20220221 THE RIGHT MOTIVES FOR SERVICE
21 February, 2022, Monday, Week 7 in Ordinary Time
First reading | James 3:13-18 © |
Show wisdom and avoid ambition
If there are any wise or learned men among you, let them show it by their good lives, with humility and wisdom in their actions. But if at heart you have the bitterness of jealousy, or a self-seeking ambition, never make any claims for yourself or cover up the truth with lies – principles of this kind are not the wisdom that comes down from above: they are only earthly, animal and devilish. Wherever you find jealousy and ambition, you find disharmony, and wicked things of every kind being done; whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure; it also makes for peace, and is kindly and considerate; it is full of compassion and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it. Peacemakers, when they work for peace, sow the seeds which will bear fruit in holiness.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 18(19):8-10,15 © |
The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
it revives the soul.
The rule of the Lord is to be trusted,
it gives wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
they gladden the heart.
The command of the Lord is clear,
it gives light to the eyes.
The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart.
The fear of the Lord is holy,
abiding for ever.
The decrees of the Lord are truth
and all of them just.
The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart.
May the spoken words of my mouth,
the thoughts of my heart,
win favour in your sight, O Lord,
my rescuer, my rock!
The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart.
Gospel Acclamation | 1P1:25 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
The word of the Lord remains for ever:
What is this word?
It is the Good News that has been brought to you.
Alleluia!
Or: | cf.2Tim1:10 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Our Saviour Jesus Christ abolished death
and he has proclaimed life through the Good News.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Mark 9:14-29 © |
Help the little faith I have!
When Jesus, with Peter, James and John came down from the mountain and rejoined the disciples, they saw a large crowd round them and some scribes arguing with them. The moment they saw him the whole crowd were struck with amazement and ran to greet him. ‘What are you arguing about with them?’ he asked. A man answered him from the crowd, ‘Master, I have brought my son to you; there is a spirit of dumbness in him, and when it takes hold of him it throws him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and goes rigid. And I asked your disciples to cast it out and they were unable to.’ ‘You faithless generation’ he said to them in reply. ‘How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.’ They brought the boy to him, and as soon as the spirit saw Jesus it threw the boy into convulsions, and he fell to the ground and lay writhing there, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ ‘From childhood,’ he replied ‘and it has often thrown him into the fire and into the water, in order to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.’ ‘If you can?’ retorted Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for anyone who has faith.’ Immediately the father of the boy cried out, ‘I do have faith. Help the little faith I have!’ And when Jesus saw how many people were pressing round him, he rebuked the unclean spirit. ‘Deaf and dumb spirit,’ he said ‘I command you: come out of him and never enter him again.’ Then throwing the boy into violent convulsions it came out shouting, and the boy lay there so like a corpse that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him up, and he was able to stand. When he had gone indoors his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why were we unable to cast it out?’ ‘This is the kind’ he answered ‘that can only be driven out by prayer.’
THE RIGHT MOTIVES FOR SERVICE
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [JAMES 3:13-18; MK 9:14-29]
In these days, it would seem foolish, even insane, to enter into priestly or religious life. Unlike our forefathers in the 2nd millennium when religious people were respected, particularly among Asians, in the last 30 years or so, the tide has turned against those in institutions, whether politics or religion. People today look with skepticism at those who choose politics or religion for service. Naturally so, because of the scandals in politics and those in religious service. This is what St James warned us, “if at heart you have the bitterness or jealousy, or self-seeking ambition, never make any claims for yourself or cover up the truth with lies – principles of this kind are not the wisdom that comes down from above: they are only earthly, animal and devilish.”
What is the cause of division and quarrels? St James tells us the cause of scandals in service: “Wherever you find jealousy and ambition, you find disharmony, and wicked things of every kind being done.” Indeed, wherever we are, whether at work, in church or even at home, we find lots of politics and backbiting because of envy, comparison and self-centeredness. This is the reason why there is so much division and manipulation in the office; everyone is trying to put each other down so that they can be promoted. Often, such office politics can be ruthless. Unfortunately, this can also happen in church. The truth is that most of us are insecure and suffer from low self-esteem. We lack confidence in ourselves and we need lots of affirmation.
