20191213 THE WISDOM OF
GOD IS PROVEN BY THE FRUITS SHE PRODUCES
13 December,
2019, Friday, 2nd Week of Advent
|
First reading
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Isaiah 48:17-19 ©
|
If you had been alert to my commandments, your happiness would
have been like a river
Thus says the
Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
I,
the Lord, your God, teach you what is good for you,
I
lead you in the way that you must go.
If
only you had been alert to my commandments,
your
happiness would have been like a river,
your
integrity like the waves of the sea.
Your
children would have been numbered like the sand,
your
descendants as many as its grains.
Never
would your name have been cut off or blotted out before me.
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Responsorial
Psalm
|
Psalm 1:1-4,6 ©
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Anyone
who follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life.
Happy
indeed is the man
who
follows not the counsel of the wicked;
nor
lingers in the way of sinners
nor
sits in the company of scorners,
but
whose delight is the law of the Lord
and
who ponders his law day and night.
Anyone
who follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life.
He is
like a tree that is planted
beside
the flowing waters,
that
yields its fruit in due season
and
whose leaves shall never fade;
and
all that he does shall prosper.
Anyone
who follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life.
Not
so are the wicked, not so!
For
they like winnowed chaff
shall
be driven away by the wind:
for
the Lord guards the way of the just
but
the way of the wicked leads to doom.
Anyone
who follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life.
|
Gospel
Acclamation
|
Alleluia,
alleluia!
See,
the king, the Lord of the world, will come.
He
will free us from the yoke of our bondage.
Alleluia!
|
Or:
|
Alleluia,
alleluia!
The
Lord will come, go out to meet him.
Great
is his beginning and his reign will have no end.
Alleluia!
|
Gospel
|
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Matthew 11:16-19 ©
|
The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you
Jesus spoke to
the crowds: ‘What description can I find for this generation? It is like
children shouting to each other as they sit in the market place:
“We
played the pipes for you,
and
you wouldn’t dance;
we
sang dirges,
and
you wouldn’t be mourners.”
‘For John came,
neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He is possessed.” The Son of Man
came, eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a
friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Yet wisdom has been proved right by her
actions.’
THE WISDOM OF
GOD IS PROVEN BY THE FRUITS SHE PRODUCES
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ISAIAH 48:17-19; PS
1:1-4, 6; MATTHEW 11:16-19]
Those of us who are in
leadership, which can take the form of religious or corporate leadership or
even in school or at home, will know how difficult it is to please those whom
we serve. There are always
people who will oppose whatever we do because they think they know
better. Then there are those who oppose us because they are jealous of
our plans and success. They do not want us to succeed because of their
insecurity. Finally, there are those who are indifferent to what we
do. They cannot not be bothered, will not participate or respond in any
way. But all these people will lament and complain about the
situation, that we are not doing our job, or that we do not know how to lead
the organization. But when we ask them whether they have a better
solution, most of time they have none.
This was precisely the
same situation the prophets of Old, and Jesus Himself, experienced. In the gospel, the Lord said, “What
description can I find for this generation? It is like children shouting to
each other as they sit in the market place: We played the pipes for you, and
you wouldn’t dance; we sang dirges, and you wouldn’t be mourners.” People
will not respond to our attempts to make life better or to help them.
They are not receptive to what we say or to the Word of God. Many are
just numbed to the Word of God or the truth about themselves or about
life. They only want to listen to what they can agree with. They
will reject all those truths that contradict their lifestyle. In other
words, they are disobedient, proud and self-willed.
Some will give excuses
and find reasons not to accept, simply because their vested interests are at
stake. This was the case
of the Pharisees and the Scribes. Jesus exposed their hypocrisy and
inconsistency. “For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say,
‘He is possessed.’ The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and they say,
‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and
sinners.'” They will find an excuse or justification for everything that
they cannot accept. It is the same for us too. We try to justify
our sinful lifestyle that is inconsistent with the Bible, whether it is
abortion, euthanasia, same-sex union, divorce, contraceptives, IVF and other
things. But we know we are not sincere. We are just trying to
circumvent the truth of what the Word of God is saying to us.
