Scripture Reflection and Prayer : Journeying together: January 2021

Sunday 31 January 2021

TENSION BETWEEN FAITH AND FEAR

20210201 TENSION BETWEEN FAITH AND FEAR

01 February, 2021, Monday, 4th Week, Ordinary Time

First reading

Hebrews 11:32-40 ©

The example of the Old Testament saints

Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets – these were men who through faith conquered kingdoms, did what is right and earned the promises. They could keep a lion’s mouth shut, put out blazing fires and emerge unscathed from battle. They were weak people who were given strength, to be brave in war and drive back foreign invaders. Some came back to their wives from the dead, by resurrection; and others submitted to torture, refusing release so that they would rise again to a better life. Some had to bear being pilloried and flogged, or even chained up in prison. They were stoned, or sawn in half, or beheaded; they were homeless, and dressed in the skins of sheep and goats; they were penniless and were given nothing but ill-treatment. They were too good for the world and they went out to live in deserts and mountains and in caves and ravines. These are all heroes of faith, but they did not receive what was promised, since God had made provision for us to have something better, and they were not to reach perfection except with us.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 30(31):20-24 ©

Let your heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord.

How great is the goodness, Lord,

that you keep for those who fear you,

that you show to those who trust you

in the sight of men.

Let your heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord.

You hide them in the shelter of your presence

from the plotting of men;

you keep them safe within your tent

from disputing tongues.

Let your heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord.

Blessed be the Lord who has shown me

the wonders of his love

in a fortified city.

Let your heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord.

‘I am far removed from your sight’

I said in my alarm.

Yet you heard the voice of my plea

when I cried for help.

Let your heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord.

Love the Lord, all you saints.

He guards his faithful

but the Lord will repay to the full

those who act with pride.

Let your heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

Jn17:17

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your word is truth, O Lord:

consecrate us in the truth.

Alleluia!

Or:

Lk7:16

Alleluia, alleluia!

A great prophet has appeared among us;

God has visited his people.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Mark 5:1-20 ©

The Gadarene swine

Jesus and his disciples reached the country of the Gerasenes on the other side of the lake, and no sooner had Jesus left the boat than a man with an unclean spirit came out from the tombs towards him. The man lived in the tombs and no one could secure him any more, even with a chain; because he had often been secured with fetters and chains but had snapped the chains and broken the fetters, and no one had the strength to control him. All night and all day, among the tombs and in the mountains, he would howl and gash himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and fell at his feet and shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? Swear by God you will not torture me!’ – for Jesus had been saying to him, ‘Come out of the man, unclean spirit.’ ‘What is your name?’ Jesus asked. ‘My name is legion,’ he answered ‘for there are many of us.’ And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the district.

Now there was there on the mountainside a great herd of pigs feeding, and the unclean spirits begged him, ‘Send us to the pigs, let us go into them.’ So he gave them leave. With that, the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand pigs charged down the cliff into the lake, and there they were drowned. The swineherds ran off and told their story in the town and in the country round about; and the people came to see what had really happened. They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his full senses – the very man who had had the legion in him before – and they were afraid. And those who had witnessed it reported what had happened to the demoniac and what had become of the pigs. Then they began to implore Jesus to leave the neighbourhood. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed begged to be allowed to stay with him. Jesus would not let him but said to him, ‘Go home to your people and tell them all that the Lord in his mercy has done for you.’ So the man went off and proceeded to spread throughout the Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.

TENSION BETWEEN FAITH AND FEAR

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ Heb 11:32-40; Ps 31:20-24; Mk 5:1-20 ]

We all live in fear each day. We fear we might not have enough for our family or for retirement. We fear that we will be out of job during this economic downturn. We fear for our health. We fear losing our loved ones someday. That is why we work hard, save lots of money, hoard our possessions, take all kinds of supplements and insurance to overcome our fear. Of course, the last insurance some of us take is to trust God in case our earthly endeavors and securities fail us. But God, for most people, is the last resort, or just a back-up plan.

