20180522 AMBITION THE CAUSE OF OUR MISERY
22 MAY, 2018, Tuesday, 7th Week,
Ordinary Time
Readings at Mass
Liturgical
Colour: Green.
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First reading
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James 4:1-10 ©
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Resist the devil and he will run away
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Where do these wars and battles between yourselves first start?
Isn’t it precisely in the desires fighting inside your own selves? You want
something and you haven’t got it; so you are prepared to kill. You have an
ambition that you cannot satisfy; so you fight to get your way by force. Why
you don’t have what you want is because you don’t pray for it; when you do pray
and don’t get it, it is because you have not prayed properly, you have prayed
for something to indulge your own desires.
You are as
unfaithful as adulterous wives; don’t you realise that making the world your
friend is making God your enemy? Anyone who chooses the world for his friend
turns himself into God’s enemy. Surely you don’t think scripture is wrong when
it says: the spirit which he sent to live in us wants us for himself alone? But
he has been even more generous to us, as scripture says: God opposes the proud
but he gives generously to the humble. Give in to God, then; resist the devil,
and he will run away from you. The nearer you go to God, the nearer he will
come to you. Clean your hands, you sinners, and clear your minds, you waverers.
Look at your wretched condition, and weep for it in misery; be miserable
instead of laughing, gloomy instead of happy. Humble yourselves before the Lord
and he will lift you up.
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm 54(55):7-11,23 ©
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Entrust your cares to the Lord and he will
support you.
O that I had wings like a dove
to fly away and be at rest.
So I would escape far away
and take refuge in the desert.
Entrust your cares to the Lord and he will
support you.
I would hasten to find a shelter
from the raging wind,
from the destructive storm, O Lord,
and from their plotting tongues.
Entrust your cares to the Lord and he will
support you.
For I can see nothing but violence
and strife in the city.
Night and day they patrol
high on the city walls.
Entrust your cares to the Lord and he will
support you.
Entrust your cares to the Lord
and he will support you.
He will never allow
the just man to stumble.
Entrust your cares to the Lord and he will
support you.
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Gospel Acclamation
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Jn14:23
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Alleluia, alleluia!
If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him.
Alleluia!
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Or:
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Ga6:14
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Alleluia, alleluia!
The only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord,
through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Mark 9:30-37 ©
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Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name
welcomes me
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Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; and he did
not want anyone to know, because he was instructing his disciples; he was
telling them, ‘The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they
will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will
rise again.’ But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask
him.
They came to
Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing
about on the road?’ They said nothing because they had been arguing which of
them was the greatest. So he sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, ‘If
anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.’
He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him,
and said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name,
welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent
me.’
AMBITION THE CAUSE OF OUR MISERY
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Jm 4:1-10; Ps 55:7-11,23; Mk 9:30-37
]
There is so
much bickering and competition in the office, in the family, in society, in
politics and even in church organizations. St James gives us the cause of
such division. “Where do these wars and battles between yourselves first
start? Isn’t it precisely in the desires fighting inside your own
selves? You want something and you haven’t got it; so you are prepared to
kill. You have an ambition that you cannot satisfy; so you fight to get
your way by force.” Indeed, it is because of selfish ambition that makes
us manipulative, unscrupulous, merciless and insensitive to the needs and
feelings of others. In order to climb to the top, we will use all means,
regardless whether they are fair or not, to obtain a promotion, a business
contract or some favors. Indeed, in the political and commercial world, it is
not uncommon for employees, entrepreneurs and businessmen to trample upon each
other without mercy. This is the world of survival of the fittest.
Indeed, all
ambitions are selfish and divisive. You might be startled to hear this because we always think
ambition is good. The truth is that the point of departure of ambition is
the self. It is focused on oneself, about our happiness, our fulfillment
and our goals. As a consequence, we become anxious in delivering our
promises and compete in out-doing each other. Ambition therefore serves oneself
primarily, even if that ambition benefits humanity, such as building a church
or starting a business, or serving society. At the end of the day, it is
about one’s achievements in life, one’s pride and dignity.
This is what
St James warns us about when he wrote, “You are unfaithful as adulterous wives;
don’t you realise that making the world your friend is making God your enemy? Anyone who chooses
the world for his friend turns himself into God’s enemy. Surely you don’t
think scripture is wrong when it says: the spirit which he sent to live in us
wants us for himself alone?” The spirit of the world lives for
oneself. We become slaves to the world when we seek power, glory and
wealth. By so doing, instead of building His kingdom, we build
ours. When everyone seeks to enlarge his or her kingdom, there will be
envy.
