all His friends when He was going through His passion.
In the face
of such situations, we need to be like St Paul who depended on God alone. “But the Lord stood
by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be
proclaimed for all the pagans to hear.” Our fellow brothers and
sisters can disappoint us because they are weak and human. But God will
remain our strength and refuge. That is why the Lord instructed His
disciples to “carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals.” He does not
abandon us completely. In the case of Paul, He sent Luke to be with
him. Later on, Timothy would bring Mark along. So we are never
without assistance. We need to be patient and wait for His help.
But most of
all, we must not become bitter as many do in the ministry. Those who feel
betrayed, misunderstood or rejected become angry, resentful and
vindictive. This happens to many clerical and lay workers in the
Church. They cannot forgive. They bear grudges. They act from
their wounds and brokenness. We need to pray for forgiveness and a
heart of peace, otherwise, how can we be messengers of peace?
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Singapore © All Rights Reserved
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