Thursday, 31 October 2019

CHRISTIAN HOPE IS THE ANSWER TO HUMANITY’S DESTINY

20191101 CHRISTIAN HOPE IS THE ANSWER TO HUMANITY’S DESTINY


01 NOVEMBER, 2019, Friday, All Saints
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour: White.

First reading
Apocalypse 7:2-4,9-14 ©

I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language
I, John, saw another angel rising where the sun rises, carrying the seal of the living God; he called in a powerful voice to the four angels whose duty was to devastate land and sea, ‘Wait before you do any damage on land or at sea or to the trees, until we have put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.’ Then I heard how many were sealed: a hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel.
  After that I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands. They shouted aloud, ‘Victory to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ And all the angels who were standing in a circle round the throne, surrounding the elders and the four animals, prostrated themselves before the throne, and touched the ground with their foreheads, worshipping God with these words, ‘Amen. Praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen.’
  One of the elders then spoke, and asked me, ‘Do you know who these people are, dressed in white robes, and where they have come from?’ I answered him, ‘You can tell me, my lord.’ Then he said, ‘These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb.’

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.

Second reading
1 John 3:1-3 ©

We shall be like God because we shall see him as he really is
Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,
  by letting us be called God’s children;
  and that is what we are.
Because the world refused to acknowledge him,
  therefore it does not acknowledge us.
My dear people, we are already the children of God
  but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed;
all we know is, that when it is revealed
  we shall be like him
  because we shall see him as he really is.
Surely everyone who entertains this hope
  must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ.

Gospel Acclamation
Mt11:28
Alleluia, alleluia!
Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
Alleluia!

Gospel
Matthew 5:1-12a ©

How happy are the poor in spirit
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
‘How happy are the poor in spirit;
  theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
  they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn:
  they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:
  they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful:
  they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
  they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
  they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
  theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’

