20210414 THE OPPOSITION TO NEW LIFE
14 April, 2021, Wednesday, 2nd Week of Easter
First reading | Acts 5:17-26 © |
The men you imprisoned are in the Temple, preaching to the people
The high priest intervened with all his supporters from the party of the Sadducees. Prompted by jealousy, they arrested the apostles and had them put in the common gaol.
But at night the angel of the Lord opened the prison gates and said as he led them out, ‘Go and stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new Life.’ They did as they were told; they went into the Temple at dawn and began to preach.
When the high priest arrived, he and his supporters convened the Sanhedrin – this was the full Senate of Israel – and sent to the gaol for them to be brought. But when the officials arrived at the prison they found they were not inside, so they went back and reported, ‘We found the gaol securely locked and the warders on duty at the gates, but when we unlocked the door we found no one inside.’ When the captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard this news they wondered what this could mean. Then a man arrived with fresh news. ‘At this very moment’ he said, ‘the men you imprisoned are in the Temple. They are standing there preaching to the people.’ The captain went with his men and fetched them. They were afraid to use force in case the people stoned them.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 33(34):2-9 © |
This poor man called and the Lord heard him.
or
Alleluia!
I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.
The humble shall hear and be glad.
This poor man called and the Lord heard him.
or
Alleluia!
Glorify the Lord with me.
Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free.
This poor man called and the Lord heard him.
or
Alleluia!
Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called, the Lord heard him
and rescued him from all his distress.
This poor man called and the Lord heard him.
or
Alleluia!
The angel of the Lord is encamped
around those who revere him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
He is happy who seeks refuge in him.
This poor man called and the Lord heard him.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel Acclamation |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Christ has risen and shone upon us
whom he redeemed with his blood.
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 | John 3:16-21 © |
God sent his Son into the world so that through him the world might be saved
Jesus said to Nicodemus:
‘God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost
but may have eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the world
not to condemn the world,
but so that through him the world might be saved.
No one who believes in him will be condemned;
but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already,
because he has refused to believe in the name of God’s only Son.
On these grounds is sentence pronounced:
that though the light has come into the world
men have shown they prefer darkness to the light
because their deeds were evil.
And indeed, everybody who does wrong
hates the light and avoids it,
for fear his actions should be exposed;
but the man who lives by the truth comes out into the light,
so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God.’
THE OPPOSITION TO NEW LIFE
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ACTS 5:17-26; PS 34:2-9; JOHN 3:16-21]
Today’s gospel verse is one of the most widely quoted in the scriptures. “God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.” Indeed, God gave us Jesus, His only Son to lead us to fullness of life. He is the Way to the Truth and to fullness of life. (Jn 14:6) He said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (Jn 10:10) Indeed, “God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.”
But unfortunately, there are those in the world that seek to extinguish the light of the world and life from humanity. This is nothing new. No religion has been persecuted as much as Christianity. The Church has produced countless martyrs who died for Christ and the gospel of truth and life. Why should the Church be spared when her master suffered the same fate before her? When Jesus said that God “gave” His only Son, it was not just about God assuming our humanity, and as a wise teacher, lead us to walk in truth and love. He did not live to a ripe old age, unlike some founders of other religions. He was only in ministry for three years and was put to death, charged with a political crime that He did not commit because as the Lord told Pilate, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” (Jn 18:36)
Hence, it is not surprising that we read in the first reading how the chief priests and the Sadducees sought to have the apostles arrested for proclaiming the New Life they found in Christ. They could not stop proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus and the new life that they all now shared in Him. This new life is walking in the truth and in love, and it also means restoration, not just of spiritual life but also healing of the body as well, as demonstrated in the miracles. In spite of the opposition, they proclaimed with boldness without fear of the Chief priests or of their lives, the New Life as the angel instructed them; “Go and stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new Life.” They did as they were told; they went into the Temple at dawn and began to preach.