What, then, can we do to ensure that we have the right motives for doing what we do? We need to be healed of our insecurity and be affirmed in love. Before we can give genuine, altruistic and unconditional service, we must be touched by the love of God first. In other words, we need a Tabor experience, like the disciples who were with the Lord when He was transfigured at the Mountain. For the disciples, Peter, James and John, it was a most memorable experience, such that it became the foundation for their faith in Christ, especially during times of trials and persecution. “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” (2 Pt 1:16-18)
Falling in love with Jesus must be the first fundamental turning point in one’s faith and relationship with the Lord. Without this encounter, we cannot make any real commitment to the Lord. Those of us who rely simply on an intellectual faith cannot survive in times of trials and challenges, especially in times of personal tragedy. Only when we have this special grace of encountering the Lord deeply can we remain firm till the end.
If this is true for the disciples, it is equally true for our Lord. Jesus, at a certain stage in His ministry, felt that He was not making any real headway in His mission. He had healed many and preached the Good News to even more. At the same time, He was facing resistance. He needed to discern whether He should bring the battle to Jerusalem and confront the authorities. It was going to be risky because the religious and political institutions would find Him unsettling as His message, being revolutionary, would change the social and religious status quo of the peoples. Jesus until then was hesitant about His next move. The confirmation already came from Peter’s confession of faith (cf Mk 8:27-33) but He needed a confirmation from His Father as well at Mount Tabor. (cf Mk 9:2-12)
This is the wisdom that St James speaks about, the wisdom so different from the world. This wisdom comes from the unconditional love of God. Love enables us to do all things joyfully, passionately and totally. Unless we are motivated by love, we will be motivated by selfish interests, namely, our ambition and our needs. But when we are empowered by love, not for worldly gains but for the higher wisdom of love, then we can serve with purer motives. St James defines this wisdom that comes “down from above is essentially something pure; it also makes for peace, and is kindly and considerate; it is full of compassion and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it. Peacemakers, when they work for peace, sow the seeds which will bear fruit in holiness.” Only love can enable a person to give up everything for God and for others. Religious service cannot be motivated by worldly gains and sordid desires. It is not based on ideology or ambition.
That is the reason why contemplation of the Lord’s passion and resurrection becomes a necessary means for us to take this road. But after contemplation, we need to come down from the mountain like the apostles. Staying in the clouds is easy but once we come down from the mountain, we will face many challenges. Without the love of the Lord, our faith will not sustain us. We can give ourselves even to the point of sacrificing our life for someone whom we love deeply. That is why the apostles, after experiencing the joy of seeing the Transfigured Lord, were ready to carry the cross after Him. Living out the Christian commitment calls for courage and a daily dying to self.
We need support from each other, like the father of the epileptic boy who sought the disciples for help. Like the disciples, we too must cry out to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The man said, “And I asked your disciples to cast it out and they were unable to.’ ‘You faithless generation,’ Jesus said to them in reply. ‘How much longer do I have to be with you? How much longer do I have to put up with you? Bring him to me.'” We must learn from the Lord how to grow in faith so that we can serve effectively.
Most of all, we need prayers and even fasting and mortification. For in difficult times, the Lord explained to the disciples who asked Him, “‘Why were we unable to cast it out?’ ‘This is the kind,’ he answered ‘that can only be driven out by prayer.'” For anyone to continue to serve freely and unselfishly, not motivated by ambition, pride, ego or greed for things of this world, he or she needs to pray. Otherwise, as what happens to many priests and religious leaders, they become tempted by worldly things, food, money, power and glory. They make use of the gospel for their own benefit.
So let us be like the psalmist and listen to the Word of God daily to find strength and direction. “The law of the Lord is perfect, it revives the soul. The rule of the Lord is to be trusted, it gives wisdom to the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, they gladden the heart. The command of the Lord is clear, it gives light to the eyes.” Following the Word of God, we will find wisdom to guide our lives and to live in accordance with the teachings of the Lord.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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