20171122
THE MIND OF A MARTYR
Readings
at Mass
Liturgical
Colour: Red.
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First reading
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2 Maccabees 7:1,20-31 ©
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There were seven brothers who were arrested with their mother. The
king tried to force them to taste pig’s flesh, which the Law forbids, by
torturing them with whips and scourges. But the mother was especially admirable
and worthy of honourable remembrance, for she watched the death of seven sons
in the course of a single day, and endured it resolutely because of her hopes
in the Lord. Indeed she encouraged each of them in the language of their
ancestors; filled with noble conviction, she reinforced her womanly argument
with manly courage, saying to them, ‘I do not know how you appeared in my womb;
it was not I who endowed you with breath and life, I had not the shaping of
your every part. It is the creator of the world, ordaining the process of man’s
birth and presiding over the origin of all things, who in his mercy will most
surely give you back both breath and life, seeing that you now despise your own
existence for the sake of his laws.’
Antiochus
thought he was being ridiculed, suspecting insult in the tone of her voice; and
as the youngest was still alive he appealed to him not with mere words but with
promises on oath to make him both rich and happy if he would abandon the
traditions of his ancestors; he would make him his Friend and entrust him with
public office. The young man took no notice at all, and so the king then
appealed to the mother, urging her to advise the youth to save his life. After
a great deal of urging on his part she agreed to try persuasion on her son.
Bending over him, she fooled the cruel tyrant with these words, uttered in the
language of their ancestors, ‘My son, have pity on me; I carried you nine
months in my womb and suckled you three years, fed you and reared you to the
age you are now (and cherished you). I implore you, my child, observe heaven
and earth, consider all that is in them, and acknowledge that God made them out
of what did not exist, and that mankind comes into being in the same way. Do
not fear this executioner, but prove yourself worthy of your brothers, and make
death welcome, so that in the day of mercy I may receive you back in your
brothers’ company.’
She had
scarcely ended when the young man said, ‘What are you all waiting for? I will
not comply with the king’s ordinance; I obey the ordinance of the Law given to
our ancestors through Moses. As for you, sir, who have contrived every kind of
evil against the Hebrews, you will certainly not escape the hands of God.’
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm 16(17):1,5-6,8,15 ©
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I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight
of your glory, O Lord.
Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
no deceit is on my lips.
I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight
of your glory, O Lord.
I kept my feet firmly in your paths;
there was no faltering in my steps.
I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God.
Turn your ear to me; hear my words.
I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight
of your glory, O Lord.
Guard me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings
As for me, in my justice I shall see your face
and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your
glory.
I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight
of your glory, O Lord.
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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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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 19:11-28 ©
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While the people were listening, Jesus went on to tell a parable,
because he was near Jerusalem and they imagined that the kingdom of God was
going to show itself then and there. Accordingly he said, ‘A man of noble birth
went to a distant country to be appointed king and afterwards return. He
summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds. “Do business with these”
he told them “until I get back.” But his compatriots detested him and sent a
delegation to follow him with this message, “We do not want this man to be our
king.”
‘Now on his
return, having received his appointment as king, he sent for those servants to
whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made. The first
came in and said, “Sir, your one pound has brought in ten.” “Well done, my good
servant!” he replied “Since you have proved yourself faithful in a very small
thing, you shall have the government of ten cities.” Then came the second and
said, “Sir, your one pound has made five.” To this one also he said, “And you shall
be in charge of five cities.” Next came the other and said, “Sir, here is your
pound. I put it away safely in a piece of linen because I was afraid of you;
for you are an exacting man: you pick up what you have not put down and reap
what you have not sown.” “You wicked servant!” he said “Out of your own mouth I
condemn you. So you knew I was an exacting man, picking up what I have not put
down and reaping what I have not sown? Then why did you not put my money in the
bank? On my return I could have drawn it out with interest.” And he said to
those standing by, “Take the pound from him and give it to the man who has ten
pounds.” And they said to him, “But, sir, he has ten pounds…”. “I tell you, to
everyone who has will be given more; but from the man who has not, even what he
has will be taken away.
‘“But as for
my enemies who did not want me for their king, bring them here and execute them
in my presence.”’
When he had
said this he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
THE MIND OF A MARTYR
We have read
stories of martyrs of faith. In the past, there were many more martyrs of faith who died
cruelly in the persecution of political and religious leaders, just like the
story of the mother whose seven sons were tortured and killed for their
faith. Today, there are still instances of such cruelty in some
countries. But generally, because of growing civilization, better
education and information, such practices are condemned by the global
community. Yet, even though believers might not be put to death, they suffer
discrimination in the practice and worship of their faith. There are
still countries where there is a dominant religion continuing to discriminate
those of other faiths, such as depriving them of benefits, rights of promotion
and service, and imposing restrictions to curtail the practice and expansion of
other religions.
Perhaps the
only so-called martyrs that we hear of today are misguided martyrs who confuse
religion with politics; and heavenly reward with earthly rewards. This is present among the
terrorists that seek to impose their religion and political power on peoples of
other faiths. They think that killing those from other religions or
unbelievers whom they consider infidels is the will of God. This is
because those in power use God for political and selfish motives. It is
the poor, the marginalized and those who suffer failures and injustices who are
being indoctrinated in the cause of those who are interested to gain political
and religious powers; believing that a better life awaits them in heaven if
they sacrificed their lives for the cause. It is frightening how religion can
easily be used to fuel hatred and violence instead of peace and love.
It is
therefore important for us to understand the mind of a martyr, whether an
authentic one who sincerely dies for his or her faith, or someone who is
misguided.