But why does the world oppose something that is beautiful, life-giving and liberating? Christianity is not against the happiness of the world. To be a Christian does not mean to live a life without joy or meaning. On the contrary, the Lord told the disciples, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” (Jn 15:11) He has come to give us true peace. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” (Jn 14:27) Indeed, it is strange that Christianity, which is a religion of truth and love, fostering unity and true freedom, justice and equality, is opposed by the world at large.
The answer is obvious. The Lord said, “though the light has come into the world men have shown they prefer darkness to the light because their deeds were evil.” Christianity exposes the selfishness of man. The dignity of the individual, which is a Christian doctrine, has been over-exaggerated to the extent that the other equally important truth that we are social beings in a community is often forgotten. This radical love of self before others has caused us to be individualistic, inward- looking, seeking our own interests and not the common interests. We want things our way, our pleasures to be satisfied, our needs to be fulfilled. It is all about ourselves. We do not care about the future of humanity, our families, our society or even the planet earth. We want to make more money from our businesses and enjoy all the pleasures of life, moral or immoral without restraint from anyone.
Of course, there are others who could be truly misguided in their zeal. We can appreciate why the High Priest and the Sadducees were unsettled because in proclaiming the resurrection, they were contradicting one of the most important tenets, which is no resurrection from the dead. By speaking of the resurrection of our Lord, they were challenging their authority and their constant belief. It was therefore important to stop them from spreading the claim about Jesus’ resurrection. And there are many people who are like that, so steeped in their upbringing and views of life that there is no room for review or growth. They can only see from their narrow perspective. This is why we have terrorists and radical fundamentalists that see other religions as a threat to theirs and consider those who do not subscribe to their beliefs in God as condemned, regardless how moral and charitable they are in their daily living.
But more often than not, those who oppose the Faith are often jealous of the membership and growth. We read, “The high priest intervened with all his supporters from the party of the Sadducees. Prompted by jealousy, they arrested the apostles and had them put in the common gaol.” So too some religious leaders and believers feel threatened that others are going to this preacher or that church or that temple. Instead of sharing their faith openly, they seek to stifle those who want to share their experience of God in their lives. We must therefore search our motives when we are preaching and sharing our faith. We do not share our faith in order to convert people primarily, but that they might come to know Jesus and then finding Him, they will find life. Jesus said to Nicodemus: “God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.” It is about God’s love for us and His desire to give us eternal life. The Good News is attractive to everyone who wants to find life and live a life of true peace and joy. There is no coercion needed or force. Jesus did not come to condemn the world, “but so that through him the world might be saved.”
But there are those who oppose the gospel, the truth because as the Lord said, “everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, for fear his actions should be exposed; but the man who lives by the truth comes out into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God.” This statement refers not to those who do obvious evil but those who hide their evil deeds in doing good. There are some who might seem to be supporting all kinds of causes, religions, and charitable organizations but they have their ulterior motives and hidden agenda to promote their ideology and their selfish interests. The good they do are not sincere. But if we are honest and sincere in our outreach to others, it will bring peace, joy and love. St James wrote, “But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.” (Jms 3:14-18)
Indeed, we must not fear when we are doing good and speaking the truth. Today, both readings assure us, that this New Life cannot be suppressed. They sought to imprison the apostles from proclaiming the New Life in Christ but they were defeated. God will send His angels to help us to proclaim this New Life as well. Truth cannot be imprisoned for long. As the Lord told His disciples, “the truth will make you free.” (Jn 8:31) Just as God raised Jesus from the dead and freed Him from the pangs of death and decay, God too will raise us up if we continue to stand up for the culture of life and most of all, for eternal life which is the basis of our Christian Hope. For those who do not want to accept the truth, they will suffer the consequences as John the Baptist warned his disciples, “No one who believes in him will be condemned; but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already, because he has refused to believe in the name of God’s only Son.” So the choice is really ours. Our task is to continue to proclaim that Christ has become to give us life to the full. (Jn 10:10)
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment