20190122 PERSEVERE
IN HOPE
22 JANUARY,
2019, Tuesday, 2nd Week, Ordinary Time
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour:
Green.
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First reading
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In this hope we have an anchor for our
soul
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God would not be so unjust as to forget
all you have done, the love that you have for his name or the services you have
done, and are still doing, for the saints. Our one desire is that every one of
you should go on showing the same earnestness to the end, to the perfect
fulfilment of our hopes, never growing careless, but imitating those who have
the faith and the perseverance to inherit the promises.
When
God made the promise to Abraham, he swore by his own self, since it was
impossible for him to swear by anyone greater: I will shower blessings on
you and give you many descendants. Because of that, Abraham persevered
and saw the promise fulfilled. Men, of course, swear an oath by something
greater than themselves, and between men, confirmation by an oath puts an end
to all dispute. In the same way, when God wanted to make the heirs to the
promise thoroughly realise that his purpose was unalterable, he conveyed this
by an oath; so that there would be two unalterable things in which it was
impossible for God to be lying, and so that we, now we have found safety,
should have a strong encouragement to take a firm grip on the hope that is held
out to us. Here we have an anchor for our soul, as sure as it is firm, and
reaching right through beyond the veil where Jesus has entered before us and on
our behalf, to become a high priest of the order of Melchizedek, and for ever.
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Responsorial Psalm
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The Lord keeps his
covenant ever in mind.
I will thank the Lord with all my heart
in the meeting of the just and
their assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord,
to be pondered by all who love
them.
The Lord keeps his
covenant ever in mind.
He makes us remember his wonders.
The Lord is compassion and love.
He gives food to those who fear him;
keeps his covenant ever in
mind.
The Lord keeps his
covenant ever in mind.
He has sent deliverance to his people
and established his covenant
for ever.
Holy his name, to be feared.
His praise shall last for ever!
The Lord keeps his
covenant ever in mind.
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Gospel Acclamation
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Ps118:18
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Open my eyes, O Lord, that I may consider
the wonders of your law.
Alleluia!
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Or:
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cf.Ep1:17,18
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Alleluia, alleluia!
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our mind,
so that we can see what hope his call
holds for us.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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The sabbath was made for man, not man
for the sabbath
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One sabbath day, Jesus happened to be
taking a walk through the cornfields, and his disciples began to pick ears of
corn as they went along. And the Pharisees said to him, ‘Look, why are they doing something
on the sabbath day that is forbidden?’ And he replied, ‘Did you never read what
David did in his time of need when he and his followers were hungry – how
he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the loaves
of offering which only the priests are allowed to eat, and how he also gave
some to the men with him?’
And he said to them, ‘The
sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; the Son of Man is master
even of the sabbath.’
CRIPTURE
READINGS: [ HEB 6:10-20; PS 111:1-2, 4-5, 9, 10; MK 2:23-28 ]
It has never been easy being a Christian. This is not
surprising or unexpected. Jesus in the gospel already forewarned us about what it
takes to be His disciples. “If any want to become my followers, let
them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who
want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my
sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.” (Mk 8:34f)
Indeed, from the beginning of the early Church until this day, Christians have
always come under some form of persecution, sometimes involving physical
suffering but most of the time under emotional and psychological
discrimination.
Understandably, we can become discouraged in doing good and trying
to live the gospel life when we find our good intentions and good efforts
unappreciated. Some of us try to live a
gracious and caring life in our family, but we are often taken for
granted. Instead of family members showing appreciation for the
sacrifices we make, they cast doubts on our good intentions. This is also
true in our service at Church or even at work. There are people who are
jealous of us and often seek to discredit us. They try to destroy
the work we do because they feel threatened by our popularity. Indeed,
when we see so much politics in church ministries or NGOs, we get rather tired
and disillusioned because we feel that the time, effort and sacrifices we put
in are not recognized, much less appreciated.
Therefore, the normal reaction is to resign and just live quietly
on our own. We do not like to fight with the rest of the
community. We are discouraged and disheartened. If the Church and
our family do not appreciate our services, why should we continue to give what
is holy to the dogs? Did not the Lord say, “Do not give what is holy to
dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them
under foot and turn and maul you.” (Mt 7:6)
But these words were spoken in the context of those who profane the holiness of
God, for example, receiving the Eucharist when we are in serious sin.
