20190924
OVERCOMING
RELIGIOUS PHOBIA AND RELIGIOUS FANATICISM
24 SEPTEMBER,
2019, Tuesday, 25th Week, Ordinary Time
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First reading
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Ezra 6:7-8,12,14-20 ©
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King Darius wrote to the satrap of
Transeuphrates and his colleagues: ‘Leave the high commissioner of Judah and
the elders of the Jews to work on this Temple of God; they are to rebuild this
Temple of God on its ancient site. This, I decree, is how you must assist the
elders of the Jews in the reconstruction of this Temple of God: the expenses of
these people are to be paid, promptly and without fail, from the royal
revenue – that is, from the tribute of Transeuphrates. May the God who
causes his name to live there overthrow any king or people who dares to defy
this and destroy the Temple of God in Jerusalem! I, Darius, have issued this
decree. Let it be obeyed to the letter!’
The elders of the Jews
prospered with their building, inspired by Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son
of Iddo. They finished the building in accordance with the order of the God of
Israel and the order of Cyrus and of Darius. This Temple was finished on the
twenty-third day of the month of Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King
Darius. The Israelites – the priests, the Levites and the remainder of the
exiles – joyfully dedicated this Temple of God; for the dedication of this
Temple of God they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred
lambs and, as a sacrifice for sin for the whole of Israel, twelve he-goats,
corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel. Then they installed the
priests according to their orders in the service of the Temple of God in
Jerusalem, as is written in the Book of Moses.
The exiles celebrated the
Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Levites, as one man, had
purified themselves; all were pure, so they sacrificed the passover for all the
exiles, for their brothers the priests and for themselves.
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm 121(122):1-5 ©
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I rejoiced when I heard
them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’
I rejoiced when I heard them say:
‘Let us go to God’s house.’
And now our feet are standing
within your gates, O
Jerusalem.
I rejoiced when I heard
them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’
Jerusalem is built as a city
strongly compact.
It is there that the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord.
I rejoiced when I heard
them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’
For Israel’s law it is,
there to praise the Lord’s
name.
There were set the thrones of judgement
of the house of David.
I rejoiced when I heard
them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’
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Gospel Acclamation
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cf.Ps129:5
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Alleluia, alleluia!
My soul is waiting for the Lord,
I count on his word.
Alleluia!
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Or:
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Lk11:28
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Happy are those
who hear the word of God
and keep it.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Luke 8:19-21 ©
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The mother and the brothers of Jesus came
looking for him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. He was
told, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.’ But
he said in answer, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of
God and put it into practice.’
OVERCOMING
RELIGIOUS PHOBIA AND RELIGIOUS FANATICISM
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ Ezra 6:7-8, 12, 14-20; Ps 122:1-5; Lk 8:19-21]
The world often speaks
of Islamophobia. The real cause of division and terrorism in the world is
religious phobia by the State and secularists on one hand, and religious
fanaticism by religions on the other.
The way to bring unity in the world is when we are able to deal with religious
phobia and fanaticism. This is why there can be no world peace and peace
among religions and secularists if the State and religions do not work together
as one for the greater good of the people they purport to serve. So long
as the State views religions as competitors and threats to their authority and
autonomy, there will always be tensions. But when religions become
fundamentalistic and intolerant of others, they, too, will sow seeds of
division and destroy society.
Today’s first reading
provides us the key to good governance which all governments should seek to
emulate. It
was unthinkable that the State would actually come to the aid of the Jews, not
just in giving them the permission to rebuild the Temple of God but to even
help pay for the reconstruction. Under the wise leadership of King Cyrus
who gave the exiled Jews permission to return to their homeland and rebuild the
ruined Jerusalem, his magnanimous successor went further to decree that the
State “must assist the elders of the Jews in the reconstruction of this Temple
of God: the expenses of these people are to be paid, promptly and without fail,
from the royal revenue – that is – from the tribute of Transeuphrates.”
Indeed, the real problem
in the world is more than just religious fanaticism. It is the religious phobia
of the State towards religions.
They think that religions are the cause of division in society and unwittingly
promote secularism as a new religion for all. The attempt to marginalize
and privatize religions, taking them out of the public space, causes more harm
than good to the country. Secularism is not the solution to peace and
unity in the world. If it were so, then there would have been peace and
unity in Europe. On the contrary, secularism has bred a people without
any foundation in moral values or any common agreement on what is good because
of relativism. As a consequence, there can be no basis for unity.
Our peoples have become more individualistic, materialistic and self-centered,
listening and submitting to no one except themselves. In trying to remove
God from society, secularism has given birth to many gods in the form idolatry;
the worship of self. Most of all, secularism has made a people without a
soul, yet deep within them there is a hunger for the spiritual and the
transcendent. However, since they have been conditioned into thinking
that no God exists, their lives are empty even though many are rich, wealthy
and successful. They are seeking for true peace, love, joy and
meaning in life. This world alone cannot provide that ultimate meaning
and purpose for people to find true and lasting happiness.
