20230129 FORMING OUR CHILDREN IN WISDOM, VIRTUE, HOLINESS AND FREEDOM
29 January 2023 Sunday, 4th Week in Ordinary Time
First reading |
Zephaniah 2:3,3:12-13 © |
In your midst I will leave a humble and lowly people
Seek the Lord,
all you, the humble of the earth,
who obey his commands.
Seek integrity,
seek humility:
you may perhaps find shelter
on the day of the anger of the Lord.
In your midst I will leave
a humble and lowly people,
and those who are left in Israel will seek refuge in the name of the Lord.
They will do no wrong,
will tell no lies;
and the perjured tongue will no longer
be found in their mouths.
But they will be able to graze and rest
with no one to disturb them.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 145(146):6-10 © |
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
or
Alleluia!
It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
the Lord, who sets prisoners free.
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
or
Alleluia!
It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,
who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger
and upholds the widow and orphan.
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
or
Alleluia!
It is the Lord who loves the just
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever,
Zion’s God, from age to age.
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
or
Alleluia!
Second reading |
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 © |
God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, to shame the wise
Take yourselves for instance, brothers, at the time when you were called: how many of you were wise in the ordinary sense of the word, how many were influential people, or came from noble families? No, it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen – those who are nothing at all to show up those who are everything. The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you, God has made members of Christ Jesus and by God’s doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom. As scripture says: if anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation | Mt11:25 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father,
Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom
to mere children.
Alleluia!
Or: | Mt5:12a |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Rejoice and be glad:
your reward will be great in heaven.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Matthew 5:1-12a © |
How happy are the poor in spirit
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
‘How happy are the poor in spirit;
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:
they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’
FORMING OUR CHILDREN IN WISDOM, VIRTUE, HOLINESS AND FREEDOM
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Zep 2:3; 3:12-13; Ps 146:6-10; 1 Cor 1:26-31; Mt 5:1-12]
What is education? Most people in the world confuse education with acquiring skills, knowledge and an academic degree to certify that one has the capacity to do something. Education means going to a good school where we can be trained in writing, speaking, literary arts, mathematics, history, geography, science and technology. Of course, to offer a more holistic formation of our students, we offer extra-curriculum activities such as sports and arts. Yet, society is short-sighted if we think that education is simply having our students perform well in their academic studies or even in sports and the arts. What if a student excels in his studies and acquires skills and knowledge but has a bad character? Does it mean that this student is educated? Is it good enough to produce students who are smart and intelligent and who can work and be successful in what they do? What if a smart and intelligent student uses his talents to cheat, to manipulate and to take advantage of others?
Indeed, education goes beyond acquiring skills and knowledge. If education is reduced to gaining knowledge, in truth, there is no need for young people to go to school anymore. We can form ourselves through the internet. Even terrorists can make bombs by finding information from the internet. With the internet, there is so much information that one can acquire all kinds of knowledge and skills about anything under the sun. We can become great businessmen and researchers or developers of new products without even going to school.
Education is forming a person integrally, developing his potentials to the fullest so that he could realize himself in the process of living out his talents as he gives himself in service to humanity. Whilst acquiring skills and knowledge are important, yet seldom do parents realize that a good education must provide their children with the right set of values to guide them in life. Education is about forming our children in skills and knowledge but equally important is to form them in values, morality and in character. In other words, we form them in virtues and holiness. This is what the scripture readings are teaching us today.
Prophet Zephaniah said, “Seek integrity, seek humility: you may perhaps find shelter on the day of the anger of the Lord. They will do no wrong, will tell no lies; and the perjured tongue will no longer be found in their mouths. But they will be able to graze and rest with no one to disturb them.” What we need today are not just brilliant entrepreneurs, businessmen, intelligent teachers and lawyers, creative professionals, eloquent politicians and religious leaders. We must ensure that they live lives of integrity so that they will be upright, honest and just in all that they do. We have seen enough politicians and even religious leaders who seek power for themselves. We have seen professionals who use their skills and knowledge to cheat people and to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor. Without integrity, the more intelligent and brilliant the person is, especially when he or she holds leadership positions, he or she will destroy everyone, including the country.
