Thursday, 31 January 2019

ARE YOU STILL PROUD TO BE A CATHOLIC?

20190201 ARE YOU STILL PROUD TO BE A CATHOLIC?


01 FEBRUARY, 2019, Friday, 3rd Week, Ordinary Time
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour: Green.

First reading
Hebrews 10:32-39 ©

We are the sort who keep faithful
Remember all the sufferings that you had to meet after you received the light, in earlier days; sometimes by being yourselves publicly exposed to insults and violence, and sometimes as associates of others who were treated in the same way. For you not only shared in the sufferings of those who were in prison, but you happily accepted being stripped of your belongings, knowing that you owned something that was better and lasting. Be as confident now, then, since the reward is so great. You will need endurance to do God’s will and gain what he has promised.
Only a little while now, a very little while,
and the one that is coming will have come; he will not delay.
The righteous man will live by faith,
but if he draws back, my soul will take no pleasure in him.
You and I are not the sort of people who draw back, and are lost by it; we are the sort who keep faithful until our souls are saved.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 36(37):3-6,23-24,39-40 ©
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
If you trust in the Lord and do good,
  then you will live in the land and be secure.
If you find your delight in the Lord,
  he will grant your heart’s desire.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Commit your life to the Lord,
  trust in him and he will act,
so that your justice breaks forth like the light,
  your cause like the noon-day sun.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The Lord guides the steps of a man
  and makes safe the path of one he loves.
Though he stumble he shall never fall
  for the Lord holds him by the hand.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord,
  their stronghold in time of distress.
The Lord helps them and delivers them
  and saves them: for their refuge is in him.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation
Ps118:27
Alleluia, alleluia!
Make me grasp the way of your precepts,
and I will muse on your wonders.
Alleluia!
Or:
Mt11:25
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father, 
Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom
to mere children.
Alleluia!

Gospel
Mark 4:26-34 ©

The kingdom of God is a mustard seed growing into the biggest shrub of all
Jesus said to the crowds: ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man throws seed on the land. Night and day, while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know. Of its own accord the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the crop is ready, he loses no time: he starts to reap because the harvest has come.’
  He also said, ‘What can we say the kingdom of God is like? What parable can we find for it? It is like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.’
  Using many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it. He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were alone.

ARE YOU STILL PROUD TO BE A CATHOLIC?

