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.
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