Sunday 31 May 2020

MARY THE MOTHER OF THE CHURCH

20200601 MARY THE MOTHER OF THE CHURCH

01 June, 2020, Monday, Mary Mother of the Church

Acts 1:12-14

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away; 13 and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Judith 13:18-19

¹⁸Then Uzziah said to her, “Daughter, you are blessed by the Most High God above all other women on the earth. And blessed is the Lord God, who made the heavens and the earth, who guided you to cut off the head of our enemy’s leader. ¹⁹Your hope^[a] will never fade away from the hearts of the people who remember God’s strength.

John 19:25-27

25 So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

MARY THE MOTHER OF THE CHURCH

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ ACTS 1:12-14; JUDITH 13:18BCDE, 19; JOHN 19:25-27]

Yesterday, the Church concluded the celebration of the Easter season with the Feast of Pentecost. With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the prophecy of Joel was fulfilled when God pours out His Spirit on all flesh. “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even upon the menservants and maidservants, in those days, I will pour out my spirit.” (Joel 2:28f) This was what Ezekiel also prophesied. “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.” (Ez 36:26f)

The pouring out of the Holy Spirit was but the culmination of the paschal mystery that the Church celebrates. For it was Jesus who, when hanging on the cross, poured out His Spirit upon His death. “After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), ‘I thirst.’ A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, ‘It is finished’; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (Jn 19:28f) At His passion, in principle, the Lord Jesus fulfilled His mission, which was His thirst to give us the Spirit of God. (cf Jn 7:37-39) By His blood, He brought about the forgiveness of sins. Just as the hyssop was used by the Israelites to paint the blood of the lamb on the doorposts so that the angel of death would pass them by, so too the hyssop that held the sponge of vinegar delivered us from sin and from eternal death. (cf Ex 12:22f)

With the Spirit poured out on His disciples, the Church was born in principle. This Spirit would be given to the disciples of Jesus through the sacrament of baptism and continue to be nurtured by the Eucharist. This explains why when the Lord died, “one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.” (Jn 19:34) Water is a symbol of baptism and blood a symbol of the Eucharist. Through the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist, the Church is constituted. The piercing of the side of Jesus is reminiscent of Moses striking the rock and from the rock, living water flowed. (cf Num 20:11) The Lord said through the prophet, Zechariah, “I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him. (cf Zech 12:10)

All these became a reality on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit given to the Church in principle was felt and experienced dramatically in the tongues of fire that descended on the apostles. As a consequence, three thousand coming from all parts of the world, on hearing Peter preach in their own language, were baptized. This gathering of peoples from all nations is the fulfillment of what the Church wants to be, Catholic and universal, open to all men and women, regardless of age, race, language or culture, and united in love, in the one Spirit.

However, the story is incomplete without Mary! This is why immediately after the Feast of Pentecost, Pope Francis instituted the memorial of Mary, the Mother of the Church. How could there be new children without a mother? How could there be a Church without a mother? In fact, theologians have often lamented that the icon of the Church is too masculine, lacking the feminine dimension when we are all created in the image of God, which is male and female. The Church needs a feminine dimension to make her complete so that we have God as our Father, Jesus as our eldest brother, and Mary as our mother.

This explains why our Lord right from the start of His ministry had in mind to make Mary, the mother of the Church. This was anticipated at the beginning of His ministry at Cana in Galilee when Mary interceded with Jesus to help the Wedding Couple who had no wine. The response of Jesus was, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” (Jn 2:4) Then, when Jesus was at the end of His ministry, when the hour had come, He said, to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” Two words, “Woman” and “Hour” are symbolic words pointing to something deeper.

