20180524
THE ULTIMATE GOAL IN LIFE IS SALVATION THROUGH
SANCTIFICATION
24 MAY, 2018, Thursday, 7th Week,
Ordinary Time
Readings at Mass
Liturgical
Colour: Green.
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First reading
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James 5:1-6 ©
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The Lord hears the cries of those you have cheated
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An answer for the rich. Start crying, weep for the miseries that
are coming to you. Your wealth is all rotting, your clothes are all eaten up by
moths. All your gold and your silver are corroding away, and the same corrosion
will be your own sentence, and eat into your body. It was a burning fire that
you stored up as your treasure for the last days. Labourers mowed your fields,
and you cheated them – listen to the wages that you kept back, calling
out; realise that the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of
hosts. On earth you have had a life of comfort and luxury; in the time of
slaughter you went on eating to your heart’s content. It was you who condemned
the innocent and killed them; they offered you no resistance.
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm 48(49):14-20 ©
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How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
This is the lot of those who trust in themselves,
who have others at their beck and call.
Like sheep they are driven to the grave,
where death shall be their shepherd
and the just shall become their rulers.
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
With the morning their outward show vanishes
and the grave becomes their home.
But God will ransom me from death
and take my soul to himself.
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
Then do not fear when a man grows rich,
when the glory of his house increases.
He takes nothing with him when he dies,
his glory does not follow him below.
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
Though he flattered himself while he lived:
‘Men will praise me for all my success,’
yet he will go to join his fathers,
who will never see the light any more.
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
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Gospel Acclamation
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cf.Lk8:15
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are those who,
with a noble and generous heart,
take the word of God to themselves
and yield a harvest through their perseverance.
Alleluia!
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Or:
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cf.1Th2:13
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Accept God’s message for what it really is:
God’s message, and not some human thinking.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Mark 9:41-50 ©
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If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off
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Jesus said to his disciples:
‘If anyone
gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I
tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.
‘But anyone
who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would
be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if
your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter
into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that
cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is
better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown
into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better
for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes
and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out.
For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but if salt has
become insipid, how can you season it again? Have salt in yourselves and be at
peace with one another.’
THE ULTIMATE GOAL IN LIFE IS SALVATION THROUGH SANCTIFICATION
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ JAMES 5:1-6; MARK 9:41-50 ]
What is your
goal in life?
Of course, we are all seeking happiness. But where is happiness to be
found? Very often, like the rich people during the time of St James, we think
that happiness is found in acquiring wealth. The truth is that our
happiness does not increase with wealth. Can we say that we are happier
today than in the days of our parents? It is true that we might have more
things today, a more comfortable life as well, but that does not mean that we
are much happier. Money or pleasure alone cannot guarantee our happiness.
Then where
is happiness to be found? Clearly, it is found only in God.
Indeed, the goal of life is union with God. This is what the kingdom of
God is all about. This is what heaven is. Happiness is found in the
possession of one’s self. When we find ourselves we find happiness.
To enter into the fullness of life is to realize one’s full potential in God,
when one is filled with the goodness of God and therefore living in perfect
union with himself, others and with God. Of course, man cannot find himself
outside God but in union with God.
Within this
context, we must do all we can to reach this objective. If God is
truly our goal in life, then we must at all costs ensure that we are not
impeded in this goal. If God is our ultimate good in life, we cannot
compromise and short-change ourselves for something that is transient and
illusory. So if we want to seek happiness, we cannot be simply living for
this life. If we do, then we are a most pitiful lot of people for this
life is so short. Indeed, we must take the warning of St James seriously before
it is too late. He said, those who are rich must “start crying, weep for
the miseries that are coming to you. Your wealth is all rotting, your
clothes are all eaten up by moths. All your gold and silver are corroding
away, and the same corrosion will be your own sentence, and eat into your
body. It was burning fire that you stored up as your treasure for the
last days.“ Yes, we must come to understand the truth of the uselessness
of riches. Money is not evil of course. But unless money is used
for the good of humankind, the love of money will only lead us to do evil and
cause harm to others because of our greed and love for money.
But it
is not only money that can prevent us from reaching our goal. It is
the desire of the flesh or the sin of the flesh. Such is the absolute
goal of life that Jesus in an apparent non-compromising stand said, “And if
your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter
into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that
cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off;
it is better for you to enter life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown
into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is
better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two
eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go
out.”
