20180605 LIVING OUR LIVES ON EARTH MEANINGFULLY AND PEACEFULLY
05 JUNE, 2018, Tuesday, 9th Week,
Ordinary Time
Readings at Mass
Liturgical
Colour: Red.
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First reading
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2 Peter 3:11-15,17-18 ©
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We are waiting for the new heaven and the new earth
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You should be living holy and saintly lives while you wait and
long for the Day of God to come, when the sky will dissolve in flames and the
elements melt in the heat. What we are waiting for is what he promised: the new
heavens and new earth, the place where righteousness will be at home. So then,
my friends, while you are waiting, do your best to live lives without spot or
stain so that he will find you at peace. Think of our Lord’s patience as your
opportunity to be saved. You have been warned about this, my friends; be
careful not to get carried away by the errors of unprincipled people, from the
firm ground that you are standing on. Instead, go on growing in the grace and
in the knowledge of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory, in time
and in eternity. Amen.
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm 89(90):2-4,10,14,16 ©
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O Lord, you have been our refuge from one
generation to the next.
Before the mountains were born
or the earth or the world brought forth,
you are God, without beginning or end.
O Lord, you have been our refuge from one
generation to the next.
You turn men back to dust
and say: ‘Go back, sons of men.’
To your eyes a thousand years
are like yesterday, come and gone,
no more than a watch in the night.
O Lord, you have been our refuge from one
generation to the next.
Our span is seventy years,
or eighty for those who are strong.
And most of these are emptiness and pain.
They pass swiftly and we are gone.
O Lord, you have been our refuge from one
generation to the next.
In the morning, fill us with your love;
we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Show forth your work to your servants;
let your glory shine on their children.
O Lord, you have been our refuge from one
generation to the next.
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Gospel Acclamation
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Jn10:14
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Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord,
I know my own sheep and my own know me.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Mark 12:13-17 ©
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Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what
belongs to God
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The chief priests and the scribes and the elders sent to Jesus
some Pharisees and some Herodians to catch him out in what he said. These came
and said to him, ‘Master, we know you are an honest man, that you are not
afraid of anyone, because a man’s rank means nothing to you, and that you teach
the way of God in all honesty. Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?
Should we pay, yes or no?’ Seeing through their hypocrisy he said to them, ‘Why
do you set this trap for me? Hand me a denarius and let me see it.’ They handed
him one and he said, ‘Whose head is this? Whose name?’ ‘Caesar’s’ they told
him. Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and
to God what belongs to God.’ This reply took them completely by surprise.
LIVING OUR LIVES ON EARTH MEANINGFULLY AND PEACEFULLY
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ 2 PT 3:11-15. 17-18; PS 90:2-4,10,14,16; MK 12:13-17 ]
This life is
rather difficult. We have so many worries and problems. There seems to be no
peace, whether at home or at work and even in Church. We are all seeking
peace, love and meaning in life. But we also seek position, power or
plenty of wealth. Perhaps those who seek such things deserve the headaches,
the enemies and challenges they are facing. When we compete with others,
we will surely create competitors and even enemies. Is there no way to
live a peaceful life without all these conflicts that take a toll on us?
How, then,
can we as Christians live such a life of peace on earth? St Paul urges
prayers for those in authority when he wrote, “First of all, then, I
urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for
everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead
a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.” (1 Tim 2:1f)
St Peter said, “So then, my friends, while you are waiting do your best to live
lives without spot or stain so that he will find you at peace.” We
must learn to let go of our worldly ambitions rooted in power, control, wealth,
pride and self-centeredness. How can we live our lives in detachment
so that we can live in freedom and peace without having to fight with so many
people?
Firstly, we
must remember that life is short. This is what the psalmist reminds us.
“You turn men back to dust and say: ‘Go back, sons of men.’ To your eyes a
thousand years are like yesterday, come and gone, no more than a watch in the
night. Our span is seventy years, or eighty for those who are strong. And
most of these are emptiness and pain. They pass swiftly and we are gone.”
Indeed, realizing the emptiness of this life and the misery helps us not to
hold on too much to this world. We are pilgrims passing through like
everyone else. No matter how powerful, how great, how rich, how
influential, how beautiful, how smart and intelligent we are, all these will
pass very quickly. Our health will fail us, beauty will fade, and we will
be reduced to a commoner like everyone else, at least upon death! So why
bother about all these possessions and titles?