We should
purify our ambition by focusing on service of other, rather than self. When this happens, it
becomes a vocation. When we speak about vocation, we are speaking about
service, how best we can contribute to the growth and progress of
humanity. The focus is not about us, our achievements and honour, but
about those whom we serve and how we can serve them better and make their lives
happier. Our hearts are for the people and our joy and satisfaction come
from making a difference in their lives.
But we must
be careful that even in serving others, we can be serving ourselves, especially
those in church organizations, ministry and even in voluntary services to the
poor. Ironically, the worldly spirit of egotism and self-centeredness
creeps into so-called religious and voluntary service as well. That is
why we find squabbling and bickering over positions and how things are to be
done even among church members. Everyone wants their voice to be heard
and their ideas to be put into practice. People are so opinionated they
think only their views are right. Some fight to have their way
simply because it was not their idea but someone else’s that is being
considered. Some are ambitious in winning glory and
achievements. Consequently, sad to say, there is so much subtle
politics even in Church, all in the name of serving God and community, but the
bottom line, which we find difficult to admit, is about recognition, appreciation
and ourselves. This explains why many have left the Church completely or
stepped out of service because of the arguments and infighting among members
for honour and recognition.
Indeed, this
was the same mistake of the apostles in the gospel. When we are competitive,
we are oblivious to the pain and suffering of others. That was why the
apostles were so insensitive to the imminent passion and death of their
master. Jesus had just told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into
the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been
put to death he will rise again.” Instead of feeling with Jesus and
giving Him encouragement, they were thinking of themselves and jostling for
power and position. Indeed, Jesus knew what was going on in their minds.
He asked them, “’What were you arguing about on the road?’ They said
nothing because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest.”
We read that
“they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him.” What
was preventing them from understanding and feeling with Jesus? It was their
preoccupation with self and with their ambitions. They could not identify
with Jesus and was afraid to seek clarification because it would mean that
their ambition to be placed in positions of power and wealth would be
compromised. So it was better for them not to know the truth, which is
that suffering and passion lay ahead of their master and later,
themselves. They were not true to themselves. In fact, they were
embarrassed when the master asked them because they kept quiet.
For Jesus,
the way to fullness of life is humble service through our fellowmen. “So he sat down, called the
twelve to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last
of all and servant of all.’ He then took a little child, set him in front
of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes one of
these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me
welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’” When we choose to serve God in
the least and the poor, we welcome the Lord into our lives. “Truly I tell
you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my
family, you did it to me.” (Mt 25:40)
As a consequence, we find joy and fulfillment that money cannot buy because
when we serve humbly we become more humane and in touch with humanity, its
sufferings, aspirations and joys.
So let us
learn humility and selflessness in service. St James says, “He had been even more
generous to us, as scripture says: God opposes the proud but he gives generously
to the humble.” We do not have to worry too much about our needs.
This is the promise of our Lord, “But strive first for the kingdom
of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as
well.” (Mt 6:33) If what we are doing is pure service of love,
then we should not be agitated because it is not about us, but about what we
can do for others. We will do all we can and leave the rest to God.
We will not take things into our own hands since we have nothing to gain from
it. All agitation comes from the lack of self-love, insecurity and
restlessness. The offspring is pride and ego.
Rather, after
doing what we possibly can, we entrust our plans and success into the hands of
God, as Jesus did when He was on the cross. The psalmist says, “O that I had wings
like a dove to fly away and be at rest. So I would escape far away and take
refuge in the desert. I would hasten to find a shelter from the raging
wind, from the destructive storm, O Lord, and from their plotting tongues.
Entrust your cares to the Lord and he will support you. He will never allow the
just man to stumble.” We should not fear because it is the Lord’s work,
not ours. He will bring success if He wants it. Our task is to be
responsible with the talents He has given to us for the service of His kingdom.
So today, let us
keep our minds focused. We must not be of two minds, wanting to serve God
and wanting to serve ourselves. St James urges us, “Give in to God, then;
resist the devil, and he will run away from you. The nearer to God, the
nearer he will come to you. Clean your hands, you sinners, and clear your
minds, you waverers. Look at your wretched condition, and weep for it in
misery; be miserable instead of laughing, gloomy instead of happy. Humble
yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.”
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Singapore © All Rights Reserved
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