Secondly, we need to form our future leaders in humility. Arrogance and pride are the downfall of every man, especially leaders. Again, the prophet Zephaniah said, “seek humility.” St Paul in today’s second reading also reminded the Christians of their humble past. He said, “Take yourselves, brothers, at the time when you were called: how many of you were wise in the ordinary sense of the word, how many were influential people, or came from noble families?” Indeed, we must be conscious that what we are today is not just due to our hard work and efforts alone. It is through the help of many good people who came our way to assist us, whether it be our parents, friends or teachers. Humility is a necessary virtue to cultivate so that we will always remain grateful for what we received and are generous in return.
This is what the Lord in the gospel also underscored. In the be-attitudes, He said, “How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage. Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted. Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied. Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them. Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God. Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Having the right values means to have the right attitudes towards life so that we can find happiness in a blessed life. Among the beatitudes, the most important are those that keep us humble, gentle and merciful towards others. We cannot be great leaders unless we feel with the suffering, the poor and those who suffer from injustices. Being a leader is to lead our people to greener pasture, to set them free from their bondages and to help them to realize their potentials so that they can live a meaningful life. Being a leader is to be a peacemaker, to unite our peoples and to defend truth, justice and compassion.
Ironically, the blessed, according to Jesus and St Paul, are not the rich or the powerful or the brilliant of this world. St Paul wrote, “No, it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen – those who are nothing at all to show up those who are everything.” Against what the world values most, Jesus, St Paul and the Prophet Zephaniah valued humility, integrity, compassion and justice. These are the values that will assure that when our students grow up, they will be able to give themselves to society, to the church and to their families, especially the poor and the marginalized. This is what will make them happy in life and fulfilled, rather than to accumulate wealth and luxury for themselves. Indeed, by serving the poor, we come to discover the joy of life and the joy of love and sharing which money cannot buy. When we can help someone who is considered a failure or an outcast in society to become a great leader who contributes back to society, we feel that our work and labour have not been in vain.
But what is the secret to helping our students acquire such virtues that can see them through in life? Knowing God is the key, knowing Christ is the secret. Ethics can be taught but they are not easily acquired and become part of a person’s values. Of course, for some agnostics and humanists, departing from their conscience, the “ought to” in the hearts of man, as Emmanuel Kant suggests, might be possible. But the heart of all virtues come from God alone. St Paul wrote, “The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you, God has made members of Christ Jesus and by God’s doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom. As scripture says: if anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord.” Jesus shows us the way to live a life of integrity, honesty, in truth and compassion for others. These values are summed up in the beatitudes which we read in the gospel. Hence, the prophet exhorts us, “Seek the Lord all you, the humble of the earth, who obey his commands. In your midst I will leave a humble and lowly people, and those who are left in Israel will seek refuge in the name of the Lord.”
But acquiring values is not through teaching ethics or even religion and morality alone. We need witnesses and mentors to inspire. Teachers, including parents, are important witnesses of the values that they teach to their students. It is not enough to teach our young people values, we must live them in our very life. Otherwise, what we teach remain just words. There is no better way to teach than to exemplify these values of the gospel in our lives, in the way we relate to others, to our students and to our colleagues. The beatitudes taught by our Lord was lived by Him. They were not just nice words; that was how He lived His life, in poverty of spirit, in humility, in compassion and mercy to those who are weak; defending the poor and innocent from the injustice of their oppressors. Truly, by our virtuous lives, we show that “it is the Lord who keeps faith for ever, who is just to those who are oppressed. It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the Lord, who sets prisoners free. It is the Lord who loves the just but thwarts the path of the wicked.” Catholic education is about living our life meaningfully by giving ourselves to God and our fellowmen.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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