Scripture Reflection and Prayer : Journeying together: October 2023

Tuesday 31 October 2023

CHRISTIAN HOPE FOR A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH

20231031 CHRISTIAN HOPE FOR A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH

31 October 2023, Tuesday, 30th Week in Ordinary Time

First reading

Romans 8:18-25 ©

The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons

I think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us. The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons. It was not for any fault on the part of creation that it was made unable to attain its purpose, it was made so by God; but creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God. From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free. For we must be content to hope that we shall be saved – our salvation is not in sight, we should not have to be hoping for it if it were – but, as I say, we must hope to be saved since we are not saved yet – it is something we must wait for with patience.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 125(126) ©

What marvels the Lord worked for us.

When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage,

it seemed like a dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter,

on our lips there were songs.

What marvels the Lord worked for us.

The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels

the Lord worked for them!’

What marvels the Lord worked for us!

Indeed we were glad.

What marvels the Lord worked for us.

Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage

as streams in dry land.

Those who are sowing in tears

will sing when they reap.

What marvels the Lord worked for us.

They go out, they go out, full of tears,

carrying seed for the sowing:

they come back, they come back, full of song,

carrying their sheaves.

What marvels the Lord worked for us.

Gospel Acclamation

Jn15:15

Alleluia, alleluia!

I call you friends, says the Lord,

because I have made known to you

everything I have learnt from my Father.

Alleluia!

Or:

Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father,

Lord of heaven and earth,

for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom

to mere children.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 13:18-21 ©

The kingdom of God is like the yeast that leavened three measures of flour

Jesus said, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with? It is like a mustard seed which a man took and threw into his garden: it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air sheltered in its branches.’

Another thing he said, ‘What shall I compare the kingdom of God with? It is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.’

CHRISTIAN HOPE FOR A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ROM 8:18-25; LK 13:18-21]

In this world, we cannot avoid suffering because of sin and imperfections. We suffer because creation has been affected by sins. It is destroyed by the selfishness of humanity. One of the most obvious consequences is the destruction of the ecological system that has resulted in climate change, global warming, freak weather and natural disasters. We have been poor stewards of creation. For a long time, scientists have been warning us of the possible destruction of our planet if the situation continues.

On the level of humanity, sin has also destroyed the peaceful and harmonious relationship among us all. Because of selfishness, irresponsibility, greed and fear, we compete against each other and seek to grab more for ourselves, depriving others of their basic needs. There is so much injustices in the world because of dishonesty and cheating. People are discriminated and marginalized. This has resulted in violence, civil disorder and even war. Poverty and discrimination also are breeding grounds for terrorism to grow. Political, religious and corporate leaders are often tempted to seek their own interests and not the good of others. When that happens, credibility and trust in our leaders are eroded.

On the level of the individual, we are under the bondage of sin and evil. We are selfish and we succumb to the temptations of the flesh, of lust, gluttony and greed. We are jealous and envious of others. We feel insecure about our well-being, and whether we are loved. We become possessive of others and of things. Our ego prevents us from listening to others. Our pride, especially of intellect, hinders us from welcoming others who are different from us. We seek to impose our views and ideas on others. Such actions cause division, disunity and rob us of our peace and unity. We quarrel, fight and hurt each other.

For this reason, God wants to give us a New Heaven and a New Earth. “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.” (Isa 65:17, 19) St John also shared with us his vision. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a great voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev 21:1-4)

Consequently, St Paul urges us to look ahead of what is in store for us as Christians. “I think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us.” We can never look forward with confidence to a glorious future that lies ahead of us so long as we groan on this earth. For this to happen, God allows the decadence to take place so that we will not cling to this earth. “It was not for any fault on the part of creation that it was made unable to attain its purpose, it was made so by God.” Unless, we see the misery of this life and the imperfections of creation, we will not long for something greater and more perfect to come. If life is too good on this earth, we would want to cling on to this earth forever. But God has something greater for us. Indeed, God allows us to suffer illness and pains so that when the time comes for us to let go, we can let go more easily. Old age, illness, suffering are all part and parcel of God’s plan to help us to detach ourselves from this world so that we can depart for a better and more complete world to come.