The scripture readings today invite us to overcome our fear with faith. The examples of faith are given to us in the first reading from the letter to the Hebrews. The author presents to us the heroes of faith in the past, mostly from the Old Testament and the Inter-testament periods. Earlier on, he had elaborated in great detail the faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, and culminating in Abraham, Sarah and Moses. Other models of faith were mentioned as well. “Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets – these were men who through faith conquered kingdoms, did what is right and earned the promises.” Indeed, the bible is not just the story of God’s love for His people but also a testimony of those whose lives manifested faith in God. The author was also thinking of the inter-testament era when the Maccabees stood up for their faith which was being destroyed by Antiochus IV Epiphanes when he mentioned the atrocious cruelty committed against the Jews. He sought to suppress the Jewish religion by desecrating the Temple, forbade Jewish practices and forced them to sacrifice to idols. He wanted to Hellenize the Jews. But the Maccabees revolted and saved the Jewish faith.

Most of them died in faith and some suffered violent deaths, but they saved their people. By going through the history of Israel, the author demonstrated the power of faith in defying the fear of suffering, martyrdom and death. It was their faith that eventually saved themselves and their people. It was faith that gave them the strength to overcome their enemies in spite of the odds against them in terms of military power, soldiers and armory. Yet, faith shows that God’s arm was not shortened in any way and He was the commander of Israel’s army, seeing through their victory over their enemies. Yet, as he noted, “these are all heroes of faith, but they did not receive what was promised, since God had made provision for us to have something better, and they were not to reach perfection except with us.” A greater hope was promised to them and in faith, they believed even though they did not see it.

Indeed, faith overcomes fear. This, too, is the theme of the gospel as well. Today’s text must be read in continuity with the last pericope when the Lord calmed the storm. His disciples were in fear when a “great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.” (Mk 4:37) They cried out to the master to save them. When the storm was calmed by the Lord, He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mk 4:40) But it is significant that after removing human fear, another fear took its place, namely, reverential fear. Indeed, “they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'” (Mk 4:41) This is an important lesson to learn because this is what today’s gospel seeks to illustrate.

Human fears can only be overcome by faith in God, which is the consequence of reverential fear of Him. This is considered a gift of wisdom, one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. “His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.” (Isa 11:3) The book of Sirach underscores that fear of the Lord is true wisdom and leads to wisdom. (Sir 1:11-20)

This message is illustrated in the healing of the man who had an unclean spirit, or rather a legion of 6000 thousand spirits in him. We read that this “man lived in the tombs and no one could secure him anymore, even with a chain, because he had often been secured with fetters and chains but had snapped the chains and broken the fetters, and no one had the strength to control him. All night and all day, among the tombs and in the mountains, he would howl and gash himself with stones.” We can imagine the fear this possessed man put into the hearts of the villagers. He was living in the caves where the tombs were found. He was extraordinarily strong. It was good that he was left alone among the caves so that the villagers could have some peace. It was already dark when the disciples arrived at Gerasa, as they departed only in the evening. In such a situation, it made everything even more scary. They were in fear.

But it was not only the villagers and the disciples who were fearful of the possessed man. Ironically, the unclean spirits in the possessed man feared the Lord. “Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and fell at his feet and shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want from me, Jesus, Son of the Most high God? Swear by God you will not torture me!'” The unclean spirit recognized Jesus for who He was. Hence, he bowed down in submission and surrender before the power of God in Jesus. Most of all, he was afraid of being driven out with no place to go. Furthermore, his name was Legion, for there were many of them. “And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the district. Now there was there on the mountainside a great herd of pigs feeding and the unclean spirit begged him, ‘Send us to the pigs, let us go into them.’ So he gave them leave.”

This was followed by a momentary peace before fear set in again for those who did not have faith in our Lord when they saw how “the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand pigs charged down the cliff into the lake, and there they were drowned”. They had witnessed the enormous power of evil, but even greater still, the power of God. “The swineherds ran off and told their story in the town and in the country round about; and the people came to see what really happened.” It was something so spectacular that they could not imagine the power of God over the unclean spirit. The pigs would have had a long run of six to twenty miles to the sea before they were thrown off the cliff. No one could doubt the power of God, for they “saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his full senses – the very man who had had the legion in him before.”

But the evangelist noted, “they were afraid. And those who had witnessed it reported what had happened to the demoniac and what had become of the pigs. Then they began to implore Jesus to leave the neighbourhood.” Ironically, this was such a twist, from fear to peace and back to fear. This happened simply because they had no faith in Jesus. Without faith in Jesus, human fears cannot be eliminated. They will come back to haunt us. The people were afraid for their livelihood as it was a great economic cost for them to restore the man back to sanity. Now they had an added fear because then, the fear was in one man who was localized at the caves. It was manageable. They could just isolate that fear from their lives by ignoring it. Isn’t that what we do? When we do not like to face our fears, we suppress them by distractions and preoccupations with other things. We do not want to deal with them directly because we do not want to face them.