Rather, St Paul urges us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good.” (Rom 12:21)
How then can we continue to persevere in doing good and remain
faithful to our beliefs if not for the hope that we have? Without hope, we
cannot persevere in our mission and conviction. That is why hope is the
virtue that holds up faith and love. It is our hope for a better future,
the realization of our dreams that keep us working, never faltering in our zeal
even in the face of suffering. This is what keeps leaders and their
organization members working in spite of opposition, ridicule and threats.
They believe in building a greater future for their families and their country
or for their organization. When we have a dream, a vision, it will give
us hope that one day this dream will be realized.
But our hope is not just about this life and about this world. Our hope is in the
fullness of life. “Our one desire is that every one of you should go on
showing the same earnestness to the end, to the perfect fulfilment of our
hopes.” Our final hope is in Christ, sharing in the rewards of eternal
life with Him. This was what St Peter wrote to the early Christians under
persecution. “By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and
into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in
heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith
for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Pt 1:3-5)
St Paul says, “Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to
receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.” (1 Cor 9:25)
Hope means that we need to have patience in waiting for the dream
to be realized. We should not get discouraged when we find that we are
still far from our dreams. Rather, that should challenge and motivate us
further in seeking to make the dream a reality. Instead of succumbing to
pessimistic voices, we must be courageous, hopeful and patient, allowing God’s
grace to work in its own time. This was the same patience that Abraham
displayed in his life. He was already 75 years old when God made the
promise to Abraham that He would make him the father of nations. But it
was only 25 years later, at the age of 100, that Abraham and his wife gave
birth to Isaac. He waited patiently for the plan of God to be
unfolded. He did not give up that dream because of his faith in God.
What is this faith built on if not God’s promise alone? If we have hope it is because the promise is not made by anyone or
any human being but by God Himself. God cannot go against Himself,
otherwise He would not be God. He is always faithful to His Word.
He is truth and love. This explains why the author of Hebrews was
so confident relying on God’s promise. He said, “When God made the
promise to Abraham, he swore by his own self, since it was impossible for him
to swear by anyone greater … In the same way, when God wanted to make the heirs
to the promise thoroughly realise that his purpose would be unalterable, he
conveyed this by an oath; so that there would be two unalterable things in
which it was impossible for God to be lying, and so that we, now we have found
safety, should have a strong encouragement to take a firm grip on the hope that
is held out to us.” Indeed, we must cling to the Word of God alone in all
that we do. The psalmist testifies to God’s fidelity to His promises. “He
makes us remember his wonders. The Lord is compassion and love. He gives
food to those who fear him; keeps his covenant ever in mind. He has sent
deliverance to his people and established his covenant for ever.!”
Most of all, our faith comes from the Lord Jesus. “Here we have an
anchor for our soul, as sure as it is firm, and reaching right through beyond
the veil where Jesus has entered before us and on our behalf, to become a high
priest of the order of Melchizedek, and for ever.” Jesus is the basis for
our faith in God, for by His death and resurrection, He revealed to us His
victory over sin and death. With Jesus in heaven interceding for us and
having prepared a place for us in His Father’s House (cf Jn 14:2f),
we can be confident that with Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life, His
Father will make His home in us. (Jn 14:23)
But we need to cling to our faith in Him if our hope is to be sustained.
Only faith in Him will help us realize our hope. Faith and hope cling to each other like sisters. Hope
inspires faith and faith strengthens hope. How then can we strengthen our
faith so that we will never lose hope? St Paul urges us to imitate “those who
have the faith and the perseverance to inherit the promises.” Abraham is
our exemplar of what faith in God is all about. Although he never saw the
promises fulfilled in his time, his faith was unwavering. Indeed, the
author remarked, “All of these died in faith without having received the
promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that
they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in
this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland … they desire a better
country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called
their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.” (Heb 11:13-16)
But our hope goes beyond just receiving the rewards of heaven; it
is founded on our relationship with the Lord. “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 1:8f)
It is the thought of sharing fellowship with the Father through Christ in the
Holy Spirit that fills us with great joy. There is no greater joy than to
meet Christ face to face and enter into His love and joy. “So let us not
grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do
not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the
good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.” (Gal 6:9f)
Written by The Most Rev William
Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved
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