What will happen to creation? St Paul first speaks of creation as a whole, animate and inanimate matter. He said, “Creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God.” Although we do not know exactly what will happen to creation, plants and animals and all things of this earth, we know that they will be in Christ and all will be transformed and perfected. This is what St Paul wrote, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell,and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Col 1:17, 19) He further explained, “For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” (Eph 1:9f)

But not just for creation, we will also be set free and reclaim our dignity as sons and daughters of God. “The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons.” Indeed, the calling and destiny of humanity is even higher than that of creation because we are called to share in the “freedom and glory as the children of God.” In other words, we will share in the fullness of life and love with God, participating in the Trinitarian love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Our bodies will be glorified and resurrected like our Lord.

This hope of ours is a substantiated hope not just a wishful thinking. This is because we already have a foretaste of it. St Paul wrote, “From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is the living presence of God in our hearts. “In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Eph 1:13f) He is the love of God poured into our hearts. (Rom 5:5) Anyone who is filled with the Holy Spirit feels the closeness of God. This is the same intimacy, Jesus had with His Father. This is the same joy that saints in their mystical experience have entered into the intimacy and love of God. That is why, those who have encountered God deeply desire to be with Him and have no fear of death or of separation from this life.

This kingdom is also a reality in this life as a beginning. The parables in today’s gospel illustrate the budding of the Kingdom of God. The parable of the Mustard Seed speaks of the gradual growth of the Kingdom of God. It begins small but it ends big. “It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air sheltered in its branches.” So, too, the Church started with 12 apostles but today we have more than two billion Christians in the world, of which about half are Catholics. The Kingdom of God is also compared to the woman with the yeast. She “took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.” Again, when the gospel is spread in society, it will bring light to humanity, and it will salt the earth, give life and renew humanity along the lines of the gospel. It can be said that much of humanity have been infused with the Spirit of the gospel directly or indirectly.

So while, “we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free” we must cooperate in building the kingdom of God on earth. “For we must be content to hope that we shall be saved – our salvation is not in sight, we should not have to be hoping for it if it were – but, as I say, we must hope to be saved since we are not saved yet – it is something we must wait for with patience.” We need to live out the gospel life and announce the Good News of salvation to all by words and deeds. We need to grow in virtues, to live the blessed life that the Lord has taught us in the beatitudes. We must strive to live a life of justice tempered by compassion, charity and love. Unless we grow in this direction, the parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast can work against us. For these parables can also be interpreted in terms of the complacency of the Church as the structure and institution grow. We can become corrupt and allow evil to enter into the Church because of the lack of integrity. We can allow worldliness to ruin the Church of God if we are not alert and cautious.

Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.

Sunday 29 October 2023

OVERCOMING SLAVERY BY LIVING IN THE FREEDOM OF THE SPIRIT

20231030 OVERCOMING SLAVERY BY LIVING IN THE FREEDOM OF THE SPIRIT

30 October 2023, Monday, 30th Week in Ordinary Time

First reading

Romans 8:12-17 ©

The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God

My brothers, there is no necessity for us to obey our unspiritual selves or to live unspiritual lives. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.

Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. And if we are children we are heirs as well: heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, sharing his sufferings so as to share his glory.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 67(68):2,4,6-7,20-21 ©

This God of ours is a God who saves.

Let God arise, let his foes be scattered.

Let those who hate him flee before him.

But the just shall rejoice at the presence of God,

they shall exult and dance for joy.

This God of ours is a God who saves.

Father of the orphan, defender of the widow,

such is God in his holy place.

God gives the lonely a home to live in;

he leads the prisoners forth into freedom.

This God of ours is a God who saves.