Mary was called “Woman” on both occasions because the word, “Woman” refers to Mary as the Mother of Christ and that of the Church. We see this usage again in the Book of Revelation when we have St John’s vision of the Woman with child, “clothed with the sun, with the moon on her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Rev 12:1) This woman represents not only Mary with the child but the Church, the New People of God seen in the Twelve stars representing the Twelve tribes of Israel. By not calling Mary by name or as His mother, Jesus was making Mary to be the mother of all men, just as Eve was called the mother of all the living (cf Gen 3:20) John, who was not addressed by name as well, was representative of all disciples whom Jesus loved.

This is why, following John, the perfect disciple of our Lord, we read, “And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” We too must bring Mary into our home, our Church, and our spiritual life. Our Lord wants Mary to exercise her spiritual motherhood when His hour came, which was His passion, death, and resurrection. Before then Mary was preparing herself to be the mother of the Church. And so, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, immediately after the ascension of our Lord, Mary gathered with the apostles and disciples of our Lord in prayer, waiting for the descent of the Holy Spirit. “All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

Indeed, this role of Mary as our mother has been anticipated, not just by our Lord at Cana but it was already prophesied long before the incarnation. Immediately after the fall, God already foretold how both Mary and our Lord would redeem humanity and win victory over Satan. The Lord God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Gen 3:15) It is significant that this enmity is not between Satan and his offsprings versus Adam and his offspring but the Woman and her offspring. Even though the man was considered the head of the family who would rule over the woman (cf Gn 3:16), it was the woman who would fight the battle with Satan with her child. And indeed, this prophecy came true with Satan being crushed on his head, that is destroyed, and Jesus, the offspring of Mary suffered a temporary defeat at death but rose again.

Truly, Mary is the mother of the Church because the Church would not have come into being if not for the cooperation of Mary at the incarnation. If she had not given her “yes” to the angel, there would not have been a savior. But Mary’s “yes” was not just a one-off “yes”. It included all the “yeses” to God’s will for the rest of her life, accompanying her Son in His ministry in the background, and when all abandoned her Son at His passion, Mary stood faithfully with Him, standing underneath His cross. Without Mary’s love for God and for all whom God loves, there would have been no redeemer. So we thank Jesus for giving Mary to be our mother, the one who nurtures us in faith, brings us closer to her Son, helps us to be faithful to her Son even until death, walking in His way by giving our lives in service to others.

RENEW THE FACE OF THE EARTH

20200531 RENEW THE FACE OF THE EARTH

31 May, 2020, Sunday, Pentecost

First reading

Acts 2:1-11 ©

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak

When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.

Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 103(104):1,24,29-31,34 ©

Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.

Alleluia!

Bless the Lord, my soul!

Lord God, how great you are,

How many are your works, O Lord!

The earth is full of your riches.

Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.

Alleluia!

You take back your spirit, they die,

returning to the dust from which they came.

You send forth your spirit, they are created;

and you renew the face of the earth.

Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.

Alleluia!

May the glory of the Lord last for ever!

May the Lord rejoice in his works!

May my thoughts be pleasing to him.

I find my joy in the Lord.

Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.

Alleluia!

Second reading

1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13 ©

In the one Spirit we were all baptised

No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose.

Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.

Sequence

Veni, sancte Spiritus

Holy Spirit, Lord of Light,

From the clear celestial height

Thy pure beaming radiance give.

Come, thou Father of the poor,

Come with treasures which endure

Come, thou light of all that live!

Thou, of all consolers best,

Thou, the soul’s delightful guest,

Dost refreshing peace bestow

Thou in toil art comfort sweet

Pleasant coolness in the heat

Solace in the midst of woe.

Light immortal, light divine,

Visit thou these hearts of thine,

And our inmost being fill:

If thou take thy grace away,

Nothing pure in man will stay

All his good is turned to ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew

On our dryness pour thy dew

Wash the stains of guilt away:

Bend the stubborn heart and will

Melt the frozen, warm the chill

Guide the steps that go astray.

Thou, on us who evermore

Thee confess and thee adore,

With thy sevenfold gifts descend:

Give us comfort when we die

Give us life with thee on high

Give us joys that never end.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Alleluia!