What can leaders do in
the face of rejection and being misunderstood for our good intentions? There are some who give up
in the face of opposition. This is especially so when there is no
vested interest in what we do, not for money, power or status. Our
conclusion is to give up speaking for the truth and working for justice and
love. We withdraw and just take care of ourselves and let society rot
since there is nothing much we can do. But such an action is more a
reaction. It is not the way of the gospel. Jesus did not back out
simply because there were people who opposed Him. He continued to be
faithful to His mission until the end of His life. He remained steadfast
and committed to His Father even under the threat of persecution, suffering and
death.
How did Jesus get the
courage to remain focused and firm in spite of challenges? He was convinced
that wisdom will be proved right by her actions. Indeed, at the end of the day, words might
not change lives. What we say and what we believe will either bear fruit
or evil in our lives. As Jesus in the gospel taught us, “Beware of false
prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous
wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from
thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good
fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad
fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear
good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know
them by their fruits.” (Mt 7:15-20) Fruits are the proof of God’s wisdom.
Hence, instead of
arguing with people over words and ideas, we must allow our words and
convictions to bear fruit in our lives. If words cannot convince them, then our life
will if we live a loving, compassionate, joyful, liberated, meaningful and
passionate life. The prophet Isaiah makes it clear that if we follow the
commandments of God, then “happiness would have been like a river, your
integrity like the waves of the sea. Your children would have been numbered
like the sand, your descendants as many as its grains. Never would your
name have been cut off or blotted out before me.” Indeed, those who live
good and honest life will be blessed. This is what the psalmist also
says, “He is like a tree that is planted beside the flowing waters, that yields
its fruit in due season and whose leaves shall never fade; and all that he does
shall prosper.” We have peace of mind, peace with our fellowmen, a clear
conscience that enables us to do all things with clarity of mind and peace in
our hearts, without any ambition but for the good of all, benefiting others,
whereas we share the joy of giving and serving.
Conversely, those who do
not listen to the Word of God and choose to follow their own ways will have to
pay the price for their foolishness, pride and egotism. The psalmist says, “Not so are the
wicked, not so! For they like winnowed chaff shall be driven away by the
wind, for the Lord guards the way of the just but the way of the wicked leads
to doom.” Truly, when we walk the way of falsehood, eventually, we will
suffer the consequences of our sins. St Paul warned us, “Do not be
deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to
your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the
Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” (Gal 6:7f) By
rejecting Christ’s message of compassion and non-violence, the Jews were led to
their eventual destruction by the Romans.
Indeed, instead of being
angry with those who reject us and the Word of God, we should feel sorry for
them. This was what the
Prophet said, “Thus says the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I,
the Lord, your God, teach you what is good for you, I lead you in the way that
you must go. If only you had been alert to my commandments, your happiness
would have been like a river.” Jesus felt the same for His fellow
Jews. He sighed, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets
and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your
children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not
willing!” (Lk 13:34) Those who reject the Word of God and the truth
will ultimately harm themselves. “Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities,
strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions,
factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am
warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit
the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:19-21)
On our part, we must
continue to be grounded in the Word of God. The responsorial psalm says, “Anyone who
follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life. Happy
indeed is the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked; nor lingers in the
way of sinners nor sits in the company of scorners, but whose delight is the
law of the Lord and who ponders his law day and night.” We must stay
focused by meditating on the Word of God and seeking guidance from God.
The wisdom we seek must not be of this world but from God Himself. St
Paul urges us, “Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in
this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. For the
wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches
the wise in their craftiness’, and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of
the wise, that they are futile.’” (1 Cor 3:18-20)
Indeed, the Church will
prove the world wrong in what they are advocating because of relativism and
pragmatism. Short-sighted
solutions to the world’s problems will destroy humanity. Those who
advocate the destruction of family and marriage life by promoting same-sex
union, transgender will weaken society. By losing respect for the
sacredness of life through the promotion of abortion, destruction of human
embryos, euthanasia will result in a society that no longer values life itself
but only as a utility for others. Wisdom will prove her right. We
have already seen the depopulation of the world and soon the destruction of
humanity.
Written
by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All
Rights Reserved
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