May the Lord be blessed day after day.

He bears our burdens, God our saviour.

This God of ours is a God who saves.

The Lord our God holds the keys of death.

This God of ours is a God who saves.

Gospel Acclamation

Jn17:17

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your word is truth, O Lord:

consecrate us in the truth.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 13:10-17 ©

Was it not right to untie this woman's bonds on the sabbath day?

One sabbath day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who for eighteen years had been possessed by a spirit that left her enfeebled; she was bent double and quite unable to stand upright. When Jesus saw her he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are rid of your infirmity’ and he laid his hands on her. And at once she straightened up, and she glorified God.

But the synagogue official was indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, and he addressed the people present. ‘There are six days’ he said ‘when work is to be done. Come and be healed on one of those days and not on the sabbath.’ But the Lord answered him. ‘Hypocrites!’ he said ‘Is there one of you who does not untie his ox or his donkey from the manger on the sabbath and take it out for watering? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has held bound these eighteen years – was it not right to untie her bonds on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his adversaries were covered with confusion, and all the people were overjoyed at all the wonders he worked.

OVERCOMING SLAVERY BY LIVING IN THE FREEDOM OF THE SPIRIT

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Rom 8:12-17; Ps 68:2,4,6-7,20-21; Lk 13:10-17]

There are two things that prevent us from living life to the fullest. The first is when we live unspiritual lives. This is what St Paul wrote, “there is no necessity for us to obey our unspiritual selves or to live unspiritual lives. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die.” Indeed, when we allow ourselves to live worldly lives rooted in selfishness, self-indulgence, injustice, greed, anger and dishonesty, we will bring about our own death. We cannot be happy living such a life because it will be a life of restlessness, anxiety, fear and guilt. People who live such sinful lives cannot enter the Kingdom of God. “Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers – none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor 6:9f)

But there is also another form of slavery which is in contrast to those who live unspiritual lives. In the former, slavery is to oneself, one’s ego and desires. This slavery is a slavery to the laws and to structures. It is a slavery based on external structures. Such slavish observance of the laws bring death as well. Indeed, this was the slavery of the Jewish leaders. Their life was founded on the legal system. The system was more important than the persons and their lives. They loved the laws more than those who practised them. They spent their whole life seeking to uphold the laws at all costs, even if it meant causing people to suffer unnecessarily as the laws did not take account of the needs of the individuals. This was what happened to the woman who was unable to stand up straight for 18 years. She was in the synagogue but the President of the Synagogue “was indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, and he addressed the people present. ‘There are six days’ he said ‘when work is to be done. Come and be healed on one of those days and not on the Sabbath.'” He was only concerned with the observance of the Sabbath Law but oblivious to the suffering of the woman.

Either way, we are doomed to die or live a life that is as good as dead. We live in fear when we sin because of the consequences of our sins. We know that selfishness will take away our peace and hurt our conscience. On the other hand, we could also live in fear of breaking the law. There are some good Catholics who are over-scrupulous with regard to the laws of the Church, be they liturgical laws, Church laws or even of the commandments. They live in fear of God’s punishment and they live in guilt. Even when they observe the laws, they are not happy. They find religion such a burden. In the secrets of their hearts, they wish they could do things that those without religion do. In truth, they hold a hidden hostility and even resentment against God.

How, then, can we overcome this slavery? We are called to live in the power of the Spirit. St Paul wrote, “If by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.” We can put paid to the sinful self by living in the consciousness of the Holy Spirit. On our own strength, we cannot overcome our sinful desires. No matter how much we try, we will fall into sin because of our sinful nature. However, we do not need to live under our sinful nature anymore. We can live under the Spirit of God. Instead of allowing our human spirit to take charge of our lives, we can live by the Spirit of God. But this is provided we are conscious of the Spirit of God in us. This explains why the Baptism in the Holy Spirit was rather important in the early Church because it was a conscious experience of the presence of the Spirit in their lives. Even now, those who are renewed in the Holy Spirit rediscover a new personal relationship with God in prayer, in their daily life. Those who have encountered the Holy Spirit, whether in the renewal of His gifts or in some religious conversion experience, no longer live the same lives.