How else do we explain the courage and generosity of the mother who not just
allowed her seven sons to be killed in a single day but even encouraged them to
die for their faith! Similarly, it is also the case of terrorists as
well. How is it that many are willing to give up their lives to fight for
the establishment of a religious-political kingdom on earth? What
motivates them and gives them the courage to do what they do?
Three motives
propel one to be a martyr for his or her faith. The first motive is faith
in God. This is foundational. Without faith in God, one
would not be willing to give up one’s life for Him. This was the case of
the mother and her seven sons. They knew in faith that God was the author
of life and their future. This was what she said to encourage
her sons to die for God: “I do not know how you appeared in
my womb; it was not I who endowed you with the breath of life, I had not the
shaping of your every part, ‘It is the creator of the world, ordaining the
process of man’s birth and presiding over the origin of all things, who in his
mercy will most surely give you back both breath and life, seeing that you now
despise your own existence for the sake of his laws.” If we are convicted
that God is the author of life and death, then we would be able to surrender
our lives to Him.
If there are
few people who are willing to die for God today, it is because of secularism,
agnosticism and relativism. Even among believers, how many of us could
truly say from the depth of our hearts that we truly believe in God? Many
of us have doubts whether He exists, especially in the face of our own
suffering and the suffering of the innocent. Living in a secular society
where the Sacred is often hidden from public eyes, we can no longer feel His
presence in daily life. With an increasing knowledge gained from study
and the sciences, some have become agnostics and question their faith.
Secondly,
martyrs are willing to die for their faith because of their love for God. For the love of
someone, we are willing to die and sacrifice our lives. So when a person
is brought up to love God and more importantly to experience His divine love,
that person would be willing to sacrifice his or her life for God. As St
Paul himself wrote, “For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are
in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ urges us
on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have
died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no
longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.” (2 Cor 5:13-15)
Love makes us go crazy indeed. When we are in love, we are willing to die
for our beloved. Jesus said, “No one has greater love than this, to lay
down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I
command you.” (Jn 15:13f) Indeed, many martyrs and saints for the love of
Jesus have died for Him either in death or in life.
However, this
could be a double-edged sword. It could lead to fanaticism. Many think they are
dying for the love of God but in truth they are dying for an ideology.
How do we know? If we die for the love of God, it should also be for the
love of humanity. If we love God, we will also love our fellowmen.
Only those whose love is expressed in non-violence, like the seven sons and their
mother, truly die for the love of God. In the case of the terrorists,
although they claim to be doing it for God, it is hard to believe that a God of
love and justice would endorse such cruel and insane violence committed in His
name towards innocent people. So a confused love for God could lead to
destruction rather than giving life to others.
Thirdly,
martyrs die for their faith in view of a better future in store for them. Like St Paul, they know that
they belong to God. “We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to
ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord;
so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end
Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the
living.” (Rom 14:7-9) The seven sons and the mother lived and died
for this conviction. This was what the mother told the youngest son who
was about to be executed. “I implore you, my child, observe heaven and
earth, consider all that is in them, and acknowledge that God made them out of
what did not exist, and that mankind comes into being in the same way. Do
not fear this executioner, but prove yourself worthy of your brothers, and make
death welcome, so that in the day of mercy I may receive you back in your
brothers’ company.”
Even the
worldly seductions of the king could not appeal to their conviction that a
greater life is ahead of them. Of course, many of us, unlike the seven sons, are not
willing to give our lives to God because we are not too convinced of a life
hereafter. Many are living in a world filled with despair for the
future. This explains why this hopelessness of the future has led many to
live only for this life and grab all that they can before they vanish into thin
air and life is no more.
Again, this
principle of hope for the future can be used for good or for evil. It is true that this
earthly life is passing but it is not evil as well. Creation and its
gifts are good and are meant to be appreciated and used well. Yet, we
must also realize that these are passing things in life. We cannot cling
on to them. It is equally true of sufferings as well. These too
will also pass. But the danger is that misguided martyrs are given a pie
in the sky. They are told that if they die for God and kill the infidels,
they will be rewarded with all the things in heaven that they could not enjoy
in this earthly life. Such earthly conception of heaven is but a
postponed or delayed gratification. Rather, what we have been promised in
heaven is a life of joy, love, peace and communion. This is what brings
us true joy and is not to be measured simply in terms of material
rewards. When there is love, we need few things to be happy. When
there is a lack of love, we need things to fill up the vacuum in our hearts.
Today, in the
parable of the talents, we are all called to account for the gifts that the
Lord has given to us. How we use our gifts of faith and the resources God
has given to us will determine our happiness in this life and hereafter.
Our happiness is not just in the next life but it must already begin here and
now. We must be careful of a theology of hope in the next world rooted in
a negative outlook of this world. Rather, we must learn to enjoy life and
make the best of it in whatever we do. Eternal joy comes at the end of
death but it is already here as a foretaste. We must be careful that we
do not fall into the mistake of the servant who kept the talent for fear of taking
risks. By not living his life to the fullest by taking risks and being
creative and proactive in loving God and his fellowmen, he was stripped of
everything that he had. But if we are like the other two servants, ever
ready to invest whatever the Lord has given to them, we will be given great
responsibilities and opportunities to develop ourselves. Work is not a
punishment from God but a privilege for us to develop our minds and keep our
bodies fit for life, love and service. In this way, even as we work, we
also enjoy God’s love and life. This is what it means to serve God our
King. We are called to establish His kingdom of love, compassion and life
on this earth as a foretaste of the future life that is to come.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Singapore © All Rights Reserved
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