But the man who was healed knew that Jesus was His Lord. “As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed begged to be allowed to stay with him. Jesus would not let him but said to him, ‘Go home to your people and tell them all that the Lord in his mercy has done for you.’ So the man went off and proceeded to spread throughout the Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.” The man, finding peace and restoration, became a messenger and an apostle of our Lord among the Gentiles, sowing the seeds of faith. He who lived in fear, now liberated from the oppression of the Evil One, joined Jesus in setting others free from fear by surrendering their fears to God.

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

Saturday 30 January 2021

TEACHING WITH PERSONAL AUTHORITY

20210131 TEACHING WITH PERSONAL AUTHORITY

31 January, 2021, Sunday, 4th Week, Ordinary Time

First reading

Deuteronomy 18:15-20 ©

I will raise up a prophet and put my words into his mouth

Moses said to the people: ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like myself, from among yourselves, from your own brothers; to him you must listen. This is what you yourselves asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the Assembly. “Do not let me hear again” you said “the voice of the Lord my God, nor look any longer on this great fire, or I shall die”; and the Lord said to me, “All they have spoken is well said. I will raise up a prophet like yourself for them from their own brothers; I will put my words into his mouth and he shall tell them all I command him. The man who does not listen to my words that he speaks in my name, shall be held answerable to me for it. But the prophet who presumes to say in my name a thing I have not commanded him to say, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.”’

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 94(95):1-2,6-9 ©

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

Come, ring out our joy to the Lord;

hail the rock who saves us.

Let us come before him, giving thanks,

with songs let us hail the Lord.

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

Come in; let us bow and bend low;

let us kneel before the God who made us:

for he is our God and we

the people who belong to his pasture,

the flock that is led by his hand.

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

O that today you would listen to his voice!

‘Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,

as on that day at Massah in the desert

when your fathers put me to the test;

when they tried me, though they saw my work.’

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

Second reading

1 Corinthians 7:32-35 ©

Give your undivided attention to the Lord

I would like to see you free from all worry. An unmarried man can devote himself to the Lord’s affairs, all he need worry about is pleasing the Lord; but a married man has to bother about the world’s affairs and devote himself to pleasing his wife: he is torn two ways. In the same way an unmarried woman, like a young girl, can devote herself to the Lord’s affairs; all she need worry about is being holy in body and spirit. The married woman, on the other hand, has to worry about the world’s affairs and devote herself to pleasing her husband. I say this only to help you, not to put a halter round your necks, but simply to make sure that everything is as it should be, and that you give your undivided attention to the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father,

Lord of heaven and earth,

for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom

to mere children.

Alleluia!

Or:

Mt4:16

Alleluia, alleluia!

The people that lived in darkness

has seen a great light;

on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death

a light has dawned.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Mark 1:21-28 ©

Unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority

Jesus and his disciples went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.

In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit and it shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.

TEACHING WITH PERSONAL AUTHORITY

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [DT 18:15-20; PS 95:1-2,6-9; 1 COR 7:32-35; MARK 1:21-28 ]

Few teachers today speak with authority. When we say someone speaks with authority, we do not simply mean that the person has the authority, the license or the academic qualification to speak. Having juridical authority might provide some level of confidence for those speakers who are not known to the audience initially, however, such juridical authority is inadequate because it does not command the mind and heart of the listeners. Such authority requires professional authority in terms of knowledge, but more importantly, personal authority.

In today’s gospel, we read, “as soon as the Sabbath came Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught with authority.” What is the difference between the teaching of Jesus and that of the scribes who were knowledgeable in the Law? Afterall, they spent their whole life studying the scriptures and were experts in every detail of the Law. Yet, we are told that they lacked authority compared to the way our Lord taught them.

Their authority was founded on their office as scribes and the knowledge gained through study. Indeed, they spent much time studying the Law and the application of these laws, all 613 of them, to cover every possible situation. These laws became burdensome because they were applied blindly and rigidly without taking into consideration the personal circumstances. Judaism became not so much a way to encounter God’s love and mercy as it was about legalism and rituals. In other words, these laws did not help the people to love God and their fellowmen. They did not touch on the practical realities of the challenges of daily living.