The consequence of being renewed in the Spirit is to become conscious that we are sons and daughters of God. St Paul wrote, “The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God.” This consciousness that we are God’s children is not something that is intellectual but a personal experience of being loved by God. It is the outpouring of His Spirit in our hearts. “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Rom 5:5) This explains why both the Spirit of God and our own spirit bear witness together. It is an interior experience and conviction of the heart.

Secondly, it is this consciousness that we are sons and daughters of God in Christ that free us from fear and all forms of anxiety because we know that God is our Abba Father. “The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!'” When we call God our Father, it is no longer just a thought or an idea but sharing in Christ’s sonship. We can now address God as Father the way Jesus related to His Abba Father. This relationship is one of intimacy and trust. Like Jesus, when we become conscious that God is our Father, we no longer worry too much about the future because we know that God will look after us and our needs. With the psalmist, we are confident that this God of ours will save us. “Let God arise, let his foes be scattered. Let those who hate him flee before him. But the just shall rejoice at the presence of God, they shall exult and dance for joy. Father of the orphan, defender of the widow, such is God in his holy place. God gives the lonely a home to live in; he leads the prisoners forth into freedom. He bears our burdens, God our saviour.”

Thirdly, the consciousness of our sonship in Christ is our participation in His sufferings as well as His glory. Being in Christ means that we are ready to suffer with Him in love and service. It calls for self-sacrifice, living not for ourselves but for God and for others. This invitation to suffer with Jesus is a necessary consequence of following Jesus because like Jesus we will be persecuted, misunderstood and sometimes even slandered because our values contradict the secular values of the world. This is where we need to carry our cross and follow after Him. But in our suffering, we are not hopeless because we are confident that we will also share in His glory. We will be vindicated, if not in this life, we can rest in peace knowing that the Father will accept us and give us the rewards of eternal life. “This God of ours is a God who saves. The Lord our God holds the keys of death.”

Indeed, if Jesus were able to live freely and without fear it was because He was conscious of His sonship. He was neither a slave to sin nor was He a slave to the laws as well. He put people before the system. He saw all laws as means to an end, which is to give life. He did not subordinate the human person to the laws without understanding the context. Indeed, He saw through the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders. They cared more for their animals than their fellowmen. Jesus challenged them, “Is there one of you who does not untie his ox or his donkey from the manger on the Sabbath and take it out for watering? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has held bound these eighteen years – was it not right to untie her bonds on the Sabbath day?” For an animal, they would save, but not for a human being in suffering, simply because it was a Sabbath. In Jesus’ understanding this would put the laws before the human person who is in need of help. When it comes to setting people free from pain and fears, this should be done as soon as possible without unnecessary delay. Any kindness that should be done must be done quickly.

Furthermore, Jesus recognized the woman as a daughter of Abraham who was under the bondage of the Evil One. For this reason, she should be healed immediately and not allow Evil to control her life. When we see everyone as a child of God and our brother and sister, we will also do the same. Human beings are not digits, or things without a heart. We need to feel with their pain, anxiety and suffering. Only people with a heart of compassion like Jesus identifies with them. He calls them his brothers and sisters. (cf Heb 5:1f)

Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.

COMPASSION IS THE KEY TO HEALING SOCIETY

20231029 COMPASSION IS THE KEY TO HEALING SOCIETY

29 October 2023, Sunday, 30th Week in Ordinary Time

First reading

Exodus 22:20-26 ©

If you are harsh with the widow and orphan, my anger will flare against you

The Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell the sons of Israel this:

‘“You must not molest the stranger or oppress him, for you lived as strangers in the land of Egypt. You must not be harsh with the widow, or with the orphan; if you are harsh with them, they will surely cry out to me, and be sure I shall hear their cry; my anger will flare and I shall kill you with the sword, your own wives will be widows, your own children orphans.