Gospel

John 20:19-23 ©

As the Father sent me, so am I sending you: receive the Holy Spirit

In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.

‘As the Father sent me,

so am I sending you.’

After saying this he breathed on them and said:

‘Receive the Holy Spirit.

For those whose sins you forgive,

they are forgiven;

for those whose sins you retain,

they are retained.’

RENEW THE FACE OF THE EARTH

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ACTS 2:1-11; PS 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34; 1 COR 12:3-7, 12-13; JN 20:19-23]

This world is in bad shape. Culturally we have lost all dignity and graciousness even among some of our leaders. Society has degenerated much. We are lacking graciousness in modesty, in speaking and dressing. We are no longer respectful to elders or those in authority. This is supposed to be a civilized world but even leaders are uncouth. Young people behave and conduct themselves without regard for the sensitivity of others. People use all kinds of vulgar words and nasty remarks on social media and when speaking. Morally, we have lost all sensitivity to what is right and wrong. We cannot tell what is good and what is evil. Society has become ambivalent to the values of the world. There is a lack of discernment and judgment on values offered by the world, especially in the area of entertainment. Today, people are afraid to pass judgement on values. Socially, we have become individualistic. It is about ourselves, our immediate needs and gratification. Our life is reduced to pleasure, entertainment, and enjoyment. There is nothing to hope for beyond this life on earth.

That is why the psalm refrain for this Sunday sums up so beautifully our great hope for this world. “Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.” We need to pray to God to renew the face of this earth and to restore the glory of creation so that this world can give praise to God. As it is, we are like the people during the time of Babel, which the first reading makes inference to. In Babel, the people were seeking to build a tower to reach the heavens without the assistance of God. They were proud and arrogant. Isn’t this happening in our times? We have the best technology, whether in transport, telecommunications, digital media or internet food production, medical advancement, and even Artificial Intelligence. But look at the world today; there is greater division and miscommunication even though we have the best communications technology; poverty even though we produce more than enough food to feed the whole world; insecurity among powerful countries even though they have the most advanced weapons in the world; and rapid developments happening all over the world, yet we are asking why the planet is burning itself up.

How can this world be renewed? It begins with us! If we are not renewed in the power of the Holy Spirit, how can we ever think of renewing the face of the earth? We need to be filled with the Spirit of Jesus so that we can transform the world with His truth and love. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Love. Only He can lead us into the fullness of truth and love. Only the Holy Spirit can bring lasting unity to the world. That was what the Spirit did at Pentecost. The Spirit brought all of humanity into one big family of God and that was how the Church was born. We read that people of all nations were present when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. They heard the message that St Peter proclaimed in their own language. And three thousand were baptized on that day! The Spirit enlightened the minds of these people and they were docile to the sermon preached by St Peter. We read that their hearts were cut to the quick! They repented of their sins!

These tongues of fire that came upon the apostles remind us of the presence of God in the Old Testament. God’s presence is always enlightening, purifying, and cleansing. When Moses went up to the Mountain to receive the Commandments, there were strong winds, clouds, thunder, lightning, and fire. The tongues of fire symbolize the presence of God coming upon them. The Holy Spirit is a purifying agent because it enlightens us in the truth and brings about the forgiveness of sins. The Risen Lord’s first gift to the apostles was the power of discernment and judgement. “After saying this he breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.” The power to forgive or retain sins has to do with the authority to judge. So the world needs the Holy Spirit to purify itself of ignorance and sin.

Indeed, the way to unity must always begin with forgiveness. But forgiveness can only be received by those who acknowledge their sinfulness and wrongdoings. Only when man comes to realize his arrogance, pride, and blindness to what is true and good, there can be no repentance. However, when we come to realize how sinful and foolish we are in subscribing to the values of the world, then we can ask for forgiveness. The good news is that forgiveness is always there waiting for us. If man cannot forgive each other, it is because they cannot forgive himself in the first place. If man is vindictive and revengeful, it is because he has never received forgiveness in his own life. The way to peace in our family, offices and indeed, the whole world, among nations is forgiveness. This explains why when the Risen Lord appeared to the disciples, He offered the gift of peace which comes with forgiveness.