CHRISTIAN HOPE IS THE ANSWER TO HUMANITY’S DESTINY

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ REV 7:2-4,9-141 JOHN 3:1-3MATT 5:1-12 ]
How does one live today?  Do we just live one day at a time, not knowing where we are going and what we are called to achieve in this life?  If that were the case, we will just drift on in life without any clear purpose.  Life for us then is to eat, enjoy, sleep and work only because it is necessary to keep us alive and have our needs provided.  Otherwise, life has no other purpose and meaning.   Indeed, we wonder why we even exist at all. Why should there be this earth in the first place?  Why are there human beings to control this planet?  Why are there animals and plants?
These are fundamental questions but the world avoids answering them.  Instead, through secularism, it is deceiving humanity into believing that there is nothing beyond this earth and this life.   The world wants humanity to believe that they are simply constituted of matter and when they die, they will be gone forever.  There is no soul.  There is no after-life.  This planet will go on and on.  At most, it will be burnt up eventually because of climate warming, like Mars, which they believe used to be inhabited.  So it is important that we make the most of what we can because once dead, we will disappear from the face of this world.
There is no accountability after death.  Any accountability is only in this life.  As long we can enjoy and make the best of this world’s resources, and not get caught by the law, we can take the risk.  And if caught, and we cannot take the shame and punishment, we can end our life by committing suicide.  There is no reason to worry about tomorrow since there is no tomorrow.  Going by this argument, why do we want to bother about ecology and saving creation since we will not be here tomorrow?  And if life is difficult or suffering is too immense, we should just end it, since suffering is meaningless.   Once dead, there will be no more suffering.  So we advocate abortion and euthanasia.
To discredit and ridicule those with thoughts of the continuity of life after death, they make a mockery of the celebration of Halloween.  This used to be a Catholic celebration in anticipation of the Feast of All Saints and All Souls.  That is why Halloween means the eve of the Holy Saints.  But this religious festival has been hijacked by the world today for commercial gain, by making fun of our belief in the reality of souls and ghosts.  The scientific world wants us to believe that all this talk about souls and spirits is mythological, meant for the naive because spirits do not exist.  And the greatest lie of all is that evil spirits do not exist.
But we know the truth in our hearts.  If we were just material beings alone, then food and physical comfort alone should satisfy us, just like animals are easily satisfied once they are fed.  Yet, we know that besides physical needs, we have affective, aesthetic and spiritual needs.  Just as there is ecology of creation, there is also ecology of the human person.  His material, physical, emotional, psychological, aesthetic, intellectual and spiritual needs are interconnected.  If we are merely animals, then food should be sufficient.  But no matter how much food and comfort we have, there is a saturation point.  Once reached, our cravings cease.
However, this is not the case for our intellectual, affective and spiritual needs.  These are non-material needs.  The mind is always searching for truth and meaning.  The heart is always searching for love and life.  The soul is always searching for the ultimate, for God.  We all long for eternity, for everlasting love and life, for the fullness of truth and love.  No one is ever contented with half-truths and fake love.   We all desire to go beyond ourselves.  All of us want to live on forever and ever.  Indeed, it is incomprehensible to deny that we have a soul.
It is in this context that the Feast of All Saints and the celebration of All Souls give us hope and direction in life.  In celebrating the Feast of All Saints and remembering the souls of the Faithful Departed, we are brought to mind the ultimate future of why we are here on this earth.  We are called to share in the life of God by becoming His children.  We belong to the family of God in the communion of saints.  This is what St John says, “Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are.”  Indeed, heaven is where we are fully immersed in the life and love of God and when we are in communion with everyone, including our loved ones who have gone to heaven before us.  This is the ultimate destiny of everyone.  This is what Christian Hope is all about.
Our hope is in heaven, sharing the life of God.  This is revealed and confirmed for us in Christ.  By His death and resurrection, He shows us that death is not the ultimate in life but only a process to eternal life.  By conquering death, which is the greatest enemy of man and the cause of man’s sins as well, Christ gives us the certain hope that all we do in this life will not end in death but will continue into the next life.  Indeed, in the first reading, we read of how Christ’s death has won for us all victory over sin and death.  St John’s vision of the countless number of peoples from all walks of life, “people from every nation, race, tribe and language … standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands” and shouting “Victory to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” means that Christ has won salvation for us all as a gift.  Indeed, the angel told John, “These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb.”
Life on this earth is short compared to eternity in the next life.  Let us not fool ourselves or let the propaganda of the Evil One deceive us into thinking that we have only one life on this earth and that it ends in death.  This is because the Evil One does not want us to enjoy eternal life with God in heaven.  He wants us to perish with him for all eternity in hell.  He wants us to destroy ourselves by indulging in the things of this world without any care for justice and love.   The reason for people to believe in Satan’s words is because, as St John wrote, “the world refused to acknowledge him, therefore it does not acknowledge us.”  This is precisely why Satan is intent on spreading secularism in the world today.  If he could get us all to believe that there is no God, no spirit, no afterlife, we will all lose hope in life hereafter and very soon, life on this earth as well.
Consequently, we must realize that our actions on this earth have eternal consequences and not as what Satan claims, only temporal consequences.  That is why we must purify ourselves in love and in truth.  St John wrote, “My dear people, we are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is.  Surely everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ.”  In view of what we are called to become, namely, the sons and daughters of God in Christ, we should already begin to live our Christian life as sons and daughters of God.  This is what Baptism in fact does for us and requires us to do, living on earth as God’s children in His family.
Today, we are called to follow the beatitudes, the blueprint to a blessed life.  This is the life of a saint, on earth and in heaven.  Anyone who lives a life of poverty of spirit and trust in God, expressed in a life of purity, mercy, righteousness and compassion, will already share in the life of God. The psalmist says, “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.”  Indeed, let us live the blessed gift given to us already in this life by being gentle and peace-loving.  Those who live out the beatitudes are truly the Blessed Ones of God.  The Lord said, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