But what changed the perspective that Moses passed on to them? This was because Moses taught them with the full weight of authority; both personal and juridical. In the first reading, it was Moses who gave them the Law. And the people listened to Moses and respected him even though they broke the law frequently out of weakness and selfishness. So what was the difference? Moses was more than a law giver. He was a man who was close to God. God spoke to him face to face, as one speaks to a friend. (cf Ex 33:11) He was with them in their difficult and long journey of forty years through the desert, fighting their enemies, protecting them from the harsh weather, the drought and their hunger. He gave them manna in the desert, meat from the quails and water from the rock. He was their leader in every way and that was how he was remembered and respected. He did not just give the laws but he was truly concerned about uniting them as the People of God.

So, too, our Lord taught in the same manner. He was seen as the Second and New Moses. He would establish the Kingdom that was still incipient during the time of Moses. He was the one that Moses said, “Your God will raise up for you a prophet like myself, from among yourselves, from your own brothers; to him you must listen.” As God’s eschatological prophet and final visitation, He would put everything in order. This explains why the gospels, especially St Matthew, drew a parallel between Jesus and Moses. Like Moses, He was persecuted by the King. Like Moses, he fled to Egypt. Like Moses, He taught at the mountain and gave them the new law, the Sermon on the Mount and the beatitudes. Like Moses, He gave them the new manna, the bread of life, the Eucharist. He too walked with His people, lived amongst them, acting not just with juridical authority but personal authority both in His words and in His life.

Unlike the teaching of the scribes; Jesus did not quote from the authorities or from any experts. He did not even attend any theological school. Yet, He spoke with confidence and conviction. As the Word of God, He did not need to refer to any other authority beyond Himself. He spoke from His own insights and He spoke with the voice of God without any apology or the need to please His listeners. He did not need to speak to gain popularity. Even His enemies said this of Him. “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality.” (Mt 22:16) He knew what He was saying.

Indeed, the authority of Jesus was felt and seen by those who came to meet Him. In the gospel of Mark earlier on, we read how the first disciples of Jesus, upon being called by the Lord, immediately left their nets, their boats and their family to follow after Jesus. There was no hesitation simply because they saw the calling of Jesus as an imperative from the Lord. Jesus did not even request them to follow Him. He said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” (Mk 1:17) Such was the imposing authority of our Lord. He is divine!

This same authority was again encountered this time not by men but by the evil spirits. With the same authority and conviction, He ordered the evil spirit to depart from the man. With a commanding voice, He said sharply, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” What is significant in this episode is that it was not Jesus who confronted the unclean spirit. On the contrary, before the majestic authority of Jesus, the unclean spirit could not help but tremble before Him and cried out shouting, “what do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.” Indeed, we can imagine the kind of authority that Jesus exhibited within Him that even got the unclean spirit to confess His presence. And we are told “the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him.” Clearly, Jesus was in charge of Himself and of the Evil One. He commanded and the unclean spirit submitted. Evil spirits before the presence of Christ surrender in fear.

This authority of our Lord is also underscored by His Messianic identity. This is brought out by the so called “Messianic secret”, a special characteristic of the evangelist, St Mark. In the gospel, as in today’s incident, Jesus silenced those who revealed His identity to others for fear of being misunderstood. After healing a person, He would tell the person not to reveal His identity to anyone. He also prohibited the unclean spirits from revealing His identity. This is because His identity is that of the suffering Messiah. His authority came from humble service, carrying the sins of His fellowmen, being crucified for our sake. Suffering with and for us is a necessary part of His mission so that He could reveal the love and mercy of His Father and by His resurrection conquer all hatred, sin and the fear of death.

Today, we are called to exercise the same authority of our Lord in our position as leaders and teachers. We need to supplement our professional and even juridical authority with personal authority, a knowledge that comes from our personal conviction of God and of the scriptures, but most of all, our personal life. Only when we live a life in solidarity with our brothers and sisters, can we then speak their language, feel with them and provide them the answers to the quests in their lives. As teachers, we must live by example and teach from our lives. Sharing in the struggles and sufferings of our brothers and sisters, we will be able to show empathy, and lead them to overcome their sufferings just as we had done.

This is why we must first be taught by the Lord and submit to His word so that His word will act in us and transform us. (1 Th 2:13) Conforming our lives to His Word will set us free to live a life of love so that what we say is matched by what we do. Indeed, as St Paul urges us, we must make Jesus the center of our lives in all that we do, whether as married or single. It is immaterial. What is absolute is that Jesus is the center of all that we do and how we think so that we can truly be exemplary teachers of authority. Let us first learn obedience like our Lord before we can be like Him, leaders in perfection in love and service.