To renew the face of the earth, we need to change the individualistic and self-centered mentality of society today. Because we have been conditioned to believe that there is no life beyond this world, we live for ourselves and only for today. The tongues of fire that descended on the apostles is the fire of love that unites all the nations as one, all hearing the same language of love. Furthermore, the same Spirit gives us gifts not for ourselves only, but they are for the service of humanity and the service of God. These gifts are meant for the building of society. St Paul wrote, “There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them.” Unfortunately, the world is becoming more selfish and inward-looking. It is about myself, my organization, my society, my religion, my race, my country, and my nation. Individualism and autonomy is selfishness. All that we have are meant for everyone.

The Holy Spirit reminds us that we are all called to be one. St Paul wrote, “Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.” We are all members of the human family, having the same goal and aspirations. We all desire peace, joy, happiness, and unity. These are gifts meant not only for a certain race, nation, or people. They are gifts meant for all. So it is important that we care for each other because we are all interconnected. The Covid-19 pandemic is a good lesson that God has sent to teach us that all are equal before God. If we want to remove the pandemic, we need to protect all men and women, all peoples in all countries. We cannot isolate ourselves from the rest of the population or from the world. To be safe from the Covid-19 we need to protect everyone from it. This pandemic is a good instrument of the Holy Spirit to teach us the unity of the human race. Indeed, the Holy Spirit reminds us that we are all the children of God. We are given new birth in the Holy Spirit and made children of God, having God as our Father.

The feast of Pentecost reveals the catholicity and universality of the Church. It shows that the Church, although comprising peoples of all races, nations, and languages, is called to be one. The Catholicity of the Church precisely embraces all cultures and languages. It is the Holy Spirit that makes this unity in diversity possible. This unity is not rooted in uniformity. Rather, the unity of the Church is one of diversity. This is the beauty of the Church of Christ. We share a common faith and common values of love, forgiveness, and unity but we express these differently according to our cultures.

On the Feast of Pentecost, the Spirit is pouring forth new life into humanity and the world. Just as the Father at creation breathed life into man fashioned from the earth, so too, the Risen Christ breathed on the apostles and give them the New life of the Spirit. He granted them peace and the power to transform the world, set the world free from sin and evil. We are also animated by the Holy Spirit to bring about the transformation of the hearts of mankind by our love and service, by announcing the truth and forgiveness and most of all, by embracing the diverse cultures of all, celebrating our diversity in unity. The Holy Spirit is given to us for this mission of being sent out to announce the Good News.

Truly, we can be certain that just as the Holy Spirit transformed chaos into cosmos at the beginning of creation, in this re-creation, He will once again bring order in the midst of our chaos, and once again, new life and a new creation. We must hold on to this truth even if we see from appearances that evil seems to be growing from strength to strength. Indeed, there is much chaos around us, whether social, political, religious, or moral. But the Spirit will renew the face of the earth, if we ask Him and collaborate with Him in the use of the gifts bestowed upon us. Let us not allow fear to hinder the work of the Spirit. Let us with courage, like the apostles, go out and transform the world in the power of the Spirit.

Friday 29 May 2020

THE INCOMPLETE GOSPEL

20200530 THE INCOMPLETE GOSPEL

30 May, 2020, Saturday, 7th Week of Easter

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: White.

First reading

Acts 28:16-20,30-31 ©

In Rome, Paul proclaimed the kingdom of God without hindrance from anyone

On our arrival in Rome Paul was allowed to stay in lodgings of his own with the soldier who guarded him.

