20180725 ALLOWING
GOD TO SHINE THROUGH US IN OUR WEAKNESS
25 JULY, 2018, Wednesday, St James,
Apostle
Readings at Mass
Liturgical
Colour: Red.
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First reading
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2 Corinthians 4:7-15 ©
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Such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us
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We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make
it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We are
in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our
problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted;
knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in
our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen
in our body. Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to our death
every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of
Jesus, too, may be openly shown. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
But as we
have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture – I believed, and therefore I spoke –
we too believe and therefore we too speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord
Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and put us by his side and
you with us. You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more grace is
multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the glory of
God.
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm 125(126):1-6 ©
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Those who are sowing in tears will sing when
they reap.
When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage,
it seemed like a dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
on our lips there were songs.
Those who are sowing in tears will sing when
they reap.
The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels
the Lord worked for them!’
What marvels the Lord worked for us!
Indeed we were glad.
Those who are sowing in tears will sing when
they reap.
Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage
as streams in dry land.
Those who are sowing in tears
will sing when they reap.
Those who are sowing in tears will sing when
they reap.
They go out, they go out, full of tears,
carrying seed for the sowing:
they come back, they come back, full of song,
carrying their sheaves.
Those who are sowing in tears will sing when
they reap.
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Gospel Acclamation
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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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Matthew 20:20-28 ©
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'Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?'
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The mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons to
make a request of him, and bowed low; and he said to her, ‘What is it you
want?’ She said to him, ‘Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at
your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ ‘You do not know
what you are asking’ Jesus answered. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to
drink?’ They replied, ‘We can.’ ‘Very well,’ he said ‘you shall drink my cup,
but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant;
they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.’
When the
other ten heard this they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus
called them to him and said, ‘You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it
over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen
among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and
anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of
Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for
many.’
ALLOWING GOD TO SHINE THROUGH US IN OUR WEAKNESS
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [2 COR 4:7-15; MT 20:20-28
]
Who makes a
great apostle of Christ? One would think that a great apostle is one who travels
miles preaching the gospel, establishing new Christian communities, building
new churches, performing miracles and wonders. Indeed, we measure success
in terms of earthly achievements, just like many people in the world
think. This was what the apostles thought as well before the death
and resurrection of our Lord. We read how “The mother of the sons of
Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low;
and he said to her, ‘What is it you want?’ She said to him, ‘Promise that these
two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in
your kingdom.’” Of course, the others were not that humble either.
We read “When the other ten heard this they were indignant with the two
brothers.” They were jealous and were also hoping for glory and position
when Jesus came to power. They sought to outshine each other, competing
with each other for power and glory.
However,
Jesus used that as a lesson to teach them who a true apostle is. He is
not one that outshines the rest but he shines firstly as a servant. He
shines by making others shine by his service. A true apostle must consider
himself as a servant and a slave of Christ and of His people. He is not
his own. Even when he is given authority, he knows that he must use it
not to boost his ego or prop up his position, but for the humble service of the
people. This is what the Lord reminded them when He said, “You know that
among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their
authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be
great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among
you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to
serve.” So if we want to outshine others, then we must outshine by
being a lowly and humble servant. The humbler we are, the more we allow
others to shine.
Secondly, a
true apostle is one who shines in giving one’s life for others. Jesus said, “the Son
of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for
many.” Not only are we called to service of others but to give up our
life for the sake of others. As St Paul said about Jesus, “For you know
the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for
your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.”
(2 Cor 8:9)
We are called to give up our lives for others. Jesus said, “I came that
they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good
shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (Jn 10:10f)
The focus of an apostle is always the interests of his people before his own.
Thirdly, a
true apostle is one who is ready to drink the cup that Jesus drank at His
passion and crucifixion. He must be ready to suffer on behalf of others and for the sake of
others. This was what the Lord asked James and John, “You do not know
what you are asking, can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” What is
this cup? It is the cup of innocent suffering, the cup of rejection,
humiliation and false accusation. And in the face of such sufferings, one
must not retaliate but to take them humbly. “For to this you have been
called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you
should follow in his steps. He committed no sin; no guile was found on his
lips. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he
did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly. He himself bore our
sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to
righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Pt 2:21-25)
Indeed, to suffer for others is one thing but to suffer innocently without
justifying ourselves is very humiliating and it goes against our pride and ego
which seeks satisfaction and retribution.
Fourthly, a
true apostle never gives up hope in the midst of trials. St Paul said, “We are
in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our
problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted;
knocked down, but never killed.” This is the kind of attitude true
apostles of Christ must cultivate and possess. Unless we are positive and
hopeful, it shows that we are defeated and that Christ is not our Lord and
Saviour. If what we do is truly the work of God, then God will somehow
assist us and vindicate us in our sufferings and struggles. A true
apostle lives in hope. This is what St Peter wrote, “In this you rejoice,
though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that
the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable
is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation
of Jesus Christ.” (1 Pt 1:6f)
Fifthly, a
true apostle shines by allowing Christ to be seen in His body. St Paul said, “always
wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that
the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body.” Whenever we die
to ourselves through innocent suffering and weaknesses, Christ is shown to be
at work in our lives. Christ shines powerfully in us not when we are
strong but when we are weak. This is what St Paul experienced in His
ministry. “Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am
not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my
weakness.” (2 Cor 11:28f) Yet, the paradox of being a witness of Christ is
when we show ourselves to be helpless. We need to die to our pride
and our self-sufficiency. “Indeed, while we are still alive, we are
consigned to our death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal
flesh the life of Jesus, too, may be openly shown. So death is at work in us,
but life in you.”
Indeed, the
greatest way to witness for Christ is for the glory of God to shine in us. This is what St Paul
meant when he wrote that “we are only the earthenware jars that hold this
treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and
not from us.” The greatness of God lies in His humility expressed by His
self-emptying. Although He was God, He emptied Himself of His divinity to
assume our humanity. (cf Phil 2:5-11)
We, too, in our nothingness, God has filled us with His grace. He had
chosen to dwell in the womb of Mary through the overshadowing of the Holy
Spirit. He also used us as poor instruments to be His preachers and
healers. He chose us to be His apostles in spite of our
nothingness. “For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise
according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble
birth; but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose
what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and
despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things
that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Cor 2:26-29)
Indeed, when
in our weakness, people see that it is God who works, they will give glory to
God and not to us. “You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more
grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the
glory of God.” With the psalmist, we sing the marvels and power of God at
work in our lives. When Israel thought it was impossible for them to
return home from exile, God amazingly used a pagan king, Cyrus of Persia to
allow them to return home to rebuild their homeland, providing them even the
necessary resources and assistance. “When the Lord delivered Zion from
bondage, it seemed like a dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, on
our lips there were songs. The heathens themselves said: “What marvels
the Lord worked for them!” What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were
glad.”
In the final
analysis, a true apostle of Christ is one who shines in his faith. “But as we have the
same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture – we too believe and
therefore we too speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will
raise us with Jesus in our turn, and put us by his side and you with us.”
We are called to hold fast to our faith in Christ’s death and resurrection when
we face trials and sufferings in life like the apostles.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Singapore © All Rights Reserved
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