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

OVERCOMING FEAR IN THE MIDST OF THE STORMS OF LIFE

20210130 OVERCOMING FEAR IN THE MIDST OF THE STORMS OF LIFE

30 January, 2021, Saturday, 3rd Week, Ordinary Time

First reading

Hebrews 11:1-2,8-19 ©

Abraham looked forward to a city founded, designed and built by God

Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen. It was for faith that our ancestors were commended.

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed the call to set out for a country that was the inheritance given to him and his descendants, and that he set out without knowing where he was going. By faith he arrived, as a foreigner, in the Promised Land, and lived there as if in a strange country, with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. They lived there in tents while he looked forward to a city founded, designed and built by God.

It was equally by faith that Sarah, in spite of being past the age, was made able to conceive, because she believed that he who had made the promise would be faithful to it. Because of this, there came from one man, and one who was already as good as dead himself, more descendants than could be counted, as many as the stars of heaven or the grains of sand on the seashore.

All these died in faith, before receiving any of the things that had been promised, but they saw them in the far distance and welcomed them, recognising that they were only strangers and nomads on earth. People who use such terms about themselves make it quite plain that they are in search of their real homeland. They can hardly have meant the country they came from, since they had the opportunity to go back to it; but in fact they were longing for a better homeland, their heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, since he has founded the city for them.

It was by faith that Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He offered to sacrifice his only son even though the promises had been made to him and he had been told: It is through Isaac that your name will be carried on. He was confident that God had the power even to raise the dead; and so, figuratively speaking, he was given back Isaac from the dead.

Responsorial Psalm

Luke 1:69-75 ©

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has visited his people and redeemed them.

He has raised up for us a mighty saviour

in the house of David his servant,

as he promised by the lips of holy men,

those who were his prophets from of old.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has visited his people and redeemed them.

A saviour who would free us from our foes,

from the hands of all who hate us.

So his love for our fathers is fulfilled

and his holy covenant remembered.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has visited his people and redeemed them.

He swore to Abraham our father

to grant us that free from fear,

and saved from the hands of our foes,

we might serve him in holiness and justice

all the days of our life in his presence.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has visited his people and redeemed them.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Ps26:11

Alleluia, alleluia!

Instruct me, Lord, in your way;

on an even path lead me.

Alleluia!

Or:

Jn3:16

Alleluia, alleluia!

God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son:

everyone who believes in him has eternal life.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Mark 4:35-41 ©

'Even the wind and the sea obey him'

With the coming of evening, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let us cross over to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind they took him, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. Then it began to blow a gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped. But he was in the stern, his head on the cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, ‘Master, do you not care? We are going down!’ And he woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Quiet now! Be calm!’ And the wind dropped, and all was calm again. Then he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?’ They were filled with awe and said to one another, ‘Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.’

OVERCOMING FEAR IN THE MIDST OF THE STORMS OF LIFE

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ HEB 11:1-2,8-19; LUKE 1:69-75; MARK 4:35-41 ]

It is natural for us to be fearful when we are under threat, and especially when our reputation or physical life is in danger. So, we can appreciate how frightened the disciples were when the “gale and waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped.” Even though some might have been fishermen, perhaps some were not good swimmers. We too would be terrified siting in a boat being tossed up and down by the waves. So in their fear they woke the Lord who was sleeping soundly “in the stern, his head on the cushion.” They cried out to the Lord, “Master, do you not care? We are going down!” Isn’t that how we feel every time we are in deep trouble, perhaps suffering from a severe illness, terminal disease, financial difficulties, betrayal, an injustice or a failed relationship? Where is God in the midst of all these?

Today, we are asked to place our trust in God who cares for us more than we think He does. Jesus might have appeared to be sleeping in the boat but He was aware that the storm would not overcome them. He had complete confidence in His Father and that was why He did not panic. He knew that His Father was in charge and in control. So when He was awakened, He “rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Quiet now! Be calm!’ And the wind dropped, and all was calm again.” It is significant that Jesus commanded the sea the way He commanded the evil spirit to be quiet. This was because the ancient people believed that evil monsters, such as Leviathan, lived in the sea and was responsible for such natural disasters. The sea embodied what was evil in the bible.