‘“If you lend money to any of my people, to any poor man among you, you must not play the usurer with him: you must not demand interest from him.

‘“If you take another’s cloak as a pledge, you must give it back to him before sunset. It is all the covering he has; it is the cloak he wraps his body in; what else would he sleep in? If he cries to me, I will listen, for I am full of pity.”’

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 17(18):2-4,47,51 ©

I love you, Lord, my strength.

I love you, Lord, my strength,

my rock, my fortress, my saviour.

My God is the rock where I take refuge;

my shield, my mighty help, my stronghold.

The Lord is worthy of all praise,

when I call I am saved from my foes.

I love you, Lord, my strength.

Long life to the Lord, my rock!

Praised be the God who saves me,

He has given great victories to his king

and shown his love for his anointed.

I love you, Lord, my strength.

Second reading

1 Thessalonians 1:5-10 ©

You broke with idolatry and became servants of God; you are now waiting for his Son

You observed the sort of life we lived when we were with you, which was for your instruction, and you were led to become imitators of us, and of the Lord; and it was with the joy of the Holy Spirit that you took to the gospel, in spite of the great opposition all round you. This has made you the great example to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia since it was from you that the word of the Lord started to spread – and not only throughout Macedonia and Achaia, for the news of your faith in God has spread everywhere. We do not need to tell other people about it: other people tell us how we started the work among you, how you broke with idolatry when you were converted to God and became servants of the real, living God; and how you are now waiting for Jesus, his Son, whom he raised from the dead, to come from heaven to save us from the retribution which is coming.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Ac16:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

Open our heart, O Lord,

to accept the words of your Son.

Alleluia!

Or:

Jn14:23

Alleluia, alleluia!

If anyone loves me he will keep my word,

and my Father will love him,

and we shall come to him.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 22:34-40 ©

The commandments of love

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees they got together and, to disconcert him, one of them put a question, ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?’ Jesus said, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.’

COMPASSION IS THE KEY TO HEALING SOCIETY

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [EX 22:20-26; 1 THESS 1:5-10; MATTHEW 22: 34-40]

This is a harsh world we live in. It is the survival of the fittest. Indeed, this is a competitive world. Everyone is competing against each other for more money, promotion, bigger house and car, etc. Yes, we all want to win. These are the false gods that St Paul speaks about when he wrote to the Thessalonians commending them for “breaking away from idolatry and become servants of the real, living God.”

Indeed, it is our attachment to the false gods in our lives that have made us calculative, intolerant and lacking forgiveness in our lives. We put success, achievements and rewards above people. We are intolerant of people’s mistakes, whether they our children or our colleagues or employees at work. We want them to do well and climb up the ladder of success. Such obsession with success can make us uncaring, unfeeling and inconsiderate of people’s pain, personal struggles and sensitivity. We are so absorbed in our own interests and needs that people are pawns and tools to serve our selfish purpose.

That is why society is not so gracious. Often, we hear political, community and religious leaders bemoaning the fact that we are not a gracious society. We are individualistic, inward-looking and demanding. We lack tolerance for the weak and the defenceless. This can be seen in the way society deals with the elderly, the mentally and physically challenged and terminally-ill, and migrants. We see them as liabilities. Those who are unproductive are deemed to be draining our valuable resources. Our dignity does not come from the fact that we are persons but only when we are useful. We are treated as utilities to be used and discarded, not persons to be loved for who we are. In such a situation, we have become very wounded.

Society is very intolerant towards those who make mistakes. Instead of trying to understand us and showing empathy in our struggles, we are condemned. In most societies, those who are caught committing crimes are punished severely with the intent to hurt them rather than to heal them. What is needed today is a compassionate society that is gracious, generous, forgiving and kind. We need to build a society that has compassion for the sick, the poor, and even those who commit crimes. When economic advancement is the motive in all we do, and achieved at the expense of compassion, the people will become more and more individualistic and self-centred. This is akin to serving false gods instead of the living God.

