20180416
WORKING FOR GOD
16 APRIL, 2018, Monday, 3rd Week of Easter
Readings
at Mass
Liturgical
Colour: White.
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First reading
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Acts 6:8-15 ©
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They could not get the better of Stephen because the Spirit
prompted what he said
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Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles
and great signs among the people. But then certain people came forward to
debate with Stephen, some from Cyrene and Alexandria who were members of the
synagogue called the Synagogue of Freedmen, and others from Cilicia and Asia.
They found they could not get the better of him because of his wisdom, and
because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said. So they procured some men
to say, ‘We heard him using blasphemous language against Moses and against
God.’ Having in this way turned the people against him as well as the elders
and scribes, they took Stephen by surprise, and arrested him and brought him
before the Sanhedrin. There they put up false witnesses to say, ‘This man is
always making speeches against this Holy Place and the Law. We have heard him
say that Jesus the Nazarene is going to destroy this Place and alter the
traditions that Moses handed down to us.’ The members of the Sanhedrin all
looked intently at Stephen, and his face appeared to them like the face of an
angel.
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm 118(119):23-24,26-27,29-30 ©
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They are happy whose life is blameless.
or
Alleluia!
Though princes sit plotting against me
I ponder on your statutes.
Your will is my delight;
your statutes are my counsellors.
They are happy whose life is blameless.
or
Alleluia!
I declared my ways and you answered;
teach me your statutes.
Make me grasp the way of your precepts
and I will muse on your wonders.
They are happy whose life is blameless.
or
Alleluia!
Keep me from the way of error
and teach me your law.
I have chosen the way of truth
with your decrees before me.
They are happy whose life is blameless.
or
Alleluia!
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Gospel Acclamation
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Jn20:29
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Alleluia, alleluia!
‘You believe, Thomas, because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.
Alleluia!
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Or:
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Mt4:4
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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John 6:22-29 ©
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Do not work for food that cannot last, but for food that endures
to eternal life
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After Jesus had fed the five thousand, his disciples saw him
walking on the water. Next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side saw
that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not got into the boat
with his disciples, but that the disciples had set off by themselves. Other
boats, however, had put in from Tiberias, near the place where the bread had
been eaten. When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were
there, they got into those boats and crossed to Capernaum to look for Jesus.
When they found him on the other side, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you
come here?’
Jesus
answered:
‘I tell you most solemnly,
you are not looking for me because you have seen the signs
but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat.
Do not work for food that cannot last,
but work for food that endures to eternal life,
the kind of food the Son of Man is offering you,
for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.’
Then they said to him, ‘What must we do if we are to do the works
that God wants?’ Jesus gave them this answer, ‘This is working for God: you
must believe in the one he has sent.’
WORKING FOR GOD
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ ACTS 6:8-15; PS 119:23-24, 26-27,29-30; JOHN 6:22-29 ]
Physical and
material needs are the basic concerns of every person. Food, clothing,
accommodation and health are critical to living. Without health and the
material needs of life, we will not be able to live properly. Without
good health, we will suffer inconvenience and pain. Health is something
that most of us value, because we cannot work or think or enjoy ourselves, eat
what we like or go where we want when we are in poor health. So it
is understandable that all of us seek to fulfill these fundamental needs.
When we pray, we ask for our “daily bread”.
Those of us
in ministry, whether we are involved in social or church ministry, seek to
provide these needs. There are many church organizations that care for the poor, the
underprivileged, the mentally and physically challenged, the elderly, those
suffering from terminal illnesses and infectious diseases. Besides
serving those who need physical and material help, those of us in the pastoral
ministry are often asked to attend to their emotional and spiritual needs as
well. So many are asking for prayers for healing, deliverance and peace
of mind. There are others who need counselling and
encouragement. So the needs of humanity are endless.
Indeed, the
gospel tells us that Jesus too was swarmed with people seeking healing. “When they heard
about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea,
and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. For he had
healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch
him.” (Mk 3:8, 10)
Jesus not only healed but He fed the people when they were hungry. In the
gospel earlier on Jesus fed five thousand with five loaves and two fish.
(cf Jn 6:1-13)
In the first reading, we also read that “Stephen was filled with grace and
power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people.” He
was “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 6:5)
But
apparently, they failed in their mission. Why? Because even though they saw the
miracles, they were unconverted and remained on the level of fulfilling their
needs. Jesus saw through them and said, “I tell you most solemnly,
you are not looking for me because you have seen the signs but because you had
all the bread you wanted to eat.” They were not interested in Jesus but
themselves. It was not about God or Jesus, but about what they needed
from God. Their focus remained on the material and physical levels.
The truth is
no matter how much we have, we will never have enough. Regardless how much we have,
we never have enough. We all want to have more and more. There are
so many rich people in the world. They do not need so much money even to
live a luxurious life until death. But they continue to hoard their
resources and build up their financial empire. Truly, we cannot satisfy the
greed of every man but only their needs. Beyond fulfilling one’s basic
needs, there is no end to satisfying a man’s desires. Even for physical
needs, especially for healing, we cannot expect the Lord to heal us
forever. Sickness, old age and death is part of the whole process of
life.
The other
ugly truth is that when we do not get what we want, we change allegiance. This was true in the
case of Jesus. We read that after the miracle of the loaves, they wanted
to make Him king. “After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they
began to say, ‘Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus,
knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again
to a mountain by himself.” They had selfish intentions for making Jesus
king because they thought that Jesus was a revolutionary leader who would rise
against the Romans. But Jesus’ idea of kingship was not in terms of
territory or power but in human lowliness and humble service. When they
realized that Jesus could not help them to achieve their goals, they had Jesus
exchanged for Barabbas, a revolutionary and a murderer. (cf Jn 18:39f)
This too was
the situation of Stephen as well. Although he performed miracles and healings, the
authorities were not interested in what he was doing. They were rich and
powerful and they were self-sufficient, unlike the poor people. But his
preaching was threatening the institution and their positions in society.
Their interests were compromised. They perceived Stephen as a threat
because he would take away their security in the offices that they were holding.
Hence, they plotted to kill Stephen by framing him. “So they procured some men
to say, ‘we heard him using blasphemous language against Moses and against
God.’ Having in this way turned the people against him as well as the
elders and scribes, they took Stephen by surprise, and arrested him and brought
him before the Sanhedrin.”
Indeed, even
today, when some of the poor, sick and needy that we serve do not get what they
want, not only do they leave us but they will go against us. They will hurl all
kinds of insults, defamation and slander against us, knowing that as Church we
will not retaliate. They take advantage of the Church’s compassion.
They can be demanding, expecting to be attended to immediately and be given
what they want. Worse still, when we encroach on their interests, they
will react like the Jewish leaders. They will attack us and instigate others to
go against us because we proclaim the truth and speak of right living and
integrity. When businesses are affected by the gospel teaching on ethics and
morality, they are up in arms because our proclamation hurts their pockets.
That is why
we must never forget that when serving the poor, the needy and the sick, our
ultimate goal is not just to feed them, give them material help or even heal
them physically, but to give them faith in Jesus. This is what what it means
to work for God, as Jesus says: “Do not work for food that cannot last, but
work for food that endures to eternal life, the kind of food the Son of Man is
offering you, for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.’
Then they said to him, ‘What must we do if we are to do the works that
God wants?’ Jesus gave them this answer, ‘This is working for God: you must
believe in the one he has sent.’”
Only faith in
Jesus can satisfy us, like the Samaritan woman who was seeking love and
understanding. Jesus said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it
is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given
you living water.” (Jn 4:10) She said, “Sir, give me this water so that I
won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” (Jn 4:15)
Only faith in Jesus will help us to overcome all fears, even of death. St
Paul said, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who
loved us.” (cf Rom 8:37-39) Faith in Jesus enables us to accept all
things as God’s providence. “And we know that in all things God works for
the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his
purpose.” (Rom 8:28) Faith in Jesus helps us to walk the way of
truth and love to fullness of life. (cf Jn 14:6)
Indeed, “they are happy whose life is blameless.”
Such was the
disposition of St Stephen. He was a man of faith in the Lord. Even under
interrogation before the Sanhedrin, he was perfectly calm and steady.
“The members of the Sanhedrin all looked intently at Stephen, and his face
appeared to them like the face of an angel.” He had no fear of death
because of Jesus’ resurrection. He did not retaliate because he was
walking the way of Jesus, remembering how He did not retaliate when He was
undergoing His passion. Instead, he saw it as an opportunity to
witness to the Lord. And truly, it was because of his courageous faith
that Saul’s heart was moved and touched, preparing him for his own conversion
experience. (cf Acts 7:57-60)
So whatever we
do to help the poor or the sick and suffering, our intention must go beyond
healing some illness or providing food and resources. Our goal must
be to lead them to a growing faith in Christ. St John wrote, “Who is it that overcomes
the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (1Jn 5:5)
This is why Jesus demanded faith in Him before He performed any healing.
Where faith is lacking, He did not heal, as in the case of His people in
Nazareth. “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few
sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.” (Mk 6:5f)
“Or with Herod who wanted to see some entertainment. (cf Lk 23:8f)
Faith in
Jesus is paramount. When we have Jesus, we have everything. St Paul wrote, “I
know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I can do
all this through him who gives me strength.” (Phil 4:12-13)
With Christ, we will never be crushed or broken. “But we have this treasure
in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from
us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not
in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not
destroyed.” (2 Cor 4:7-9)
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Singapore © All Rights Reserved
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