20211019 LIVING IN PERSPECTIVE
19 October, 2021, Tuesday, 29th Week, Ordinary Time
First reading |
Romans 5:12,15,17-21 © |
Divine grace, coming through Jesus Christ, came as an abundant free gift
Sin entered the world through one man, and through sin death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned; but the gift itself considerably outweighed the fall. If it is certain that through one man’s fall so many died, it is even more certain that divine grace, coming through the one man, Jesus Christ, came to so many as an abundant free gift. If it is certain that death reigned over everyone as the consequence of one man’s fall, it is even more certain that one man, Jesus Christ, will cause everyone to reign in life who receives the free gift that he does not deserve, of being made righteous. Again, as one man’s fall brought condemnation on everyone, so the good act of one man brings everyone life and makes them justified. As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous. When law came, it was to multiply the opportunities of failing, but however great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater; and so, just as sin reigned wherever there was death, so grace will reign to bring eternal life thanks to the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 39(40):7-10,17 © |
Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.
You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings,
but an open ear.
You do not ask for holocaust and victim.
Instead, here am I.
Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.
In the scroll of the book it stands written
that I should do your will.
My God, I delight in your law
in the depth of my heart.
Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.
Your justice I have proclaimed
in the great assembly.
My lips I have not sealed;
you know it, O Lord.
Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.
O let there be rejoicing and gladness
for all who seek you.
Let them ever say: ‘The Lord is great’,
who love your saving help.
Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.
Gospel Acclamation | cf.Lk8:15 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are those who,
with a noble and generous heart,
take the word of God to themselves
and yield a harvest through their perseverance.
Alleluia!
Or: | Lk21:36 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stay awake, praying at all times
for the strength to stand with confidence
before the Son of Man.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 12:35-38 © |
Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, but happy those servants if he finds them ready.’
LIVING IN PERSPECTIVE
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Rom 5:12.15.17-21; Ps 40:7-10,17; Lk 12:35-38 ]
How do we see life in perspective? The way we see life will determine how we live our lives today. There are only three possible ways. One is to live retrospectively, another is to live in the Now, and the third is to live prospectively. In truth all of us will live life in all these three perspectives. But it is a question of dominance because it will motivate the way we live today.
Those who live retrospectively tend to live in the past. They go back to the past to help them understand where they are today. They like history, they want to know their family lineage, their childhood and they try to recall the happy and sad events in their life. In itself, it can be healthy because it helps us understand where we are today and who we are. We are shaped by our past, not just our personal past but all those who were instrumental in our growth. Knowing our past will help us to understand our character, our fears, our deep-seated anxieties, our ambitions and the qualms we have towards people and situations. Without knowing our history, we will be without identity and history will only repeat itself.
St Paul in the first reading brings us to the origin of man’s brokenness. We are what we are today because of the fact that we suffer a wounded nature because of Adam’s sin. He said, “Sin entered the world through one man, and through sin death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned.” Indeed, it is because we belong to the human race of which Adam is considered the first man. Since we all share in Adam’s human nature, which is a fallen nature, we share the consequences of the sin of Adam as well. This is the basis for the doctrine of original sin, which means that the moment we are conceived, we share in the fallen nature of Adam and that is why we will eventually and inevitably sin.
How do we know that this is a fact? It is proven because we all suffer death, like Adam. Death was not meant to be man’s fate. The book of Wisdom says, God “created us for incorruption, and made us in the image of his own eternity, but through the devil’s envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his company experience it.” (Wis 2:23f) The book of Sirach says, “From a woman sin had its beginning, and because of her we all die.” (Sir 25:24) Hence, the author of Wisdom exhorts us, “Do not invite death by the error of your life, or bring on destruction by the works of your hands; because God did not make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living.” (Wis 1:12f) It is for this reason that St Paul says the last enemy of man is death. (1 Cor 15:25) “The wages of sin is death. (Rom 6:23)
This is a salient point for us to remember, especially when we are living in an individualistic society today. The impact on us as individuals is not just our personal past but we are very much connected with the history of others as well, both in the past and those who are with us. St Paul brought out this idea of solidarity, which is something very Asian, whether for the Jews or for those who live in Asia. Unfortunately, today the Western world is promoting individualism and freedom of the individual to the extent that the common good of society is compromised. For people in Asia, it is the community that takes precedence. Even our meals and celebrations are very communitarian in nature. Indeed, the Jews never considered themselves as individuals but always part of a clan. Most Asians preserve their family name. We do not think of ourselves as a person only but as a member of a community. This explains why tribal and clan associations are very strong among Asians. Loyalty is to a tribe, a clan or a race. Any offence done against an individual belonging to a tribe or race will be met with vengeance by the entire community. A clear instance of this is the case of Achan, narrated in Joshua 7 when his sin resulted in the entire family being executed. Achan’s sin, like ours, was not just a solitary personal sin but has impact on the rest of the family and society.
The other way some people live their life is to live in the present. This group belongs to the current generation. They live their lives with no thought, remembrance or gratitude of the past, and no hope for the future. They only live for today for they say, you only live once. So for people who live this way, they are concerned about making themselves as happy as they can in their life. There is no future for them. So, they do not care about ecology, the planet, the survival of humanity. They do not care for others as well. It is all about me. They do not see themselves as a community but as individuals, hence, the emphasis on personal freedom, doing what one likes.
This was the case of the bad servant in tomorrow’s gospel. The slave says to himself, “My master is delayed in coming,” and he began “to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk.” (Lk 12:45) He had no responsibility to the master or to his fellow servants. He only thought of his own interests, enjoyment and pleasures without caring for others or worrying about tomorrow. Of course, that was the sin of Adam and Eve. They only thought of their pleasures upon seeing the fruit from the forbidden tree in the middle of the garden. (Gn 3:3) The danger for those who live in this manner is that they forget that their actions will not only harm themselves but their loved ones and society as well. There is a failure of consciousness of their social responsibility.
Nevertheless, it is not wrong to live in the present because this is what the Lord also teaches. But we must live responsibly, not selfishly and recklessly without concern and care for others. He said, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Mt 6:31-34) Living in the present fully does not mean to live for ourselves but in the conscious presence of God, trusting in Him and doing what we should as a member of the community, responsible not just to ourselves but to others.
However, what would be the motivation for us to live in this manner if not to live prospectively? Indeed, it is the end that will determine the means. Only when we know where we want to arrive, can we live our life purposefully or meaningfully. St Paul gives us this prospective outlook when he spoke of Christ as the one who frees us from sin and from death. “Again, as one man’s fall brought condemnation on everyone, so the good act of one man brings everyone life and makes them justified. As by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous. But however great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater; and so, just as sin reigned wherever there was death, so grace will reign to bring eternal life, thanks to the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ our Lord.” It is Jesus whose death has conquered sin and death. We can therefore live in hope that we will no longer suffer eternal death but we will reign with Him.
In view of this life, and living prospectively as we wait for the second coming of Christ, we must therefore be diligent and responsible. This is what the parable in today’s gospel invites us to do. We must always be alert and be responsible in our tasks, dressed for action and have our lamps lit. “Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes.” Indeed, we must live consciously that the Lord is already present in our midst, watching us, and He will come to take us with Him to His Father’s mansion. For when He comes, Jesus said, “He will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, but happy are those servants if he finds them ready.” The Lord sets for us an example of what it means to live for others. He would be the One who would get the banquet ready for us and He would be the One serving us. We too, should also spend our lives serving God and our fellowmen, with dedication and self-sacrificing love, if we were to share in the fullness of life with Him.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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