But this faith must go beyond trusting in God to perform miracles in our lives. Otherwise, our faith in God will remain infantile. Indeed, many people come to God only when they need their prayers to be answered, especially temporal favours, such as healing from sickness, help for financial difficulties or when taking exams or for success in their projects. God becomes a dispensing machine for all our favours. We become inward-looking and earthly. Yet, as the letter of Hebrews tells us, our homeland is not on this earth. Like the Fathers of Israel, they all “died in faith, before receiving any of the things that had been promised.” The promises of a land where they could be settled comfortably was never realized in their time.

“All these, but they saw them in the far distance and welcomed them, recognising that they were only strangers and nomads on earth.” Indeed, we are strangers and nomads on this earth. We are all passing through like the nomads in the desert, searching for a better homeland. No matter what we have in this world, we remain strangers because we are just in sojourn, a temporary resident for a while. Eighty or even a hundred years of life compared to eternity is but a split second. That was why when the Fathers of Israel moved out of their country, such as Abraham from the rich and developed city of Ur in Chaldea, they never returned back to their homeland. As the letter to the Hebrews said, “People who use such terms about themselves make it quite plain that they are in search of their real homeland. They can hardly have meant the country they came from, since they had the opportunity to go back to it; but in fact they were longing for a better homeland, their heavenly homeland.”

Faith ultimately is our hope to be with God. Only God can give us real and lasting happiness. This is our real hope in life. This is what faith does for us. If our hope is just for this life, we are a most pitiable people. (1 Cor 15:9) This is where God is all in all. (1 Cor 15:28) Our eternal resting place is to be with God. Hence, the author wrote, “That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, since he has founded the city for them.”

This hope is certain. This is why certainty is one of the qualities of faith. “Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen.” Faith is to be sure that what we hope for, even if we cannot see clearly now with our eyes, will be given to us. It is because of our confidence in what we hope for in Christ, that gives us power over sin and makes us loving towards our neighbours.

This is what the first reading wants to underscore. A firm faith and confidence in the hope before us is seen in our love for our brothers and sisters. As St James says, “So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” (Jms 2:17) The author in this chapter did what St James did, by demonstrating the effects of faith as seen in the actions of those who had faith in God, such as Abraham and Sarah, Moses and other Israelite heroes. Abraham believed in God at every moment of his journey. It began with a call to leave his country and culminated in his obedience to God when he was asked to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. He submitted in faith and in obedience to God’s voice. Even though he did not see the promises which were still far off, in faith, he trusted that God would be faithful. This hope of “a city founded, designed and built by God” was only realized in Christ thousands of years later. Even though he could not see his descendants like sand on the seashore, yet through Isaac his name would live. The author remarked, “He was confident that God had the power even to raise the dead; and so, figuratively speaking, he was given Isaac back from the dead.” Through Christ, the Church becomes the new People of Israel and we live forever through His death and resurrection. With faith, fear of death is overcome.

Faith makes us act differently because we no longer live for this world, for ourselves, for this life only, but for God and for others and for the next life. This is why the world does not understand why we sacrifice our lives, our pleasure, our time and our resources for others. With faith, we will do the impossible, even to suffer unjustly like our Lord in the hands of our enemies. Indeed, St Peter wrote, “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (cf 1 Pt 1:3-9) Similarly too, when we have faith in someone, we bring out the best in that person. Many of us have much latent potentials in us, but because we do not have faith in ourselves, others consequently have no faith in us either. When we have faith in God and in ourselves, we can do great wonders for God and for humanity.

How, then, can we acquire this kind of faith that enables us to overcome all fears and trials in life? We need to learn from the example of Abel, Enoch and Noah. Their faith is described in the missing lines of today’s first reading, verses 3-7. Abel taught us to be patient for God to vindicate us. His righteous faith made it possible for him to continue to speak even though he died. (Heb 11:4; cf Gn 4:10) But his blood must also be linked to Christ’s blood shed for us. Whilst Abel’s blood cried out for vindication, Jesus’ blood offered us forgiveness. His faith was one of trust and acceptance of whatever happened, just like Jesus who surrendered justice to the Father. God is faithful and will justify us. Abel’s faith, like that of Jesus, was a trusting and waiting faith. From Enoch, we learn that faith grows in intimacy when we walk with the Lord. Enoch, because of faith, turned away from sin and godlessness when he was warned by the Lord. (cf Gn 6:5) As a consequence, “by faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and ‘he was not found, because God had taken him.’ For it was attested before he was taken away that ‘he had pleased God.'” (Heb 11:5)

Finally, from Noah, we learn to persevere in our faith. His faith enabled him to see the coming of the Flood that would destroy humanity. “By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.” It was unimaginable for anyone to believe him at that time. He would have been mocked at for building a ship a hundred miles from the nearest sea. He trusted in God against all odds.

