20190208
MAKING
DECISIONS UNDER PRESSURE
08 FEBRUARY,
2019, Friday, 4th Week, Ordinary Time
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour:
Green.
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First reading
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Hebrews 13:1-8 ©
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Jesus Christ is the same today as he was
yesterday and will be for ever
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Continue to love each other like brothers,
and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have
entertained angels without knowing it. Keep in mind those who are in prison, as
though you were in prison with them; and those who are being badly treated,
since you too are in the one body. Marriage is to be honoured by all, and
marriages are to be kept undefiled, because fornicators and adulterers will
come under God’s judgement. Put greed out of your lives and be content with
whatever you have; God himself has said: I will not fail you or desert
you, and so we can say with confidence: With the Lord to help
me, I fear nothing: what can man do to me?
Remember
your leaders, who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome
of their lives, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same today as he was
yesterday and as he will be for ever.
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm 26(27):1,3,5,8-9 ©
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The Lord is my light and
my help.
The Lord is my light and my help;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
before whom shall I shrink?
The Lord is my light and
my help.
Though an army encamp against me
my heart would not fear.
Though war break out against me
even then would I trust.
The Lord is my light and
my help.
For there he keeps me safe in his tent
in the day of evil.
He hides me in the shelter of his tent,
on a rock he sets me safe.
The Lord is my light and
my help.
It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;
hide not your face.
Dismiss not your servant in anger;
you have been my help.
The Lord is my light and
my help.
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Gospel Acclamation
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cf.Lk8:15
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are those who,
with a noble and generous heart,
take the word of God to themselves
and yield a harvest through their
perseverance.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Mark 6:14-29 ©
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The beheading of John the Baptist
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King Herod had heard about Jesus, since by
now his name was well known. Some were saying, ‘John the Baptist has risen from
the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ Others said,
‘He is Elijah’; others again, ‘He is a prophet, like the prophets we used to
have.’ But when Herod heard this he said, ‘It is John whose head I cut off; he
has risen from the dead.’
Now
it was this same Herod who had sent to have John arrested, and had him chained
up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had
married. For John had told Herod, ‘It is against the law for you to have your
brother’s wife.’ As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill
him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to
be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him
speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
An
opportunity came on Herod’s birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of
his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When
the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and
his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will
give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even
half my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’
She replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’ The girl hurried straight back to
the king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head,
here and now, on a dish.’ The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the
oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to
her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John’s
head. The man went off and beheaded him in prison; then he brought the head on
a dish and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s
disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
MAKING DECISIONS
UNDER PRESSURE
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [HEB 13:1-8; PS 27:1,3,5,8-9; MARK 6:14-29 ]
As leaders particularly,
we are often pressured to take a position, make a statement or execute a
decision on matters pertaining to our organization. Some decisions are difficult
because often they have to be made quickly and decisively. When time is
not on our side and there is coercion all round, it is difficult for leaders to
remain cool, detached and sober in their decision-making. This was the case for
King Herod in today’s gospel. Even as individuals, making a conscientious
decision is fraught with struggles and dilemma, especially when it involves a
moral issue. We do not know whether we should report to the authorities
or just pretend that we are not aware. Yet our conscience strikes us and
we feel uneasy both ways. To blow the whistle might cause us our livelihood.
Not to do so means that we are allowing evil and injustice to triumph.
What are the pressures
that impact us when making decisions? Firstly, pressure can come from
morality. When
a decision concerns a question of justice and right and propriety, we feel
pressured to take a stand. Such issues could include human rights, right
relationships towards our fellowmen, the dignity of life from birth to
death. Herod was faced with the moral issue of taking his brother,
Philip’s wife. John the Baptist reprimanded him, saying, “It is against
the law for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herod knew it was morally not the
right thing to do but he succumbed under temptation. So moral pressure would
affect the way we make a decision. Our conscience will prick us and
unsettle us.
Secondly, pressure can
come from the dimension of faith.
This was particularly so for Herod, because in his conscience he knew that John
the Baptist was speaking the truth which comes from God. “Herod was
afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his
protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet
he liked to listen to him.” Herod knew that he was disobeying the
commandments of the Lord. Indeed, many of us in truth know the right
thing to do but we lack the will and we lack courage to do the right
thing. We postpone, hoping that the situation will pass us by. We
do not want to confront the pain either in ceasing the wrongs we are doing or
in making decisions that will affect our interests. Yet, in making
judgment, whether we like it or not, our faith will determine the values we
have and the way we look at moral issues. This explains why some
cannot accept our interpretation of moral laws, whether with regard to
abortion, euthanasia, human embryos, same sex union, divorce, etc when they are
grounded on nature enlightened by faith.
Thirdly, pressure can
come from politics and power.