Secondly, we
must live in view of the fullness of life that is to come. This is what St Peter
wrote in the first reading, “We must live “holy and saintly lives while you
wait and long for the Day of God to come.” We must not imagine or deceive
ourselves into thinking that we are going to live here forever and that we have
much time left on this earth. For this reason, St Peter urges us to look
towards the future. “Wait and long for the Day of God to come, when the
sky will dissolve in flames and the element melt in the heat. What we are
waiting for is what he promised: the new heavens and new earth, the place
where righteousness will be at home.” Even if no full peace is found on
this earth, there will be justice and peace when we arrive in heaven.
As pilgrims,
our eyes must be focused on the life that is to come. That was how
St Paul and St Peter motivated themselves in working for the Lord. St
Paul said, “As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the
time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have
finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is
reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have
longed for his appearing.” (2 Tim 4:6-8)
St Peter also urges us, “And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the
crown of glory that never fades away.” (1 Pt 5:4)
So how can we
live well? We must recognize that God is the author of life. “Before the mountains were
born or the earth or the world brought forth, you are God, without beginning or
end.” Let us not deceive ourselves into thinking that we come from
ourselves and we can make it on our own. If we originate from somewhere
and someone, it means that we are not of our own making. So let us be
humble and admit that only God who is the author of life and death have power
over us. “For you have power over life and death; you lead mortals down
to the gates of Hades and back again.” (Wisdom 16:13)
Recognizing that He is the author of life and death will keep us humble and
help us to revere Him. As the book of Sirach says, “To fear the
Lord is the beginning of wisdom; the fullness of wisdom; the crown of
wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish; the root of wisdom, and
her branches are long life.” (cf Sirach 1:14-20)
This is the gist of the message of the responsorial psalm.
Secondly, we
must live an honest life with integrity. “So then, my friends, while you are
waiting do your best to live lives without spot or stain so that he will find
you at peace.” We are called to be like the Lord who was a
man of integrity. “Master, we know you are an honest man, which you are
not afraid of anyone, because a man’s rank means nothing to you, and that you
teach the way of God in all honesty.” This means that we must be responsible
in our tasks. We should be faithful to our vocation and our work.
If we live responsibly, then our conscience is clear. We need to give our
entire self to the tasks assigned to us, regardless of our position in life,
whether as a homemaker, a worker or a professional. If we do our work
properly, we should be at peace in ourselves. Doing an honest day’s work
is what will give us integrity.
Thirdly, we
must be weary of unscrupulous people. “You have been warned about this, my friends; be careful
not to get carried away by the errors of unprincipled people, from the firm
ground that you are standing on.” Indeed, the world is very
deceptive. Religion makes use of politics and vice versa for their
personal interests. We must avoid such manipulation as we read in the
gospel how the “chief priests and the scribes and the elders sent to Jesus some
Pharisees and Herodians to catch him out in what he said. Is it
permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay, yes or
no?’ Seeing through their hypocrisy he said to them, ‘Why do you set this
trap for me?’” They lacked sincerity.
This does not
mean that religion and politics cannot be partners, so long as it is for the
greater good of our peoples. There must be a distinction between politics and
religion although not always a clear separation. Jesus said to them,
“Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to
God.” Every Christian must do his or her part in being a good citizen,
responsible in contributing to the common good of everyone. By serving
our country and our people, it is our way of doing our duty to God.
How can we be
good citizens and good Christians, faithfully doing our part responsibly? We must bask
ourselves in the love of God. “In the morning, fill us with your
love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days. Show forth your work to your
servants; let your glory shine on their children.” To be able to
live joyfully, we need to be filled with the love of God. Only God’s love
can give us the joy and peace that we need. Like Jesus who basked Himself
in His Father’s unconditional love each morning when He spent quiet time with
Him in solitude, we too must find our quiet place so that we can bask in His
love and be inspired by His words of wisdom and consolation. If many of
us find life difficult, trying and complex each day, it is because we do not
sit at the feet of Jesus as He did before His Father.
St Paul urges
us, “Instead, go on growing in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and
saviour Jesus Christ.” Indeed, let us grow in the image of God in Christ Jesus. We
are citizens of heaven and God is our Father. So we need to become more
and more like Christ so that we can truly reflect God’s likeness in all that we
do and give glory to Him. (cf Mt 5:16)
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Singapore © All Rights Reserved
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