The key to overcome such a hostile and selfish society is the way of compassion. This is what the scripture readings of this Sunday invite us to do. In the first reading, the Lord instructed Moses to command the Israelites to treat strangers well by welcoming them, render assistance to those without support, especially the widows and the orphans well. They must show compassion towards them and treat them charitably. The poor and the deprived must not be manipulated or be used for their own interests. Indeed, compassion is the key to heal our wounds and the wounds of society. We are all hurt and rejected and often condemned.

Truly, compassion is the most powerful antidote for healing. When we show compassion for the weak, the oppressed and sinners, we heal the wounds that caused them to be in the situation they are in. By giving them love, understanding and acceptance, they begin to heal themselves. For only when they are loved and accepted, can they begin to love themselves for who they are. Hence, just showing compassion to them even without counselling them is already a very effective way to heal them of their brokenness. What most of us need is a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on and to rest on. There is nothing more therapeutic than to be understood and be given a hug when we are down and lonely. The last thing we need is to be judged.

Compassion not only heal others; it heals us too. When we reach out to others, we forget about our own problems. When we start listening to the problems of others and feel with them in their pain, we begin to see our problems in perspective. Very often, we tend to navel gaze and think that we have the biggest problems in this world. But when we hear how much others are suffering, we forget our own. Isn’t this the case of the Thessalonians in today’s second reading? They were ready to suffer for the gospel against all opposition because they learnt from St Paul and his companions. St Paul wrote, “You observed the sort of life we lived when we were with you, which was for your instruction, and you were led to become imitators of us, and of the Lord; and it was with the joy of the Holy Spirit that you took to the gospel, in spite of the great opposition all round you.”

What is the basis for compassion? Simply because God is the compassionate one! He has delivered Israel from their enemies. They were a motley crowd of people living in Egypt. They became slaves under the Egyptians. But God in His mercy dispatched Moses to deliver them from their slavery because He heard their cries and misery. And after freeing them from Egypt, He brought them to the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Because God is compassionate to us, He likewise expects us to do the same to others. This is because we all belong to Him. He feels with us. Accordingly, the Lord warned the people, “if you are harsh with them, they will surely cry out to me, and be sure I shall hear their cry; my anger will flare and I shall kill you with the sword, your own wives will be widows, your own children orphans.” And with regard to the man who had no cloak to wrap his body in, the Lord said, “what else would he sleep in? If he cries to me, I will listen, for I am full of pity.” God considers all of us as His people, regardless whether we are Christians or not.

How, then, can we exercise this compassion? Firstly, we must be loved by God. This is the presupposition for the work of compassion. At the base of all healing is our need to be loved by God. We must not misunderstand the Shema quoted by Jesus “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This commandment to love God with one’s entire being, mind, heart and soul presupposes the experience of God’s unconditional love and mercy which the Israelites experienced in the Exodus when God liberated them, and along their way to the Promised Land, God fed them with manna, meat and water in the desert. Only because they had already experienced God’s unconditional love could they be commanded to love God with their entire self and their neighbours. This, too, was the case of St Paul. It was his experience of God’s unconditional love and mercy for him that made him give up his life for Christ.

Secondly, having been loved by God, we in turn will learn to love ourselves. The reason why one sin leads to another sin is because sin is a hatred for oneself, the lack of respect for oneself. When we feel that we are sinners, we will only commit more sin. But when we do not feel that we are sinners, we will act like a child of God. Similarly, when we know that God loves us and never condemns us but feels sorry for us when we sin, we will not condemn ourselves but love ourselves the way He loves us. This is what justification by faith is all about, namely, that we are loved and forgiven in Christ. On the basis of this love and His forgiveness, we are healed.

Thirdly, to have compassion for others, we must get in touch with ourselves. This is why the Lord said, “You must love your neighbour as yourself.” If we know our own desires, struggles, pains and failures, we will learn to be more forgiving, tolerant and compassionate, for we know we are imperfect. Those who are judgmental in life do not know themselves well. They see everyone’s mistakes and imperfections except their own. So to love others, let us begin by loving ourselves, recognizing our limitations and inadequacies so that we can be in solidarity and sympathy with our neighbours.

Once we are loved by God and we begin to love ourselves, we will also learn to love others. We will look at people with eyes of forgiveness, benevolence and understanding. Seeing our brokenness in them, we become more compassionate and forgiving. We begin to look at them the way God looks at us. When we see them in this manner, then our relationship with them will change. No longer do we see them with precaution, suspicion and hostility but as fellow creatures who are wounded, and have limitations and weaknesses like us. We identify with them in their struggles to be good.

Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.

Friday 27 October 2023

PROTECTING THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD

20231028 PROTECTING THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD

28 October 2023, Saturday, Ss Simon and Jude, Apostles

First reading

Ephesians 2:19-22 ©

In Christ you are no longer aliens, but citizens like us

You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 18(19):2-5 ©

Their word goes forth through all the earth.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God,

and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.

Day unto day takes up the story

and night unto night makes known the message.

Their word goes forth through all the earth.

No speech, no word, no voice is heard

yet their span extends through all the earth,

their words to the utmost bounds of the world.

Their word goes forth through all the earth.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Te Deum

Alleluia, alleluia!

We praise you, O God,

we acknowledge you to be the Lord.

The glorious company of the apostles praise you, O Lord.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 6:12-19 ©

Jesus chooses his twelve apostles

Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor.

He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them all.

PROTECTING THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [EPHESIANS 2:19-22; LUKE 6:12-19]

St Paul in the first reading wrote, “You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household.” By virtue of our baptism, we are made citizens of the Kingdom of God and a member of God’s household. How wonderful is this privilege that has been bestowed upon us! As members of God’s kingdom and His family, necessarily, we want to protect the unity among all members. Jesus warns us saying, “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”

For this reason, the faith of the Church is that we all belong to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Oneness and Catholicity are necessarily signs for us to claim that the Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church. Christ came to establish only one Church and not many churches. That is why His final prayer for the Church is the prayer of unity. “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word,that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (Jn 17:20f) St Paul affirmed the Catholicity of the Church when he wrote, “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:26-28) As Catholics, we are never alone but we are members of the universal Church because we are members of the Body of Christ, with Him as our head. We are members of the family of God by virtue of our baptism.

How is the unity of the Church and its Catholicity maintained? What are the foundations to build the family of God so that we will always remain united as One Church?

Firstly, we must be aligned with Christ as our cornerstone. St Paul wrote, “As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord.” The Church is founded on Christ. If we want to be united in faith and love, we must share a common Spirit in Christ. Only Christ can give us His Spirit. Hence, St Paul remarked, “and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.” To have Christ as the cornerstone means that He must be the centre of our lives. He must be the reference point, the focal point of humanity and our history. Clearly, all of us must build our lives in Christ.

The question is, which is the real Christ? There are as many images and thoughts about Christ as there are opinions. Many make Christ fit into their own image and thinking. Christ can be made to fit into any kind of ideology. Some make Christ into a revolutionary. So which is the true Christ that we are called to worship? The danger is that today, instead of worshipping Christ, the world makes Christ conform to their wishful thinking and aspirations.

The true Christ that we worship must therefore be the same Christ that the apostles knew and worshipped. That is why, for our faith to be true, it must be founded on the apostolic faith. This is what we profess when we say that we believe in the apostolic Church. All our doctrines and teachings must be in continuity with the faith of the twelve apostles and the early Church. In the gospel, Jesus clearly chose from among the many disciples, twelve apostles to lead His Church. He “picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became the traitor.” These Twelve apostles formed the apostolic college. The consciousness of the need to preserve the apostolic college is demonstrated by the replacement of Judas after his tragic death with Matthias.