After three days he called together the leading Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, ‘Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. They examined me and would have set me free, since they found me guilty of nothing involving the death penalty; but the Jews lodged an objection, and I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation to make against my own nation. That is why I have asked to see you and talk to you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear this chain.’

Paul spent the whole of the two years in his own rented lodging. He welcomed all who came to visit him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete freedom and without hindrance from anyone.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 10(11):4-5,7 ©

The upright shall see your face, O Lord.

Alleluia!

The Lord is in his holy temple,

the Lord, whose throne is in heaven.

His eyes look down on the world;

his gaze tests mortal men.

The upright shall see your face, O Lord.

Alleluia!

The Lord tests the just and the wicked;

the lover of violence he hates.

The Lord is just and loves justice;

the upright shall see his face.

The upright shall see your face, O Lord.

Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation

Col3:1

Alleluia, alleluia!

Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ,

you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is,

sitting at God’s right hand.

Alleluia!

Or:

cf.Jn16:7,13

Alleluia, alleluia!

I will send you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord;

he will lead you to the complete truth.

Alleluia!

Gospel

John 21:20-25 ©

This disciple is the one who vouches for these things and we know that his testimony is true

Peter turned and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them – the one who had leaned on his breast at the supper and had said to him, ‘Lord, who is it that will betray you?’ Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘What about him, Lord?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to stay behind till I come, what does it matter to you? You are to follow me.’ The rumour then went out among the brothers that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus had not said to Peter, ‘He will not die’, but, ‘If I want him to stay behind till I come.’

This disciple is the one who vouches for these things and has written them down, and we know that his testimony is true.

There were many other things that Jesus did; if all were written down, the world itself, I suppose, would not hold all the books that would have to be written.

THE INCOMPLETE GOSPEL

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ Acts 28:16-20.30-31; Ps 11:4-5, 7; John 21:20-25]

Today we come to the penultimate day of the Easter Season. Tomorrow is the feast of Pentecost, which concludes the Easter Season. Since the start of the Easter Season the scripture readings have been taken from the Acts of the Apostles and St John’s gospel. It is significant also that at the end of the reading of Acts of the Apostles and John’s gospel, the end does not seem like the end of the work of St Paul or that of St John. The truth is that the gospel can never be completed until the end of time. The gospel continues indefinitely in our days, as it awaits the Day of the Lord.

In fact, the author ended by saying that the gospel that was written is not exhaustive. “This disciple is the one who vouches for these things and has written them down, and we know that his testimony is true. There are many things that Jesus did; if all were written down, the world itself, I suppose, would not hold all the books that would have to be written.” Indeed, there are many things that the Lord said and did but were not recorded. All that was written was for this one purpose, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” (Jn 20:30f)

In the case of Paul, Luke wanted to show that the gospel which started in Jerusalem finally ended in Rome. This is the fulfillment of the command of Jesus to preach the gospel to the ends of the world. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8f) What is significant is that even in Rome, the gospel continued to be preached and taught without hindrance. Although Paul was technically a prisoner, he was given much freedom when he was in Rome to continue the work of preaching and teaching. “Paul spent the whole of the two years in his own rented lodging. He welcomed all who came to visit him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete freedom and without hindrance from anyone.” Of course, he was eventually martyred in Rome.

These go to show that the gospel cannot be hindered or be constrained in any way. Right from the start of the preaching of the gospel, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, the apostles and disciples of Christ were persecuted. They were brought before the Sanhedrin and before rulers. But they remained defiant and refused to be intimidated into silence. Paul, too, faced many challenges in bringing the gospel to the Gentiles because the Jews would instigate the people and made trouble for them. At times, he was flogged and stoned and driven out of the city. The Jews, whether those who refused to accept Christ or those who were converted to Christianity, always gave him problems with regard to the acceptance of the Gentiles into the Faith.