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


Wednesday, 30 October 2019

STAYING FOCUSED IN SPITE OF THE LACK OF RESPONSE

20191031 STAYING FOCUSED IN SPITE OF THE LACK OF RESPONSE


31 OCTOBER, 2019, Thursday, 30th Week, Ordinary Time
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour: Green.

First reading
Romans 8:31-39 ©

God did not spare his own Son
With God on our side who can be against us? Since God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up to benefit us all, we may be certain, after such a gift, that he will not refuse anything he can give. Could anyone accuse those that God has chosen? When God acquits, could anyone condemn? Could Christ Jesus? No! He not only died for us – he rose from the dead, and there at God’s right hand he stands and pleads for us.
  Nothing therefore can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. As scripture promised: For your sake we are being massacred daily, and reckoned as sheep for the slaughter. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us.
  For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 108(109):21-22,26-27,30-31 ©
Save me, O Lord, because of your love.
For your name’s sake act in my defence;
  in the goodness of your love be my rescuer.
For I am poor and needy
  and my heart is pierced within me.
Save me, O Lord, because of your love.
Help me, Lord my God;
  save me because of your love.
Let them know that is your work,
  That this is your doing, O Lord.
Save me, O Lord, because of your love.
Loud thanks to the Lord are on my lips.
  I will praise him in the midst of the throng,
for he stands at the poor man’s side
  to save him from those who condemn him.
Save me, O Lord, because of your love.

Gospel Acclamation
Ps147:12,15
Alleluia, alleluia!
O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
He sends out his word to the earth.
Alleluia!
Or:
cf.Lk19:38,2:14
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessings on the King who comes,
in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest heavens!
Alleluia!

Gospel
Luke 13:31-35 ©

It would not be right for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem
Some Pharisees came up to Jesus. ‘Go away’ they said. ‘Leave this place, because Herod means to kill you.’ He replied, ‘You may go and give that fox this message: Learn that today and tomorrow I cast out devils and on the third day attain my end. But for today and tomorrow and the next day I must go on, since it would not be right for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem.
  ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused! So be it! Your house will be left to you. Yes, I promise you, you shall not see me till the time comes when you say:
‘Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!’