This is why Hebrews concludes, “without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Heb 11:6) Indeed, anyone who believes in God would be saved. Hence, even those who have not yet heard of the gospel, could also be saved so long as they believe in God. This was the case of those who came before our Lord and all those who still have not yet come to know Jesus as well. Whilst faith can be stimulated through reason and the study of nature and science can lead us to believe in God’s existence, (cf Rom 1:19f; Ps 8, 19), ultimately, the wisdom of the world cannot find Him unless God reveals Himself. (1 Cor 1:21) But once we begin with a belief in God, He will grant us the grace to find Him eventually in Christ. (Acts 4:12)

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

Thursday 28 January 2021

DO WHAT WE CAN

20210129 DO WHAT WE CAN

29 January, 2021, Friday, 3rd Week, Ordinary Time

First reading

Hebrews 10:32-39 ©

We are the sort who keep faithful

Remember all the sufferings that you had to meet after you received the light, in earlier days; sometimes by being yourselves publicly exposed to insults and violence, and sometimes as associates of others who were treated in the same way. For you not only shared in the sufferings of those who were in prison, but you happily accepted being stripped of your belongings, knowing that you owned something that was better and lasting. Be as confident now, then, since the reward is so great. You will need endurance to do God’s will and gain what he has promised.

Only a little while now, a very little while,

and the one that is coming will have come; he will not delay.

The righteous man will live by faith,

but if he draws back, my soul will take no pleasure in him.

You and I are not the sort of people who draw back, and are lost by it; we are the sort who keep faithful until our souls are saved.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 36(37):3-6,23-24,39-40 ©

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

If you trust in the Lord and do good,

then you will live in the land and be secure.

If you find your delight in the Lord,

he will grant your heart’s desire.

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Commit your life to the Lord,

trust in him and he will act,

so that your justice breaks forth like the light,

your cause like the noon-day sun.

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

The Lord guides the steps of a man

and makes safe the path of one he loves.

Though he stumble he shall never fall

for the Lord holds him by the hand.

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord,

their stronghold in time of distress.

The Lord helps them and delivers them

and saves them: for their refuge is in him.

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

Ps118:27

Alleluia, alleluia!

Make me grasp the way of your precepts,

and I will muse on your wonders.

Alleluia!

Or:

Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father,

Lord of heaven and earth,

for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom

to mere children.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Mark 4:26-34 ©

The kingdom of God is a mustard seed growing into the biggest shrub of all

Jesus said to the crowds: ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man throws seed on the land. Night and day, while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know. Of its own accord the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the crop is ready, he loses no time: he starts to reap because the harvest has come.’

He also said, ‘What can we say the kingdom of God is like? What parable can we find for it? It is like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.’

Using many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it. He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were alone.

DO WHAT WE CAN

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ HEB 10:32-39; PS 37:3-6,23-24,39-40; MARK 4:26-34 ]

Today, the gospel concludes Mark chapter 4 on the parables of the kingdom. This chapter begins with the parable of the Sower. In it, we learnt that the seeds sown fell on different kinds of soil; the pathway, the rocky ground, among thorns and briers, and on fertile ground. Those that fell on good soil “brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” (Mk 4:8) Perhaps, we might ask how unfair this world is. Why should some seed fall on ground that made it difficult for it to germinate whilst others were fortunate to fall on good ground? And even those that fell on good ground, not all yielded the same quantity of crops, because of differing soil quality.

This is the case with life itself. Why are some so fortunate? Some are smarter, some are more skillful and talented, some are endowed with beauty and charm, some have the gift of eloquence and leadership. Some come from good background, loving families, supportive parents and financially well-off. But for others, they come from broken and dysfunctional families. They are poor and have no opportunities in life. They work hard but are often unrecognized. They do not have influential contacts to give them a leg up in life. Indeed, we are all unequally endowed with the blessings of this earth and of life.

However, if we think that life is unfair in terms of blessings we received, then we might also have to ask why is it that many who came from good background, highly educated and rich families turned out to be spoilt, demanding, inward- looking and lacking sympathy for the suffering and the poor. They only think of themselves. Conversely, many who came from disadvantaged backgrounds became great people, successful in life, well-bred, purposeful and contributive to society.