But Paul persevered right to the end. He never gave up the mission that the Lord entrusted to him. He was focused and unwavering in his mission. As he made it clear, “it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear this chain.” He was never against the Jews even though the Jews were against him. In spite of all the persecutions from his fellow Jews, he had no ill feelings against them. When he was in Rome, he never gave up hope on them. In fact, his policy of preaching the gospel to Jews first remained. He invited all the Jewish leaders to meet him. And he called them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.” Paul wanted them to know that Christ was the fulfillment of Judaism.

His conscience was clear. The only reason why he was in chains was simply because he believed in Christ who was crucified and now raised from the dead. The crux of the opposition against Paul was his testimony about Jesus as the Christ. It was on account of his faith in the resurrection of our Lord that he was put on trial. Indeed, even the governors found him to be not guilty. “They examined me and would have set me free, since they found me guilty of nothing involving the death penalty; but the Jews lodged an objection, and I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation to make against my own nation.” The governor Festus told King Agrippa, “When the accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the crimes that I was expecting. Instead, they had certain points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.” (Acts 25:18)

So it is with us today. We must continue to proclaim the gospel. Christians are on trial because we claim that our founder, Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and therefore He is Lord and God. If we confess that Jesus is Lord and God, it is simply because the Father raised Him from the dead and thereby endorsed all that Jesus said and did. Throughout the life and ministry of Jesus, He presented Himself to be the Way to the Father, the mediator. He spoke and acted on behalf of His Father. He was one with Him in will and in thought. Jesus, therefore, is called the Son of God, distinct from the Father but shares in His glory in every way. If we confess in Jesus as the Christ, it is because we are convinced by the testimonies of the apostles and the confessions of the early Christians of who Jesus was to them. There is no reason for us to believe that they lied to us as St Paul wrote, “we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.” (1 Th 2:2-4)

We must not be afraid of those who seek to chain us up. They might have been able to chain St Paul but they could not chain the gospel. This is what the Lord promises us. In fact, St Paul continued to preach the gospel, appealing to the heart of the listeners so that they could respond in faith in total freedom in Rome. On other occasions, he would teach the converted by helping them to understand their faith in Christ. Preaching is directed at the heart but teaching seeks to enlighten the mind. Regardless, proclaiming the kingdom of God must always include the confession of faith in Jesus as Lord and savior and His saving work in his death and resurrection. This is the gospel in a nutshell. (cf Lk 24:46-47)

So, the Acts of the Apostles must now be completed by the faith of the Church today. We must continue to witness to Christ according to how the Lord has called us. Like Peter and John, both were called to proclaim the gospel but in different ways. One would suffer martyrdom through crucifixion but the other would suffer martyrdom through exile. It does not matter how we suffer or how the Lord wants us to proclaim the Good News. What is important is that we cooperate with His will for us. This was what the Lord said to Peter who was inquisitive about the fate of John. Peter said to Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to stay behind till I come, what does it matter to you? You are to follow me.” We should be concerned about how we follow the Lord instead of comparing ourselves with others. Indeed, it does not matter so long as our lives glorify the Lord.

What matters in the final analysis, is that we have been faithful to our calling, which is to proclaim Christ in our lives according to our vocation and state of life. Each one is called differently. St Paul and Peter were called to proclaim the gospel to different audiences in different ways. They were never in competition with each other. One was called to be a shepherd, the other a missionary. Both were called to be apostles and ambassadors of Christ. Yet in truth, we are all shepherds and missionaries. We must, therefore, continue to preach the Good News to those who do not know Him and to help those who know Him to grow in the knowledge of the gospel through preaching and teaching.

Thursday 28 May 2020

THE CAPACITY TO LIVE OUT THE VOCATION OF LOVE

20200529 THE CAPACITY TO LIVE OUT THE VOCATION OF LOVE

29 May, 2020, Friday, 7th Week of Easter

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: White.