STAYING FOCUSED IN SPITE OF THE LACK OF RESPONSE

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ROm 8:31-39Ps 109:21-22,26-27,30-31Lk 13:31-35 ]
The Lord came to save His people and to invite them to respond to God’s love and mercy for them.  But instead of getting a positive reaction, not only did He receive indifference but also opposition.  The people, especially the religious leaders, saw Jesus as their enemy because of the gospel of justice and mercy He proclaimed.  He was threatening the status quo.  The political leaders in the person of Herod was getting nervous when he heard of crowds thronging Jesus.  He feared for his political power, and that the Romans might step in to take control of the nation.
This, too, is our experience and sentiments as well.  We see our spouse going the wrong direction; whether in terms of the way he or she is focusing on his or her career at the expense of his or her health, or even of the marriage and family.  But our spouse is oblivious to the signs of imminent failure and disaster ahead of him or her.  When we try to help, instead of being receptive, he or she becomes defensive and reactive.  He or she even sees us as their opponent instead of his or her friend.   This is also true of our children.  Young people think they know everything and what they want.  They are so sure of their direction and desires in life.  Alas when parents seek to enlighten them on their lifestyle, their studies and their relationship with their friends, they resent them.  They rebel, become hostile and even cut their parents off from their lives.
So how do we respond to such rejection of our good intentions to help and to save them from the painful consequences of their folly?  Firstly, we must not deny that we feel sad and disappointed.  This is because we truly love and care for them.  We are hurt not only because they misunderstood us but because we know that they are taking the slippery road to perdition.  This was how Jesus felt for His people.  He cried out, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused!”  This is the same way I as bishop feel for our people too! I have constantly appealed to our Catholics to respond to God’s love and mercy but often such appeals fall on deaf ears.  I have warned them of the future ahead of us if the Church continues to be in its maintenance mode, instead of becoming vibrant, evangelizing and missionary-minded.
But unlike Jesus who stayed focused in His mission, we often give up on our loved ones, our mission and ministry.  Jesus was resolute in His mission even when the Pharisees warned Him, “Go away. Leave this place, because Herod means to kill you.”  His response was defiant and courageous.  “You may go and give that fox this message: Learn that today and tomorrow I cast out devils and on the third day attain my end.  But for today and tomorrow and the next day I must go on, since it would not be right for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem.”   Jesus refused to submit to threats even against His life because He had a mission to accomplish.  He did not give up simply because there was opposition to His ministry.  He had to be true to Himself, His calling as the eschatological prophet of God even if that were to end in death like the rest of the prophets.  He refused to fall into discouragement even when the people did not respond to His message.  For Jesus, the mission must go on, irrespective of whether people respond or not, whether He was accepted or rejected.  Jesus knew that He had to do His best.  In the end, well, we need to surrender them to God.  Knowing the destruction ahead of them, Jesus said, “So be it! Your house will be left to you. Yes, I promise you, you shall not see me till the time comes when you say: Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!”
This was the same for St Paul in the first reading.  He, too, faced much rejection, opposition, within and without in his ministry.  He wrote, “Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked.  And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches.”  (2 Cor 11:24-28)
So what gave the Lord and St Paul the strength to persevere in their faith and most of all in their ministry?  It was the love of God.  “Save me, O Lord, because of your love.  For your name’s sake act in my defence; in the goodness of your love be my rescuer. For I am poor and needy and my heart is pierced within me. Help me, Lord my God; save me because of your love. Let them know that is your work, that this is your doing, O Lord.”  Indeed, it was the love of God for them that enabled them to continue in their ministry.  It was the Father’s unconditional love for Jesus that gave Him the impetus to continue in His ministry in spite of man’s rejection.  It was St Paul’s encounter of God’s love in Christ that kept him persevering in faith, love and hope.  “With God on our side who can be against us?  Since God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up to benefit us all, we may be certain, after such a gift, that he will not refuse anything he can give.”  Indeed, knowing that God was with them, gave them the courage and perseverance to continue even in failure.  If God had not given up His only Son, St Paul was certain that there was nothing the Lord would not give to him because nothing was too small or too great for God to give us, since He had already given us entirely in Christ’s death.
Truly, when we know that God loves us, we have nothing to fear.  His love will give us the strength to continue laboring in His vineyard regardless of the results because we know God is not just all powerful but all merciful.  St Paul wrote, “Could anyone accuse those that God has chosen?  When God acquits, could anyone condemn?  Could Christ Jesus? No! He not only died for us – he rose from the dead, and there at God’s right hand he stands and pleads for us.”   Christ is interceding for us always.  “He is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”  (Heb 7:25)  With love, there is nothing that can separate us.  “For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  We are also separated from God and our loved ones when we stop loving them!  Otherwise, no matter how difficult our loved ones, colleagues and friends may be, we will still reach out to them because we love them.  This is true for mothers who always seek the well-being of their children no matter how rebellious, rude, ungrateful and selfish they are.
Because of love, we know that the trials we go through will make us stronger, sober, wiser and more determined than ever.  “Nothing therefore can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked.  As scripture promised: For your sake we are being massacred daily, and reckoned as sheep for the slaughter.  These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us.”  So we will not give up.  We should continue to love them even when they do not respond to our love.
But we cannot love them with our love alone as our love is finite and weak.  We must love them with the love of Jesus in our hearts.  We must therefore first open our hearts to His love for us.  The more we contemplate on His love and mercy for us, the more we find strength to love as He has loved us.  This is the secret of faithful love in the face of rejection. We must find strength in His love.  With St Paul, we say, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13)

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