To be faithful to the apostolic Church would therefore require that those who succeed the apostles are properly chosen and consecrated. This continuity with the apostolic authority is maintained through the college of bishops together with the Holy Father. Only those who are validly ordained are given the powers of the apostles to continue to teach authoritatively and to guarantee orthodoxy and fidelity to the deposit of faith. All bishops who are successors of the apostles continue to teach and exercise the office of safeguarding the faith of the apostles. The Church is called to transmit the deposit of faith that she received from the apostles. What we believe must be in continuity with the faith of the apostles that has been passed down to the Church over the last 2000 years. Hence, the importance of apostolic succession in ensuring the unity of faith, without which there can only be division among churches.

But it is not just apostolic succession alone. It requires that every bishop act in union with the apostolic college, with the Pope as its head. In the gospel, Jesus did not choose simply the apostles but the Twelve with Peter as the head of the Twelve. The Holy Father as the Head of the college of Bishops continues to teach authoritatively the doctrines of the Church. In the light of new developments, changing circumstances, new sciences and technological knowledge, the Church is tasked to respond to the signs of the time. This is where the college of bishops, together with the Holy Father, in consultation with the whole Church, continues to discern the movements of the Spirit. Of course, this presupposes our union with Christ in prayer. It calls for discernment and prayer. When the Church calls for a Synod, it is an exercise of collegiality of the bishops in union with the Holy Father.

Indeed, because our mission is communion, for this mission to bear fruit it must be accomplished in communion with the bishop who in turn must be in communion with the apostolic college so that our faith is the same faith handed on to us by the apostles. We cannot say we love Christ but we do not belong to the Church, because the Church is Christ. To love Christ without the Church is an illusion since the Church is His body. As individuals, we are not the Church. Those who claim that they believe in Christ and love Christ but without being aligned with the Church of Christ, worships the Christ that they have formed in their mind, not the Christ of faith as transmitted by the apostolic Church.

To believe in the apostolic Church also entails that all of us share the responsibility of the apostles in being ambassadors of Christ. An apostle is one who is sent out to proclaim the Good News. We, who belong to the Apostolic Church too, must continue the work of the apostles to spread the Good News. We are called to proclaim the Good News as taught by our Lord and received from Him through the apostles and the bishops, the successors of the apostolic college founded by Christ. Every Christian must fulfil the command of our Lord when He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Mt 28:19f)

But we do not do this by our own strength but in the power of the Holy Spirit. In the gospel, Jesus Himself spent the whole night in prayer and when He came down, “a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them all.” When we celebrate the feasts of Simon and Jude, we are reminded that we are insignificant people like them, with no status and position. But instead of feeling hopeless, we can turn to the Lord in prayer, for it is the Lord who chooses us, just as He qualified His apostles to do His work. It is not that we are worthy to be His apostles and disciples, but He empowers us and works in and through us.

In the final analysis, what brings us together in love, worship and mission is prayer and fellowship. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5) As Church, we must work in union with each other. Hence, we must assert the importance of communal prayer, discernment and dialogue in any organization for unity of mission. Unless we are united, everything we do will be destroyed. We need to protect the family unity. We need to be alert to those who sow seeds of division. Are we supportive of each other and take care of each other’s interests?

There is a tone of sadness at the end of the gospel when the evangelist noted that “Judas who became the traitor.” Will that be said of us? Are we traitors to our organization? Are we protective of each other and of the Church at large? Do we destroy our own organization by bad mouthing each other? The greatest enemy is from within, not from without. It took one Judas to kill Jesus. Do you want the devil to make you another Judas to destroy the cause and good name of the family of God? So let us keep ourselves united in love through prayer and union with our leaders, looking after each other as members of the household of God.

Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.

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