First reading

'I ordered Paul to be remanded until I could send him to Caesar'

King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus. Their visit lasted several days, and Festus put Paul’s case before the king. ‘There is a man here’ he said ‘whom Felix left behind in custody, and while I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and elders of the Jews laid information against him, demanding his condemnation. But I told them that Romans are not in the habit of surrendering any man, until the accused confronts his accusers and is given an opportunity to defend himself against the charge. So they came here with me, and I wasted no time but took my seat on the tribunal the very next day and had the man brought in. When confronted with him, his accusers did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected; but they had some argument or other with him about their own religion and about a dead man called Jesus whom Paul alleged to be alive. Not feeling qualified to deal with questions of this sort, I asked him if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem to be tried there on this issue. But Paul put in an appeal for his case to be reserved for the judgement of the august emperor, so I ordered him to be remanded until I could send him to Caesar.’

Responsorial Psalm

The Lord has set his sway in heaven.

Alleluia!

My soul, give thanks to the Lord

all my being, bless his holy name.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord

and never forget all his blessings.

The Lord has set his sway in heaven.

Alleluia!

For as the heavens are high above the earth

so strong is his love for those who fear him.

As far as the east is from the west

so far does he remove our sins.

The Lord has set his sway in heaven.

Alleluia!

The Lord has set his sway in heaven

and his kingdom is ruling over all.

Give thanks to the Lord, all his angels,

mighty in power, fulfilling his word.

The Lord has set his sway in heaven.

Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation

Jn14:26

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Holy Spirit will teach you everything

and remind you of all I have said to you.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Feed my lambs, feed my sheep

Jesus showed himself to his disciples, and after they had eaten he said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?’ He answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He replied, ‘Yes, Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Look after my sheep.’ Then he said to him a third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was upset that he asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and said, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.

‘I tell you most solemnly,

when you were young

you put on your own belt

and walked where you liked;

but when you grow old

you will stretch out your hands,

and somebody else will put a belt round you

and take you where you would rather not go.’

In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, ‘Follow me.’

THE CAPACITY TO LIVE OUT THE VOCATION OF LOVE

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ACTS 25:13-21; PS 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20; JN 21:15-19 ]

From young, our parents and our teachers used to make us think of our ambition. Every parent or teacher wants his or her child to succeed in life. An ambition, however, is self-serving. It is about our self, our achievements, and our success in life. Everything else, prestige, fame, honor, wealth, or power, are but tools to help us attain the height of success in life. That was what the apostles were seeking as well before the passion and death of our Lord. They were competing among themselves as to who was the greatest and who would be chosen to sit on the left and right of our Lord when He came into His kingdom. (cf Mt 20:20-28) But just by achieving worldly success in life is no guarantee for happiness. Are we just interested in our children’s success or giving them a happy and meaningful life? Is success equivalent to happiness in life? Clearly, many successful people are not happy with their life!

Furthermore, ambition is always self-reliant and can lead to disappointment. One has to be disciplined and focused. One has to work hard and persevere. That was how Peter behaved as a fisherman. He thought by his ingenuity, knowledge, and experience alone, he could bring in a big catch of fish. Twice, he used his talent and failed before our Lord – the first time before his call, and the second time before his repentance. After toiling all night in vain, the Lord appeared to him and asked him to pay down the nets. A miracle happened; there was a big catch of fish. (cf Lk 5:1-11; Jn 21:1-8) Understandably, those who fail in their ambition become frustrated, angry, and resentful, and fall into depression.

However, the Lord calls us not for an ambition but a vocation. The word “vocation” comes from the Latin word, “vocare”, which means a call. What is this call? It is a call to love. This is the only vocation in life. St Theresa of the Child Jesus discovered this in her contemplation. “O Jesus, my Love, at last I have found my vocation, my vocation is Love! Yes, I have found my place in the Church, and it is you, O my God, who have given me this place. Thus I shall be all things: thus my dream shall be realized!” Jesus called the apostles to be apostles of love.

What does it mean to be an apostle of love? Love is not just a sentimental word. It is more than a nice romantic feeling. Profession of love itself is not yet love. Love calls for action and service to others. In the gospel, each time when Peter professed his love for the Lord, Jesus said, “Feed my lambs. Look after my sheep. Feed my sheep.” As if it was not enough, the Lord went further to ask for the sacrifice of his life, a total surrender of his freedom. “‘I tell you most solemnly, when you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you would rather not go.’ In these words, he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God.” Love ultimately calls for death to self. True love calls for not just agape but oblative love.

This was what the Lord asked of Peter when He said, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?” Twice, the Lord used the Greek word, “agape” which means sacrificial and oblative love. Only at the third time did Jesus employ the same word, “phileo”, which Peter used in his reply to Him. Peter, who had earlier rejected our Lord, had just recovered and was healed from his fallen ego, was now more realistic and measured in his affirmation of his love for our Lord. Before His passion, Peter was over presumptuous when he said, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” (Mt 26:33) Peter at this juncture felt he could only love Jesus as a good friend. He was not ready to die for Him.

This is true for us as well in our love for the Lord. How many of us can truly say that we love the Lord to the extent of dying for Him? How many of us are ready for martyrdom? We might be ready to die for our spouse or children when called upon to do so, but would we die for Jesus? Unless our love for Jesus is deeper and stronger than our love for our loved ones, we will not be ready to die for Him. I think our love is more like Peter’s, the love of a friend. In other words, we love Jesus as much as we think He loves us. Our love to some extent is conditional, in friendship, and even in marriage. Would we still continue to love our friends when they do not care for us? Do we still love our spouse when they ill-treat us? How many continue to love God when they are suffering from a tragedy in life, from illness, loss of a loved one, or when going through a crisis? Many give up their faith when their prayers are not answered according to the way they desire. When Jesus does not give us what we want, we feel that He does not love us and even wonder whether He is real.

But this is not what true love entails! Jesus has taught us what loving God requires. “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” (Mt 10:37-39) In John’s gospel, Jesus said, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (Jn 15:13f) He also said, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:46-48) It is true that most of us cannot meet the demands of our Lord in discipleship and in love.

The good news is that Jesus accepts whatever love we can give. There is an ideal, but He also accepts what we can give, just as Heaccepted the inadequate love of Peter. He did not force Peter to either love Him totally or not at all. Jesus was patient with Peter. He knew that Peter would not have the capacity to love Him with agape love. He waited for Peter, Paul and the rest of the apostles to arrive at this ideal of love. Most of them were eventually martyred for their faith. They found the capacity to give their lives totally to the Lord when the time came. St Peter was martyred in Rome. St Paul was ready to go all the way to Rome to testify to Jesus’ death and resurrection. So, too, for us. When we feel that we do not yet have the capacity to love Jesus with the love that is demanded from us, we should not be afraid. We should not shrink back like Judas. We should not go away like the rich man when the Lord said to him, “‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.” (Mk 10:21f)

Rather, let us turn to Him in humility like Peter and He will give us the capacity to love even until death when the time comes and the situation warrants the sacrifice of our life. Indeed, there are many who wonder whether they can take care of their spouse or their children in their sickness or when their elderly become immobile. How can we look after a child that is born mentally or physically challenged? How can we continue with our life when our loved ones depart from us? How can we find the strength to feed the lambs and look after the sheep of God? That is why some dare not respond to the call to priestly and religious life, because we think we cannot sacrifice that much. We cannot on our own!

This is why, as we come to the end of the 7^th Week of Easter, the Church is preparing us to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, which is the love of God poured into our hearts, will give us the capacity to love like God. (cf Rom 5:5) The Holy Spirit will endow us with His gifts. (Eph 4: 7-16) The Holy Spirit will give us the strength to endure the trials. He will empower us and give us joy in sorrow, courage in difficulties. Let us welcome Him!