20210916 SILENCING OUR CRITICS
16 September, 2021, Thursday, 24th Week, Ordinary Time
First reading |
1 Timothy 4:12-16 © |
Be an example to all the believers
Do not let people disregard you because you are young, but be an example to the believers in the way you speak and behave, and in your love, your faith and your purity. Make use of the time until I arrive by reading to the people, preaching and teaching. You have in you a spiritual gift which was given to you when the prophets spoke and the body of elders laid their hands on you; do not let it lie unused. Think hard about all this, and put it into practice, and everyone will be able to see how you are advancing. Take great care about what you do and what you teach; always do this, and in this way you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 110(111):7-10 © |
Great are the works of the Lord.
or
Alleluia!
His works are justice and truth,
his precepts are all of them sure,
standing firm for ever and ever;
they are made in uprightness and truth.
Great are the works of the Lord.
or
Alleluia!
He has sent deliverance to his people
and established his covenant for ever.
Holy his name, to be feared.
Great are the works of the Lord.
or
Alleluia!
To fear the Lord is the first stage of wisdom;
all who do so prove themselves wise.
His praise shall last for ever!
Great are the works of the Lord.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel Acclamation | 2Co5:19 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself,
and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled.
Alleluia!
Or: | Mt11:28 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 7:36-50 © |
Her many sins have been forgiven, or she would not have shown such great love
One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to a meal. When he arrived at the Pharisee’s house and took his place at table, a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard he was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment. She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is that is touching him and what a bad name she has.’ Then Jesus took him up and said, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Speak, Master’ was the reply. ‘There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty. They were unable to pay, so he pardoned them both. Which of them will love him more?’ ‘The one who was pardoned more, I suppose’ answered Simon. Jesus said, ‘You are right.’
Then he turned to the woman. ‘Simon,’ he said ‘you see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason I tell you that her sins, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love. It is the man who is forgiven little who shows little love.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man, that he even forgives sins?’ But he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’
SILENCING OUR CRITICS
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [1 Tim 4:12-16; Ps 111:7-10; Lk 7:36-50]
One cannot be a leader and yet not be criticized. Whether we are young, like Timothy, or old, we would always have our critics and opponents. Whatever we do as leaders, we will always be opposed by some people. This is understandable because people have different views of doing things. But when our integrity is being questioned, this is a different matter. Character assassination is very common nowadays, especially through social media. Fake and distorted news that cast doubts on our character, honesty, integrity and sincerity will make people lose faith in our leadership. When there is no more trust in a leader, the leader can no longer lead. Credibility and integrity of a leader is all important, more than just competency.
In the gospel, the Pharisees and the Scribes were always critical of Jesus, every word He said and every action He did. For every good deed He did, they had nothing good to say about Him except that He broke the Sabbath Law, or when He exorcised, they said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” (Lk 11:15) In today’s gospel, Simon the Pharisee was quick to judge our Lord for allowing the sinful woman to touch Him. He was questioning the integrity of Jesus as a prophet who accepted the effusive expression of gratitude and love of the woman.
Timothy was also under attack from some of the members of his community. It could have been out of jealousy that the young Timothy was chosen to be a leader. This is not surprising even in our community today. Young leaders are not so easily accepted by the adults and the senior members of the community. This is because those who are mature and have been around for long always think they know better than the young people as they have gone through life and been through many experiences. Some adults resent young people for telling them what to do when they should be guiding them instead, or that their advice should not just be sought but heeded. Indeed, young leaders often feel frustrated and stifled in their creativity and desire to bring the organization further, as the old leaders seek to impose their old ways on them.
What, then, must we do as leaders to quell the challenges and criticisms against our leadership? St Paul advised Timothy, “Do not let people disregard you because you are young, but be an example to all the believers in the way you speak and behave, and in your love, your faith and your purity.” Indeed, no matter what we say, people will always question our motives. We must therefore prove ourselves by our life, by what we say and do. This is a slow process but the most certain way in winning over our enemies and those sitting on the fence to our side.
