20180912
A BLESSED LIFE IS A
HOLISTIC LIFE
12 SEPTEMBER,
2018, Wednesday, 23rd Week, Ordinary Time
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour:
Green.
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First reading
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1 Corinthians 7:25-31 ©
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The world as we know it is passing away
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About remaining celibate, I have no
directions from the Lord but give my own opinion as one who, by the Lord’s
mercy, has stayed faithful. Well then, I believe that in these present times of
stress this is right: that it is good for a man to stay as he is. If you are
tied to a wife, do not look for freedom; if you are free of a wife, then do not
look for one. But if you marry, it is no sin, and it is not a sin for a young
girl to get married. They will have their troubles, though, in their married
life, and I should like to spare you that.
Brothers,
this is what I mean: our time is growing short. Those who have wives should
live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they
had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though
there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should
live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with
the world should not become engrossed in it. I say this because the world as we
know it is passing away.
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm
44(45):11-12,14-17 ©
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Listen, O daughter, give
ear to my words.
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words:
forget your own people and
your father’s house.
So will the king desire your beauty:
He is your lord, pay homage to
him.
Listen, O daughter, give
ear to my words.
The daughter of the king is clothed with
splendour,
her robes embroidered with
pearls set in gold.
She is led to the king with her maiden
companions.
Listen, O daughter, give
ear to my words.
They are escorted amid gladness and joy;
they pass within the palace of
the king.
Sons shall be yours in place of your
fathers:
you will make them princes
over all the earth.
Listen, O daughter, give
ear to my words.
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Gospel Acclamation
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1Jn2:5
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Whenever anyone obeys what Christ has
said,
God’s love comes to perfection in him.
Alleluia!
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Or:
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Lk6:23ab
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Rejoice and be glad:
your reward will be great in heaven.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Luke 6:20-26 ©
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Happy are you who are poor, who are
hungry, who weep
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Fixing his eyes on his disciples Jesus
said:
‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is
the kingdom of God.
Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be
satisfied.
Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.
Happy are you when people hate you, drive
you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of
Man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, for then your reward will
be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.
‘But alas for you who are rich: you are
having your consolation now.
Alas for you who have your fill now: you
shall go hungry.
Alas for you who laugh now: you shall
mourn and weep.
‘Alas for you when the world speaks well
of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.’
A BLESSED LIFE IS A HOLISTIC LIFE
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ 1 COR 7:25-31; LUKE 6:20-26 ]
We all seek a blessed
life, regardless whether we
are believers or not. No one wants to suffer or be miserable in
life. We all seek joy and happiness. The problem is that happiness
is so elusive and many of us seek it in the wrong places and are left
frustrated. What is the key to happiness? Jesus provides us the
blueprint for happiness in the Beatitudes and St Paul helps us to see these
beatitudes in perspective.
Against the common
understanding of the means to happiness, Jesus in the Beatitudes forces us to change
our mindset with regard to the values that the world presumes as the
keys to happiness. Indeed, the beatitudes are too difficult for us to
accept because they are against our cultural values. Specifically, Jesus
highlighted four values that the world seeks, but which are in contrast to the
gospel values.
Firstly, the value of
riches. He said, “How
happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God.” This is
followed by a warning, “But alas for you who are rich: you are having your
consolation now.” This advocacy to poverty was totally against the
whole spirit and aspiration of the Jewish people and not in line with the Old
Testament. The Jewish people associated God’s blessings, especially of
prosperity, wealth and health, as indicators of having lived a godly life.
Poverty was seen as an indictment of sinners. That is why the
disciples were shocked to hear Jesus’ appraisal of riches and poverty.
Yet the truth remains
that those who are rich can fall into many pits because they live in the
illusion that they are self-sufficient. They rely on themselves and often cannot feel
with the poor and the suffering. Riches can make a person arrogant and
proud, living for himself, thinking that he has everything. Riches are
often used to manipulate people and control others so that we can make use of
them. Riches make us susceptible to the temptations of the flesh and of
the world. We can over-indulge and be possessed by things and
pleasures. We lack real friends and authentic relationships because we do
not know who our true friends are.
Being poor is not a
blessing in itself of course. Consciousness of our poverty helps us to depend on God
alone and never become too proud of ourselves, or think that we are
self-sufficient. Poverty makes us totally dependent on God and live under
divine providence. Being poor helps us to feel with others who are
deprived. We become more compassionate and understanding. We
learn how to share whatever little we have with others who suffer even more
than we do. Poverty teaches us to be grateful for whatever we have
and thankful for whatever we are given. So a poor person lives in
gratitude and in hope. He remains humble and compassionate.
Secondly, Jesus taught
us the value of hunger.
“Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied.” This is
contrasted with those who are filled. “Alas for you who have your fill
now: you shall go hungry.” This hunger is a hunger for justice and for
love. It is more than just a physical hunger. The real hunger of
humanity is more than the need for food. That is why those who have
plenty of food to eat and drink, in spite of their self-indulgence remain
hungry for true love and friendship. They get themselves sick and find
life empty. No matter how much they indulge, they cannot be filled.
Those who hunger for love and justice on the other hand, will find lasting
peace and joy because they live a just and honest life. They are at peace
and their hearts remain contented. They are full of love.
Thirdly, with respect to
joys and sorrows, Jesus said, “Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh. Alas for you who laugh now: you
shall mourn and weep.” Life is not all sorrow and not all
joy. There will be times when we are sad. Nevertheless, sadness
always gives way to joy. Those who are happy now will eventually be
sad. To cling to happiness on this earth is an illusion. So long as
we are in this life, there will be days of prosperity and adversity.
Therefore, we must take them as they come and accept when they go.
Clinging to them will cause even more sorrows. This explains why those
who are happy will soon suffer tragedy, or their riches and blessings will lead
them to abuse what they have, and cause them to suffer. As for
those who suffer, their sufferings too will end. Nothing remains the
same. As the book of Ecclesiastes says, “In the day of prosperity be
joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as
the other, so that mortals may not find out anything that will come after
them.” (Eccl 7:14) So too the
book of Sirach says, “In the day of prosperity, adversity is forgotten, and in
the day of adversity, prosperity is not remembered.” (Sir 11:25)
Finally, Jesus warns us
about authenticity and fortitude in leadership. “Happy are you when people hate
you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of
the Son of man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, for then your
reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the
prophets. Alas for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way the
ancestors treated the false prophets.” This is the greatest temptation of
the world today. Leaders are no longer leading their people to the truth
and to real happiness. Leaders are being led by the people’s whims and
fancies. Today, leaders provide false hope and illusive happiness to
their peoples. This life is full of compromises. Leaders seek to do
the popular thing because that is what the people want and like.
However, look at the
world today. There is an increasing promiscuity, resulting in a growing number
of divorces, broken families, same sex union and cohabitation. In place of self-sacrifice for the
greater good of others, the emphasis is on individualism, self-fulfillment,
materialism and consumerism. There is a lack of respect for life, whether
at birth or in old age. Indeed, there are few great and authentic leaders who
dare to lead people to seek what is truly good for them. They are
unpopular, condemned and may even lose their lives, but at least they will save
humanity.
In the light of the
exposition of the fallacies of the world with regard to such values, the Lord
presents to us the contrasting values.
It is not that the Lord condemns riches, plenty, happiness or having a good
name. Rather, He was presenting to us the serious dangers of being too
attached to such pursuits in life. In themselves, they cannot bring
happiness. In fact, if not handled properly, the riches, plenty and
positions the Lord gives us can even lead us to greater disaster. It is
for this reason that the preference is to be poor and hungry so that we will
not stray too far. Of course, poverty can also drive one to be greedy and
ambitious.
The ultimate key to
looking at riches and poverty, plenty and privations, joys and sorrows,
popularity and fidelity is to look at all these with equanimity. This is the advice of St Paul when he
spoke about marriage and virginity. He says it does not matter whether
you are married or single. “It is good for a man to stay as he is. If you
are tied to a wife, do not look for freedom; if you are free of a wife, then do
not look for one. But if you marry, it is no sin, and it is not a sin for a
young girl to get married. They will have their troubles, though, in
their married life, and I should like to spare you that.” Whichever
vocation we choose in life, single or married, we will have our
challenges. There is no guarantee that married people will not be lonely,
have no sexual temptations and find life. Whether married or single, we
will have to be purified in an authentic love of self and others.
So St Paul urges us to
learn to live in a detached manner in light of the truth that all things are
passing. “I
say this because the world as we know it is passing away.” Only God
remains and we must give our focus on the kingdom that is to come whilst making
use of both riches and poverty to arrive at it. Enjoy what we have
and be contented, accepting whatever comes from the Lord and use them well for
love and for service of the kingdom. “Those who have wives should live as
though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had
nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there
were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as
though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world
should not become engrossed in it.”
Written
by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All
Rights Reserved
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