However, when the
government is supportive of religions, the people will welcome their
rule. There
will be peace and happiness. When the State shows concern for the
people’s legitimate desires and support their needs, not just morally but also
financially, they win over their hearts. The people will grow in faith,
in charity and work together with the State for the good of all.
Wasn’t this the case of the Centurion whose servant was ill and the religious
leaders appealed to Jesus to heal his servant? (cf Lk 7:2-10) Religions are more than happy to
support the government to build a better society for all. Religions in
this case become the partners of the government in working for the common good
but with different responsibilities in building a peaceful, loving, united, prosperous
and progressive nation. Politics and religion do not mix, but they can
cooperate for the greater good of the people, which is their common goal.
Religions cannot be seen as competitors or threats to the State unless they are
fundamentalistic and impose their faith on others, or when the government is
corrupt and unjust to the people. Otherwise, governments should
empower religions and vice versa.
When the State supports
religions, not just one particular religion but all, the State will grow in strength
and unity. After
all, the State comprises of an electorate where, in many countries, there are
more believers than so-called agnostics or those without religion. In
Singapore, more than 80% are believers of some religion. Even for the 20% who
are without religion, it does not mean that they do not have faith in
God. It could be that they do not identify themselves as members of any
particular religion. Many of them in their hearts do have a sense of the
Trancendent and the Sacred. So the State is better off with religions
than without because at least their citizens will have strong moral values and
most of all, are willing to sacrifice their lives for the service of the people
and the country because of religious motivations and faith in an after-life.
What the State must do
is to help to promote inter-religious harmony. The way to avoid religious clashes
is not to clamp down on the religions and exclude them from public space but to
bring the religions together for dialogue, faith-sharing, fellowship and common
social projects. Only by actively engaging religions in the governance of
the country, listening to their views and also supporting inter-religious
dialogue activities and programs, will religions co-exist not just in peace
with each other but work together in unity and mutual respect for the good of
all.
In order for religions
to be at the service of the nation, the State must not support religious
fanaticism. This is the cause
of division among religions, stoking tensions, competition, misunderstanding
and distrust. Religions must therefore be upholders of peace, unity and
mutual respect of people of different faiths. When religions engage in
aggressive proselytization without respect for the sensitivity of people of other
faiths, or without faith, they become divisive and hostile. Instead
of underscoring our differences, we should be promoting what we have in common,
especially religious traditions that could edify our people and promote healthy
moral and social values. Religions must work together for the good of
all.
The basis for
inter-religious dialogue and activity is that we are one family of God; we are
all brothers and sisters. In
the gospel, when “the mother and the brothers of Jesus came looking for him,
but they could not get to him because of the crowd”, He said, “My mother and my
brothers are those who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.”
People of faith, regardless whether they belong to our faith or not, are all
children of God. This is particularly so if they hear the Word of God and
put it into practice. All religions have their Sacred Books and all
true religions teach the path of peace, compassion, love and forgiveness.
No true religion teaches violence and destruction of their enemies. If
every believer were to follow their religious teachings and Holy Books, there
will be peace and unity in the world. Faith believers must be peacemakers
and peace-loving people.
Indeed, even if we hold
our religion to be the true one, it does not mean that other religions are
devoid of truth.
For us Catholics, the Church decreed, “Likewise, other religions found
everywhere try to counter the restlessness of the human heart, each in its own
manner, by proposing ‘ways,’ comprising teachings, rules of life, and sacred
rites. The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these
religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of
life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from
the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that
Truth which enlightens all men. Indeed, she proclaims, and ever must proclaim
Christ ‘the way, the truth, and the life’ (John 14:6), in whom men may find the fullness
of religious life, in whom God has reconciled all things to Himself.”
(Nostra Aetate, 1)
Even those who do not
believe in God or know Him are also children of God. This is what St John wrote, “See what love
the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is
what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know
him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been
revealed.” Indeed, even those who are agnostics are also children of God,
even if they do not know the Father. Jesus also taught, “But I say
to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may
be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and
on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” (Mt 5:44f)
So let the State embrace
and support all religions and treat them fairly. But let all religions support
the cause of the State in forming our people to be good citizens, living in
unity and peace, promoting the good of all. Let the State and all
religions promote inter-faith harmony, mutual respect and appreciation of each
other’s religious traditions and values. This is the path to lasting peace and
unity in the world; not the religious phobia of the State by promoting
secularism, nor religious fanaticism and discrimination of other religions.
Written
by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All
Rights Reserved
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