If Jesus uses
the imagery of worms and fire, it is in order to awaken us to the serious
consequences of sin that will affect us both internally and externally. Sins are
committed by the mind and the body. We can use our hands, feet and eyes
for good or for evil. We can use our hands for service or to kill
and destroy others. We can use our feet to help people or to run away
from responsibilities. We can use our eyes to read holy books and be
attentive to the needs of others or use them for sinful activities. So if
anything causes us to sin, then Jesus says, “Cut it out!”
These words
might sound harsh to us, yet, if we see these exhortations in the
context not just of life and death, but of eternal life and eternal death, then surely what
Jesus demands of us makes sense. For the sake of a human life, we are
willing to amputate certain parts of our body so as to save the rest of the
body if there is no other way to save the person. What more when it comes
to our eternal goal in life. So if what we are doing is causing us harm
and destroying us, not just now but in the life hereafter, isn’t it better to
cut if off from our lives?
What are the
sins that you are called to cut off from your lives? Each one of us have one or
two root sins that prevent us from being happy. It could be an irregular
relationship, jealousy, a job or a habit that is against the will of God.
Indeed, unless we are ruthless in eradicating sins from our lives, we will be
hampered and impeded from growing in holiness. Even a small venial sin
can be an obstacle to full openness to the Lord. So, as Christians, we
must use every means to cut all sins out of our lives.
If greed,
dishonesty and selfishness lead to our downfall, shouldn’t we try to rectify
our faults before it is too late? We must not think that we are going to live forever on this
earth. So whilst we are alive, we must make use of the time and the
resources we have to build up our spiritual life. In this life, we are
pilgrims passing through. We must utilize all means, our wealth, talents
and resources to build up the kingdom of God and in the process build up the
life of God within us. Indeed, every little thing that we do in
this life will reinforce the life of God in us. As Jesus says in the
gospel, “If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to
Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.”
So in
all things big and small, we are preparing our soul for God.
We must use everything the Lord has given us to grow in virtues, in generosity,
goodness, love, patience and compassion. By doing good like Jesus, we
sanctify ourselves and become more like God. Pope John Paul II said, “Without
inner renewal and without a commitment to overcome evil and sin in our hearts,
and especially without love, man will never achieve inner peace. Such peace
will be lasting only when it is rooted in the highest values, when it is based
on moral norms and is open to God.”
Conversely, if
we live a life that becomes an obstacle, whether to us or to others,
then Jesus says, “anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little
ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone
round his neck.”
Truly, on
the day of Judgment, we will be answerable as to how we use our wealth and
talents. What will we say before the Lord? Have we misused or
abuse the wealth that God has given to us? Have we used them only for our
pleasure and comfort without recognizing that they are meant for us to be
stewards of God’s gifts for humanity? We will lose whatever riches we
have when we do not share them or when they have been accumulated through
injustices. We will then be truly poor, for all that we have will
perish. But if we use them for service and love, we are poorer materially
but rich in the soul. All these treasures are stored in heaven and in our
hearts. For at the end of time, everything is destroyed except love, joy,
peace and goodness.
How can we do
this if not by being salted in the Lord? Jesus says, “For everyone will
be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but if salt has become
insipid, how can you season it again? Have salt in yourselves and be at
peace with one another.” Yes, we must come to Jesus to be salted
by Him so that we can be purified and be purifiers in the world by
preserving the values of society and the kingdom and removing evil from
humankind. Without Jesus, we will not be able to be faithful to God or to
make a difference in the lives of those people that we see. Indeed, to be
salted with God is the only way to preserve us from moral decay. Without coming
to Jesus and staying close to Him, we will become insipid in no time.
How does
Jesus salt us? He will do it with fire, which is the Holy Spirit. The only
way to live an enlightened life is to let the Holy Spirit come into our
lives. He will give us the wisdom to choose what is truly good for
us. Most of all His presence and His love will burn away all the
sinfulness in us. The Holy Spirit is the great purifier of our souls.
All we need to do is to invite Him to come into our lives so that He will lead
us to walk in the truth. Once He comes into our lives, we will be salted
by Him and we will be given the desire to salt the earth with His love and
message. By so doing, in bringing the Good News to others, we sanctify
ourselves.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Singapore © All Rights Reserved
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