At times, we succumb to pressure from political powers, fearing we could be
discriminated or penalized. This political pressure need not necessarily
come from the political authorities but from the common good of the
people. As a minority in a secular country, we need to respect that the
laws formulated must express the will of the people. Laws enacted must be
wise, just and for the good of all. It does not favour one religion over
another, but they are for the promotion of justice and equality. So in
making decisions, a leader must also consider the larger dimension of society
as a whole, and not just from his limited responsibility to his organization,
since we are inter-dependent and inter-connected. In the case of Herod,
he was motivated by the wrong use of political powers. He was more concerned
about what his officials would think of him if he did not carry out his promise
to keep his word to his daughter. “The girl hurried straight back to the
king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, here
and now on a dish.’ The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the
oaths that he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word
to her.” Going against his conscience, although there was no necessity to
fulfill an immoral wish of his daughter, he agreed to do the wrong thing to
show off his power,.
Fourthly, another source
of pressure comes from society. Today
with mass digital technology, internet and social media, news, especially fake
and distorted news, spread quickly. Pressure is being built up whether a
leader speaks or not. If he keeps silent, he would be accused of
cowardice and not protecting the members of the organization or the people that
he serves. If he does speak, those who disagree with him will react strongly,
not just expressing disagreement but even hate and insults. Either way,
the leader is being pressured. Today, people use social media to
influence the minds and hearts of others and win them over. With
relativism, the truth is hardly heard but only the popular voice which is
spread through half-truths and lies. People champion a cause not for the
good of others but to protect their vested interests, which are sometimes at
variance with the good of society. Herod too wanted to save his pride and
show off his generosity and power, but he was pressured to make an offer he could
not fulfill. In his conceitedness, he promised Herodias’ daughter, “‘Ask
me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath,
‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.'”
Fifthly, pressure often
comes from our loved ones.
This is perhaps the most difficult to resist because we love them and are
afraid to lose their love or we have no heart to say “no” to their
request. Again, this was the case of Herod. He was pressurized from
all corners. He was forced to behead John the Baptist against his wish
even though Herodias, who was humiliated by him, was vindictive towards
him. She wanted to silence John the Baptist completely so that she would
no longer have to be reminded of her sin and guilt and be shamed publicly by
him. For a long time, Herod was passive. To appease Herodias, he
had “John arrested, and had him chained up in prison…” But that was not
enough to pacify her. She was so revengeful and would want nothing but
the head of John the Baptist which she did eventually get by manipulating and
putting pressure on her daughter to ask for his head after she performed a
beautiful dance before Herod.
The truth is that when
we do not decide rightly, justly and courageously, our reticence, our mistakes
and our cowardice will come back to haunt us for failing in our responsibility. This was how Herod
felt. It was a decision that he deeply regretted when he made the offer
to Herodias’ daughter which led to the execution of John the Baptist. So
much so, he lived in constant guilt throughout his life, never able to forgive
himself for killing a man of God whom he knew so well. This was the
reason why he was haunted by nightmares about John the Baptist coming back to
life. Indeed, “King Herod had heard about Jesus, since by now his name
was well-known. Some were saying, ‘John the Baptist has risen from the
dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ Others said,
‘He is Elijah;’ others again, ‘he is a prophet, like the prophets we used to
have.’ But when Herod heard this he said, ‘It is John whose head I cut
off; he has risen from the dead.'” The price of being pressured into
silence, or speaking or acting foolishly will cause us greater distress, loss
of credibility, and result in more harm to those people under our charge.
In the first reading,
Christians were told to be calm in the face of persecution. As Christians
we must hold on to our faith in good times and in bad times. We must abide by our Christian principles
regardless of the outcome. This is what the author of Hebrews
asked of us. He reminded us, “Jesus Christ is the same as he was
yesterday and as he will be for ever.” Instead of succumbing to external
pressures we must respond with personal conviction from the values of the
gospel. Some of these fundamental principles would include, love for our
brothers and sisters, including strangers, “for by doing this, some people have
entertained angels without knowing it.” Whatever we do must be done out
of pure love for all regardless of who they are. Secondly, we must
empathize with those who are suffering. As in the case of the early
Christians, they were told to “keep in mind those who are in prison, as though
you were in prison with them; and those who are being badly treated, since you
too are in the one body.” Thirdly, we must protect marriage and family
life because this is critical to the survival of society. “Marriage is to
be honoured by all, and marriages are to be kept undefiled, because fornicators
and adulterers will come under God’s judgement.”
In the final analysis,
we are called to put our faith in God’s providence and love. The psalmist assures us that God is
our light and strength. “The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I
fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom shall I shrink? Though
an army encamp against me my heart would not fear. Though war break out against
me even then would I trust. For there he keeps me safe in his tent in the day
of evil. He hides me in the shelter of his tent, on a rock he sets me
safe.” Let us surrender our lives to Him knowing that He will look
after us. “Put greed out of your lives and be content with whatever you have;
God himself has said: I will not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with
confidence: With the Lord to help me, I fear nothing: what can man do to me?”
Lastly, to find strength
and courage, the author invites us to “Remember your leaders, who preached the
word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, imitate
their faith.” Our
faith will remain strong when we think of our Lord, the prophets who died for
truth and justice, the martyrs who died for their faith in Christ, and the many
holy men and women who had served God and humanity. Remembering the good
and saintly people will give us strength and courage to follow their example in
being true to the gospel, resisting the negative pressures that come from the
Evil Spirit, the Flesh and the World.
Written
by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All
Rights Reserved
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