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ HEB 10:32-39PS 37:3-6,23-24,39-40MARK 4:26-34 ]
With the recurrent negative publicity surrounding the Church and scandals involving its hierarchy, it is difficult to stand erect, hold our heads high and say that we are proud to be Catholic.   Indeed, many Catholics are ashamed of their faith.  Even those Catholics with supposedly strong faith are shaken at hearing such reports.  For those who have weak or little faith, what more can we expect from them?  Some have left the Church and given up that little sliver of faith that is left in them.  Those who have been sexually abused are angry with the Church and some are seeking justice to redress their pain.
Indeed, it is difficult to stay firm and strong in our faith.  As it is, our Faith is being attacked from all fronts.  The credibility of our leaders is not the only casualty.  The moral teachings of the Church have always been opposed by the world, whether with regard to marriage, the family or the dignity of human life from conception until death.  It is extremely challenging in today’s world to remain faithful to our spouse, to be chaste in relationships, to stand up for what we believe in, lest we be ridiculed, opposed and discriminated.  Few Catholics identify themselves in the workplace, in business, or share their faith with their colleagues or friends.  It is safer to hide our faith so that we will not be bypassed for promotion or business deals.  We are not willing to lose our worldly pursuit of power, position and wealth on account of our faith.
Above all, with life being more comfortable today, and pleasures, convenience and comforts so easily accessible, unlike in the old days when life was harsh, difficult and austere, people do not think about the next life.  In fact, because we are so comfortable in this world, we do not desire to leave it to go to heaven.  We want to live on this earth for as long as possible so that we can enjoy the pleasures of life.  That is why people go for makeover and freeze their embryos and stems cells, etc because they want to continue to live forever.  Only those who live in poverty, in meaninglessness, are sick and lonely desire to die so that they can be relieved from the pain of this life.  Otherwise, the thought of dying would be far from their minds.
This is true even for Catholics.  How we live our lives is not much different from those without faith in God.  Faith for many Catholics is more like taking a Panadol for relief or a stop-gap to explain the mysteries of life events.  Their faith is more a supplement, a safety net, an insurance.  In case everything else fails in life, they still have something to rely on.  They use their faith to help them to go through life, especially in times of suffering, trials, bereavement or helplessness.  Only then, will they turn to God for help or assistance.  However, we need to truly ask ourselves, do we live this life on earth as a preparation and purification for life eternal?
In contrast, we look at the early Christians.  It is hard to imitate their faith in Christ.  They were persecuted, insulted, suffered violence and even put in prison.  They were stripped of their property and wealth.  This was what the author of Hebrews wrote, “Remember all the sufferings that you had to meet after you received the light, in earlier days: sometimes by being yourselves publicly exposed to insults and violence, and sometimes as associates of others who were treated in the same way. For you not only shared in the sufferings of those who were in prison, but you happily accepted being stripped of your belongings.” Such courage, perseverance and fidelity to Christ and their faith is most edifying.  Few of us would be able to sacrifice ourselves as much as they did.  Most of us are cowards when it comes to suffering for Christ. We want to be loved and accepted by all.
What was their secret?  It is their faith in the greater things to come.  The author of Hebrews said that their fidelity to their faith was due to the fact that they knew that they “owned something that was better and lasting. Be as confident now, then, since the reward is so great. You will need endurance to do God’s will and gain what he has promised.”  A greater reward was awaiting them in heaven.  And this reward would be theirs soon.  “Only a little while now, a very little while, and the one that is coming will have come; he will not delay.”
This was also how St Peter encouraged the early Christians.  “In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith – being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”  (1 Pt 1:6-9)
For the sake of the greater future, we can sacrifice the present. This has always been the case, even in daily life.  For the sake of the future of our children, parents sacrifice their comforts and work hard to give their children a good education.  What more if we are speaking of not just being successful in the world but for the joy of eternal life, as a foretaste on this earth and in its fullness after death.  St Paul himself wrote, “Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.”
That is why, the key to firmness in our faith is to live by faith, not by sight.  The author of Hebrews wrote to his people, “The righteous man will live by faith, but if he draws back, my soul will take no pleasure in him.  You and I are not the sort of people who draw back, and are lost by it; we are the sort who keep faithful until our souls are saved.”
What does faith entail? It means to live an honourable life and trust in God who does all things well.  The psalmist says, “If you trust in the Lord and do good, then you will live in the land and be secure. If you find your delight in the Lord, he will grant your heart’s desire.  Commit your life to the Lord, trust in him and he will act, so that your justice breaks forth like the light, your cause like the noon-day sun. The Lord guides the steps of a man and makes safe the path of one he loves. Though he stumble he shall never fall for the Lord holds him by the hand. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord, their stronghold in time of distress. The Lord helps them and delivers them and saves them: for their refuge is in him.”
Secondly, it means to believe that He is working even when we cannot see Him at work in our lives.  This is what the parable of the farmer is teaching us.  “A man throws seed on the land. Night and day, while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know. Of its own accord the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the crop is ready, he loses no time: he starts to reap because the harvest has come.”   God is working in ways beyond our imagination.  So we must have faith in the divine grace of God working in and through our lives and the events of history.
Of course, like the farmer, we must cooperate with His grace.  We must sow the seed and water the plants.  We must cooperate with His grace at work in our lives.  St Paul wrote, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28) Trusting in God does not mean we do nothing but simply allowing the grace of God to work.   St Paul shows us the example when he wrote, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them – though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”  (1 Cor 15:10)
Indeed, we must not be too concerned with the visible workings of grace.  We must be patient and start cooperating with God’s grace. We need to work from somewhere and begin somewhere.  For as the Lord said, the Kingdom of God is “like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.”   If we want to see change in the Church, renewal, conversion, growth, and be truly a tree that all can find rest under its shade, then we must take steps, each in his or her own ways, to build up their faith and the faith of their brothers and sisters.  Together in the same mission, we will establish God’s kingdom eventually in the hearts of men and women.

Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved


LET US KEEP FIRM IN THE HOPE WE PROFESS

20190131 LET US KEEP FIRM IN THE HOPE WE PROFESS


31 JANUARY, 2019, Thursday, 3rd Week, Ordinary Time
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour: White.

First reading
Hebrews 10:19-25 ©

Let us keep firm in the hope we profess
Through the blood of Jesus we have the right to enter the sanctuary, by a new way which he has opened for us, a living opening through the curtain, that is to say, his body. And we have the supreme high priest over all the house of God. So as we go in, let us be sincere in heart and filled with faith, our minds sprinkled and free from any trace of bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us keep firm in the hope we profess, because the one who made the promise is faithful. Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works. Do not stay away from the meetings of the community, as some do, but encourage each other to go; the more so as you see the Day drawing near.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 23(24):1-6 ©
Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.
The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,
  the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas;
  on the waters he made it firm.
Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.
Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
  Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart,
  who desires not worthless things.
Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.
He shall receive blessings from the Lord
  and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him,
  seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation
Ph2:15-16
Alleluia, alleluia!
You will shine in the world like bright stars
because you are offering it the word of life.
Alleluia!
Or:
Ps118:105
Alleluia, alleluia!
Your word is a lamp for my steps
and a light for my path.
Alleluia!

Gospel
Mark 4:21-25 ©

The seed is sprouting and growing as he sleeps
Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Would you bring in a lamp to put it under a tub or under the bed? Surely you will put it on the lamp-stand? For there is nothing hidden but it must be disclosed, nothing kept secret except to be brought to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to this.’
  He also said to them, ‘Take notice of what you are hearing. The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given – and more besides; for the man who has will be given more; from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.’