This is equally true with respect to our growth in faith as well. In the first reading, we read of the persecution of the early Christians. Many of them were “publicly exposed to insults and violence” and those who were associates of such people were also given the same treatment and penalty. Indeed, in the early Church, being a Christian cost one a heavy price. They were marginalized and persecuted by the pagans. Many were sent to prison and some tortured and put to death. Yet, the Church became stronger, not weaker when she was under persecution. This is true even in recent times, like the Catholics in Korea where many were martyred. So, as Tertullian, a great Father of the Church remarked, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” In spite, or rather because, of the persecution the faith of the Christians became stronger and the numbers grew.

Conversely, when the Church was not under persecution, when the Church after Emperor Constantine became the common religion of all in the Roman Empire, the faith declined, although the numbers grew. The Church became corrupt and the quality of her members were poor, most without real formation or personal relationship with the Lord. It got to the point when Martin Luther revolted against the abuses of the Church and started the reformation. Today, the Church is once again under persecution. There is corruption within and hostile pressure from without. People are losing faith and confidence in the leaders of the Church on one hand; and on the other hand, the onslaught of materialism, secularism, relativism and consumerism are making our Catholics lose faith. Many have left the Church and many more are just nominal Catholics. Is it good or bad? Well, again, we do not know. We just need to read the signs of the time and let God unfold His divine plan for His Church. He could be using our sins and the world to purify our faith.

Clearly, life is a mystery. Not everything is within our control. Life is not like mathematics where things will develop logically as planned. What works for some does not work for others. This is what the parable of the seeds seeks to tell us. The seed that is sown on the ground grew mysteriously by itself. How it happens, the farmer does not know. “Of its own accord the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.” So, too, with us human beings. Often, parents want to control the way their children grow. Many want to make their children a duplicate of themselves or to fulfil their lost dreams. But the truth is that how our children will grow and what they will become does not depend solely on our efforts but on the grace of God. We can provide the ambience, the ground, the soil, the sunlight and water, but only God can make it grow the way He has destined for the person. This is why the axiom, “Man proposes, God disposes”.

We must go with the flow of nature and allow nature to unfold itself. Good or bad can influence a person for better or for evil. But it is all grace and not totally within our control. We can only do what we can. Of course, we must play our part to sow the seed, to provide the ambience, the opportunities, but that is all we can do. We must be contented that we have done all we could for those under our care. As to their future or further developments, we cannot determine because there are many factors that would influence them, be it their friends, teachers, life experiences, events, social media and opportunities. All these are not within our control. This is why we must bow down in humility and surrender our children, our life and our future to God. We must not try to play God in our lives and seek to control everything and people around us. We should just guide them as much as we can.

At the same time, we must be patient and never give up hope. This was what the author of the letter of Hebrews said, “Remember all the sufferings that you had to meet after you received the light … For you not only shared in the sufferings of those who were in prison, but you happily accepted being stripped of your belongings. Be as confident now, then, since the reward is so great. You will need endurance to do God’s will and gain what he has promised.” It is our hope for a better future that will give us the endurance to fight against the trials and challenges of life, and never give up hope. When we know that we own something that is better and more lasting than our earthly possessions and passing pleasures of life, we would be ready to sacrifice our present comfort, endure our sufferings for a greater future ahead of us.

It is this hope that will sustain our faith in Christ. Again, the author, citing from the prophet Habakkuk, wrote, “Only a little while now, a very little while, and the one that is coming will have come; he will not delay. The righteous man will live by faith, but if he draws back, my soul will take no pleasure in him.” (cf Heb 10:38) And he concluded, “You and I are not the sort of people who draw back, and are lost by it; we are the sort who keep faithful until our souls are saved.” Indeed, we must never give up faith otherwise, we will lose everything. We must not draw back but be singular-minded, patient and persevering to the end for God’s vision to be fulfilled in us.

If we are patient, then the Kingdom of God will eventually come. Just as the parable of the seed tells us; the growth, although imperceptible, is inevitable. Even though we might not see that God is at work in our children, in our office, in our career and in our lives, God is unfolding His divine plan for us. We walk by faith, not by sight. (cf 2 Cor 5:7) When it comes, we will be surprised just as the parable of the mustard seed teaches us. That tiny seed we planted will grow to be a big tree “and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.” Indeed, we never know what the future is like, just as our forefathers, just like the apostles. We might suffer setback in our faith or in our life. We might think the world is going down to destruction. Yet the Lord has His own plans for us. No one can destroy the plan of God because as the prophet Habakkuk said, “For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end.” (Hab 2:3) It will come eventually!

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

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)