As leaders we must be an example of love. However, this love is not just a love between a man or a woman, or even between friends. Romance and friendship are mutual love. They spring from the depth of the human person. It is an instinctive response. We do not need to use much strength to love someone who is dear to us or someone who loves us. In fact, we cannot stop loving such a person. This is because such love comes from the heart. A leader must love with his will when his heart does not feel the same way. Because he is called to serve, he loves all without exception, saints or sinners, friends or foes. To care for all, irrespective of whether others care for him, is the hallmark of a true leader. He is responsible to the office that he has undertaken, which is to care for the community to which he has been appointed to serve. Such agape love is a godly love that looks after the well-being of everyone, even when these people have slandered him or bad-mouthed him. A leader cannot hold grudges against those whom he serves, otherwise he will seek to destroy and ostracize them. Indeed, it is by our inclusive, impartial and all-embracing love that will eventually earn the respect even of our foes and detractors. Such a leader is always forgiving and gracious.
Secondly, as leaders we must be an example of faith. We must show ourselves to be full of faith in God and in our fellowmen so that we can be faithful to God and to those whom we serve. Unless we have faith in God, we will not be able to persevere in what we do. If we believe that God is on our side and we are truly doing it for the glory of God, we will give all our efforts and strength. This is why St Paul reminded Timothy, “You have in you a spiritual gift which was given to you when the prophets spoke and the body of elders laid their hands on you; do not let it lie unused. Think hard about all this, and put it into practice, and everyone will be able to see how you are advancing.” Timothy had to have confidence that because he was appointed by God through the community to lead the church. He had to believe that God would see him through in his ministry. When our faith in God is weak, we will begin to depend on ourselves and our ingenuity. Faith in God will help us to be loyal to Him and be loyal to the people we serve. The moment a leader loses his faith in God and loyalty to Him, he becomes discouraged and loses confidence in his leadership.
Thirdly, as leaders, we must be an example of purity or holiness. In other words, we must live a life of integrity, honesty and sincerity. A leader has no other motive than to serve his people for the greater glory of God. It will not be the reward, honour or glory that he receives from the service. His motive is sincere and his love is unconditional. Leaders must seek to be consistent in what they say and do. St Paul says, “Take great care about what you do and what you teach; always do this, and in this way, you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.” Unless our words and actions match, we cannot save ourselves or others. So even before leaders try to lead others, they must first be led by God, that is to say, that they are disciplined and have self-control over what they do. There is always a serious danger that leaders seek to save others, to tell others what they should do but fail to do themselves. This is why St Paul said, “So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.” (1 Cor 9:26f)
Fourthly, as leaders, we must show ourselves to be responsible in our tasks. St Paul told Timothy, “Make use of the time until I arrive by reading to the people, preaching and teaching.” Instead of worrying too much about our critics, especially those that are always negative and nasty, we should be focused on the tasks we are called to do. We should not be reactive but be proactive. The best way to silence our critics is by the fruits we produce. Hence, a pastor must be concerned about his study of the Word of God, being familiar with the teachings of Christ and the Church, be concerned about the proclamation of the gospel and the formation of his community. Unless a leader spends time to read and hear the Word of God, to study it and expound it, he cannot grow. The irony of life is that the more we do something, the better we become. As it is said, practice makes perfect. It is in the process of studying, preaching and teaching that teachers grow best. A leader becomes perfected in leading.
Indeed, Jesus is our leader in silencing His critics. In the gospel, He led Simon in a gentle way to reflect on how judgmental he was. Jesus saw through the actions of the sinful woman. Her demonstration of love was the consequence of her deep consciousness of her many sins being forgiven. She was totally grateful to Jesus for helping her to feel the love and mercy of God, of being accepted by Him when she washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. She had no shame in what she did, even though it was against the culture in those days for a woman to untie her hair in public or to express her love so physically by kissing the feet of our Lord. Jesus did not reject her spontaneous desire to express her deep gratitude, for that was part of her healing process, of being forgiven and made whole. Her love for the Lord was inspired by her faith in Jesus as the incarnation of God’s mercy. Her love was sincere and pure without any other motives. Hence, the Lord said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” She was not just forgiven but healed, accepted and loved. However, this was not the case of Simon. He had no gratitude, no love, no consciousness of his own sins, and therefore no experience of God’s love, mercy and forgiveness. He remained in himself, miserable and judgmental. What about us?
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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