LET US KEEP FIRM IN THE HOPE WE PROFESS

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ Heb 10:19-25Ps 24:1-6Mk 4:21-25 ]
In the first reading from the letter to the Hebrews, the author urged the early Christians “to keep firm in the hope we profess, because the one who made the promise is faithful.”  How then can we keep firm in our faith?  The truth is that many Catholics easily stray away from the faith that they received.  Many young people lose their faith in Christ after the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Some lose it a few years after RCIA.  Others lose it even after encountering God in a dramatic way.  What are the reasons for their falling into complacency, becoming indifferent and even hostile towards Christ and the Christian Faith?
To remain firm in the faith we profess, we must continue to grow in our faith.  The fault with many Catholics is that they think baptism is a graduation from having acquired knowledge and understanding of their faith. After completing their catechism classes or RCIA journey, they no longer seek out opportunities to continue growing their faith, both doctrinally and spiritually.  Their only occasion to grow in faith is the one-hour mass that they attend every Sunday.  This is hardly enough to sustain the life of a Catholic.  Of course, the Church is largely to be blamed because we do not insist that Catholics continue with their ongoing formation, and secondly, we do not provide them the means, resources and programs to meet their diverse spiritual and doctrinal needs.
The warning of the Lord is clear.  Those who do not grow in their faith are already losing their faith.  There is no neutrality.  “Take notice of what you are hearing. The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given – and more besides; for the man who has will be given more; from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”   Faith, like relationships, needs time to grow. Just like relationships, faith needs to be strengthened every moment, each day, every week and every year.  There is no question of stopping when it comes to nurturing our faith as in any relationship.  Relationships between spouses or friends when not deepened because we take each other for granted will eventually lead to distancing, misunderstandings, doubts and suspicions.  So, too, in our faith relationship with God.
How, then, can we grow in our faith?  Firstly, we need to deepen our intimacy with God through Christ.  The letter of Hebrews invites us to enter the sanctuary of God “by a new way which he has opened for us, a living opening through the curtain, that is to say, his body. And we have the supreme high priest over all the house of God.”  In the Old rite, only the priest could enter the Holy of Holies hidden behind the curtain once a year on the Day of Atonement.  However, with Christ, we can approach the throne of God not only once a year or only through His priests but directly through Christ.  He is the Way to the Father.  In Christ, we come to know and love the Father.  This is what the author meant when he said we come to God through “his body.”  In other words, by His passion, death and resurrection, Christ has opened for us the way to have direct access to His Father’s love and mercy.  To go through His body means that we must go through the humanity of Christ by contemplating on His life, passion, death and resurrection so that we can come to appreciate the Father’s love for us.  For this reason, Catholics must fight shy of those pseudo-Christian spiritualties that attempt to reach God by bypassing the humanity of Christ.  A true Christian spirituality is always rooted in not just the mystical body of Christ but in His humanity.  This has always been the teaching of the mystical writers and the Church.
Secondly, we must be rooted in the Word of God.  Twice in the gospel, Jesus warned us.  “If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to this. Take notice of what you are hearing.”  We cannot grow in our faith without deepening our love and appreciation for the Word of God through bible study and most of all, a prayerful reading and sharing of the Word of God.  When we do not make time to read, study and pray the scriptures, we cannot know Christ since St Jerome makes it clear that “to be ignorant of the scriptures, is to be ignorant of Christ”.  And Christ Himself says, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.”  (Lk 24:44)  He reprimanded the Jews, “You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”  (Jn 5:39)  Jesus told the Sadducees, “You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God.”  (Mt 22:29)
Thirdly, we must seek the support of the Christian community.   The letter to the Hebrews said, “Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works. Do not stay away from the meetings of the community, as some do, but encourage each other to go; the more so as you see the Day drawing near.”  The main reason why many Catholics fall off from their faith is because their faith is a personal individualistic faith, between God and them alone.  A Catholic without the support of his fellow Catholics will eventually fall out from the faith, especially when he undergoes the trials and challenges of life, the influence of secularism, and the materialistic, individualistic and atheistic views of the world.  A Catholic who is disconnected from his fellow Catholics will not have fellow Catholics to encourage, support and journey with him in his life of faith.  Without hearing the testimonies of fellow Catholics in their encounter with the Lord and how they live out their Catholic faith, we will lack inspiration, models and mentors to edify and guide us.  Catholics must not only come for Sunday Mass regularly, but they must also belong to a faith-sharing group, a community that could support them in their faith.  Otherwise, their faith will become weak and when they have no ties with the community, they will wander away to find another community, often a secular community without godly values.
Fourthly, to grow our faith, we need to evangelize and be a witness to Christ.  We evangelize ourselves by evangelizing others.  By sharing our faith with others, we strengthen our own faith.  By teaching our faith to others, we grow in understanding and clarity in what we believe in.  So often, Catholics take their faith for granted until it is challenged.  They do not make the effort to know more about their faith but they will have the time to read all the worldly articles about health, finance, the stock market and all the gossips in the news.   Indeed, the Lord said, “Would you bring in a lamp to put it under a tub or under the bed? Surely you will put it on the lamp-stand? For there is nothing hidden but it must be disclosed, nothing kept secret except to be brought to light.”  By not sharing the faith, it is already a counter-witness.  We cannot truly claim that we believe in the Gospel, the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ, if we do not share it with others.  If it is truly Good News, no one will hide it from others, especially their friends and loved ones.  By not sharing our faith, it means that we hardly believe that the Good News is really that great or worth sharing.  Again, when it comes to jokes, the latest gossips, best place for food, we will forward the information to others for reading, but not about our faith.  We must take note of what the Lord said, “the man who has will be given more; from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”  By not giving out what we have, even the little faith we have would be lost.
Finally, growing in faith, in the final analysis, is to grow in our Christian life.  This is the most effective form of witnessing.  This is what the letter to the Hebrews is encouraging us. “So as we go in, let us be sincere in heart and filled with faith, our minds sprinkled and free from any trace of bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”  Instead of being sprinkled by the blood of the animal as a sign of atonement in the Old Testament, we are sprinkled with water, the symbol of forgiveness and cleansing.  However, more than a symbol, it effects what it sanctifies.  So it means that those of us who are baptized must live a life of holiness and purity, free from sin and a bad conscience.  This is what the psalmist is reminding us.  “Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.  Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? The man with clean hands and pure heart, who desires not worthless things. He shall receive blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saves him. Such are the men who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob.” A life of holiness and charity are the fruits of a strong spiritual life and a life of hope founded in the promises of God.

Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved