20201123 WHO ARE THOSE INCLUDED AMONG THE REDEEMED?
23 November, 2020, Monday, 34th Week, Ordinary Time
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour: Green.
First reading |
Apocalypse 14:1-5 © |
The redeemed have Christ and his Father's name written on their foreheads
In my vision I, John, saw Mount Zion, and standing on it a Lamb who had with him a hundred and forty-four thousand people, all with his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. I heard a sound coming out of the sky like the sound of the ocean or the roar of thunder; it seemed to be the sound of harpists playing their harps. There in front of the throne they were singing a new hymn in the presence of the four animals and the elders, a hymn that could only be learnt by the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the world; they follow the Lamb wherever he goes; they have been redeemed from amongst men to be the first-fruits for God and for the Lamb. They never allowed a lie to pass their lips and no fault can be found in them.
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.
Gospel Acclamation | Rv2:10 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Even if you have to die, says the Lord,
keep faithful, and I will give you
the crown of life.
Alleluia!
Or: | Mt24:42,44 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stay awake and stand ready,
because you do not know the hour
when the Son of Man is coming.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 21:1-4 © |
The widow's mite
As Jesus looked up, he saw rich people putting their offerings into the treasury; then he happened to notice a poverty-stricken widow putting in two small coins, and he said, ‘I tell you truly, this poor widow has put in more than any of them; for these have all contributed money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in all she had to live on.’
WHO ARE THOSE INCLUDED AMONG THE REDEEMED?
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Rev 14:1-5; Lk 21:1-4 ]
In the first reading, we read how the battle was won against the enemies of the kingdom. “In my vision I, John, saw Mount Zion, and standing on it a Lamb who had with him a hundred and forty-four thousand people, all with his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” The Lamb standing on Mount Zion reminds us of Psalm 2 when we read of how the “nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain” against God who declared, “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.” (Ps 2:1,6) With the holy war over, what was left were the 144,000 representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel multiplied by the Twelve Apostles and by a thousand.
What is significant was that they had the name of Jesus and His Father marked on their foreheads. This is in marked contrast to the evil men who had the mark of the beast’s name or number 666 on their foreheads. Having the seal of God or Satan identifies whom they belong to. In those days, slaves were branded just like animals because it stood for ownership. They were the ones who were loyal to their master. Being identified with the Lamb also provided them absolute security and safety. Those marked with the name of our Lord and God were the redeemed ones. They had been transformed by the mercy of God. Not only were they transformed, they were taught to sing a new song. This corresponds to when the Israelites left Egypt, they too sang a new song to the Lord. This new song also praises God for the work of redemption in Christ. “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth.” (Rev 5:10) They “have been redeemed from amongst men to be the first-fruits for God and for the Lamb.”
But who are those qualified to be marked with the names of our Lord and God? According to John there are two criteria, one of which was omitted in today’s extract. “It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins; these follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” (Rev 14:4) Perhaps, the first criterion is left out of today’s first reading for fear of offending our women! Hence, it must be seen in perspective. In those days when the soldiers went to war, they abstained from sexual relationship with women so that they could focus on the war. Of course, the defilement could also be a reference to the sexual immorality in those days when prostitution was rampant. Indeed, Babylon the Great was considered “the Mother of Prostitutes” (17:5) So to be included among the 144,000 one must be pure and dedicated to the Lord.
The second criteria required that they follow the Lamb wherever He went. In the gospel the Lord said, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Lk 14:26f) The Lord Himself promised His disciples, “Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.” (Jn 12:25f) So these 144,000 were the martyrs that were slain for the Lord. Like their master who was slain (Rev 5:6), they too offered their lives as a sacrifice like the Lamb.
They were considered unblemished sacrificial lamb for the salvation of the world because they kept themselves pure and blameless. In them, there were no lies on their lips. They lived a life of integrity and honesty. The Suffering Servant is said to have “no deceit in his mouth.” (Isa.53:9; Zeph.3:13). They sought to live a life of pure devotion to the Lord free from the defilement of idolatry, sexual immorality and from falsehood. Indeed, to follow Christ is what St Peter asked of the Christians, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.” (1 Pt 2:21-23)
The widow in today’s gospel exemplifies what it takes to be included among the 144,000. In contrast to the Jewish leaders who were proud and hypocritical, she was humble and sincere. Without any show or display, she gave her all, the little she had to live on, to the Temple for the greater glory of God. She gave in the right spirit and with the right intention. She was not trying to impress anyone. In fact, she would have felt embarrassed that she had so little to drop into the Temple treasury. Hence, Luke placed this episode in the context of Jesus’ criticism of the hypocrisy and display of the religious leaders.
Indeed, the widow might not have died like the martyrs in the early Church but in giving all she had to live on, out of her poverty, she was imitating our Lord in emptying herself for the service God. For the rich, they gave out of their abundance and even after giving, they still had much more than they needed. Such was the generosity of the widow. So, we examine the price of a gift by the spirit and motive in which it was given and the extent of the sacrifice involved. The merit in God’s eyes is not how much we give but how little we have after giving. If we were a rich man and gave thousands of dollars from the many millions we have, we have nothing to boast about, compared to a poor man who earns just a few hundred dollars a month but gave only $10. This is not to say the gifts of those who are rich are not appreciated. It is just a reminder that we should not just look at the gifts given but the sacrifice that was made. Indeed, even little gifts sometimes cost more in sacrifice than a big gift. Giving money is often much easier than to look for a suitable gift for someone as it means finding time to search for the perfect gift.
In the final analysis, unless we have absolute trust in the Lord, we cannot surrender our life to Him or to our fellowmen. Like the 144,000 who were redeemed because they followed Him everywhere, unless we embrace Christ in our lives, we cannot imitate Him in death and in self-giving. But we can trust only when we have been loved. The disciples learnt to trust in the Lord gradually in spite of the many miracles He worked before their eyes. But they learnt trust only when they saw how the Lord died for them. I am sure the widow must have experienced deep love from God even though she was materially poor. She must have found peace in God’s presence and love. Otherwise, how can we explain her total self-emptying love for God. No can love like her unless she had first been loved by God. As the Lord said, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” (Jn 15:9f)
So today, we too have before us, the example of the 144,000 and the widow who in their own ways followed the Lord perfectly in their lives. Each according to their situation pledge their fidelity to the Lord, some by dying as martyrs for their faith, some kept themselves pure and blameless, and some offered their gifts to the Lord. It is immaterial how we are called to follow the Lord but all of us without exception must show our love and devotion to the Lord by our lives. For some martyrdom is a one-time sacrifice, for most of us, we are long-suffering martyrs for life. As parents, as leaders and as care-givers, we are called to show patience, kindness, generosity and compassion in loving and serving others selflessly. The psalmist says, “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.”
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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