20231005 PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL IN WORD AND IN DEEDS
05 October 2023, Thursday, 26th Week in Ordinary Time
First reading | Nehemiah 8:1-12 © |
All the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law
When the seventh month came, all the people gathered as one man on the square before the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses which the Lord had prescribed for Israel. Accordingly Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, consisting of men, women, and children old enough to understand. This was the first day of the seventh month. On the square before the Water Gate, in the presence of the men and women, and children old enough to understand, he read from the book from early morning till noon; all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden dais erected for the purpose. In full view of all the people – since he stood higher than all the people – Ezra opened the book; and when he opened it all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people raised their hands and answered, ‘Amen! Amen!’ Then they bowed down and, face to the ground, prostrated themselves before the Lord. And Ezra read from the Law of God, translating and giving the sense, so that the people understood what was read.
Then Nehemiah – His Excellency – and Ezra, priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people, said to all the people, ‘This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not be mournful, do not weep.’ For the people were all in tears as they listened to the words of the Law.
He then said, ‘Go, eat the fat, drink the sweet wine, and send a portion to the man who has nothing prepared ready. For this day is sacred to our Lord. Do not be sad: the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.’ And the Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be at ease; this is a sacred day. Do not be sad.’ And all the people went off to eat and drink and give shares away and begin to enjoy themselves since they had understood the meaning of what had been proclaimed to them.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 18(19):8-11 © |
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.
They are more to be desired than gold,
than the purest of gold
and sweeter are they than honey,
than honey from the comb.
The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart.
Gospel Acclamation | Mt4:4 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Alleluia!
Or: | Mk1:15 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
The kingdom of God is close at hand:
repent and believe the Good News.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 10:1-12 © |
Your peace will rest on that man
The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not make you welcome, go out into its streets and say, “We wipe off the very dust of your town that clings to our feet, and leave it with you. Yet be sure of this: the kingdom of God is very near.” I tell you, on that day it will not go as hard with Sodom as with that town.’
PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL IN WORD AND IN DEEDS
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [NEHEMIAH 8:1-12; LK 10:1-12]
“The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit.” Like the disciples, we are all called to prepare the way for the Lord to enter into the lives of people, be they Catholic or otherwise. Indeed, our task is to lead them into an encounter with the Lord. The work of evangelization is to offer them the Good News, which is Jesus Christ Himself. Only by encountering the Lord personally, can they be converted and follow Him in the way of love and service.
How then can we prepare the way for the Lord to enter into their lives? Firstly, we are called to be messengers of peace and love. “Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you.” Many are looking for peace in their lives. Many are confused and burdened by sin and by their worldly pursuits of life. They live in deep insecurity and are blinded by their fears, which lead them to act selfishly towards others whom they see as their competitors. As a result, they have many enemies in their lives. Of course, they themselves are their worst enemies because of the lack of authentic self-love, direction, purpose and meaning in life. To such people, we are called to offer the Good News of peace and joy. This was the message of the angels to the Shepherds when they said, “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!'” (Lk 2:10-14)
Secondly, to find peace, they need to hear the Word of God. The psalmist praises the beauty of the Law when he said, “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. The decrees of the Lord are truth and all of them just. They are more to be desired than gold, than the purest of gold and sweeter are they than honey, than honey from the comb.” This was what Ezra the Scribe did for the people of Israel. “On the square before the Water Gate, in the presence of the men and women and children old enough to understand, he read from the book from early morning till noon; all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.” And we also read that when “Ezra opened the book; and when he opened it all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people raised their hands and answered, ‘Amen! Amen!’; then they bowed down and, face to the ground, prostrated themselves before the Lord.” This was the great reverence for the Word of God. Unless we have that same conviction, the Word of God has no effect on us. This is what St Paul wrote, “We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.” (1 Th 2:13)
Thirdly, the Word of God needs explanation and exposition. Indeed, the homily at Mass is part of the Word of God. It is a living interpretation of the Word of God for us today. This is the task of the preacher of the gospel. “The Levites explained the Law to the people while the people remained standing. And Ezra read from the Law of God, translating and giving the sense, so that the people understood what was read.” For the Word of God to be alive, it requires that we apply the principles of the Word of God to our daily lives. Reading the Word of God is not simply for information but for our formation in the truth of the gospel so that we can walk the way of the Lord. God uses His word to sanctify us, to protect us and to build us up. “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16f)
Indeed, hearing the Word of God that is preached with conviction, with depth and understanding brings about conversion of the heart. This is what we read “Then Nehemiah – His Excellency – and Ezra, priest and scribe (and the Levites who were instructing the people) said to all the people, ‘This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not be mournful, do not weep.’ For the people were all in tears as they listened to the words of the Law.” As preachers and teachers and evangelizers of the gospel, if our words do not strike the hearts of our listeners, it is because we lack the Holy Spirit to read the inner spirit of the Word of God which we read. We must preach and teach in the power of the Holy Spirit as St Paul did. He wrote, “When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.” (1 Cor 2:1-5)
Fourthly, the ultimate purpose of hearing the Word of God is the transformation of the person and not just enlightening the person with great insights and beautiful words of inspiration. As St James warns us, “But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act – they will be blessed in their doing.” (Jms 1:1-5) This was not what the Israelites did. They did not keep the joy to themselves. On the contrary, they were instructed to share their joy with others by sharing their food with those who had nothing. “‘Go, eat the fat, drink the sweet wine, and send a portion to the man who has nothing prepared ready. For this day is sacred to our Lord. Do not be sad.’ And all the people went off to eat and drink and give shares away and begin to enjoy themselves since they had understood the meaning of what had been proclaimed to them.”
Indeed, in the final analysis, the proclamation of the gospel is not merely by words but by deeds. The latter speaks more powerfully than the former. It is for this reason that the disciples were asked to proclaim the gospel, not so much by their words but by their deeds. Jesus instructed them, “Stay in the house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you.” By their simplicity and unconditional love and acceptance of people whom they visit, they are called to show them God’s acceptance of their graciousness, regardless what food they could offer. This is important so that no one would feel unworthy to receive the Good News of salvation
Then Jesus said, “Cure those in it who are sick, and say, ‘The kingdom of God is very near to you.'” It is not enough to proclaim the Good News with mere words of encouragement and hope. But we need to testify to this hope here and now by healing the sick and bringing the kingdom near to them. For this reason, in the early Church, the proclamation of the Good News was always accompanied by deeds. “And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mk 16:17f) Unless we demonstrate our words by works of charity, compassion and healing, people will not be able to encounter the love of God in a real and personal way.
But we cannot preach and teach with conviction, or find the power to demonstrate His love in action unless we are in touch with the Lord and are totally dependent on Him. That is why Jesus told the disciples, “Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals.” We cannot rely on our own strength but on Him. Unless preachers understand and experience the power of God helping them in their lives, they cannot preach the Word with conviction. So the evangelical counsels of poverty, obedience and celibacy are to make us rely totally on His grace, will and His love. So long as we can depend on ourselves, we will hinder God from working in and through us. That is why before preachers can preach the Word, they need to spend time in prayer, meditation on the Word of God daily. If preachers are not ready to make time to converse with the Lord in prayer and set aside time to reflect on the Word of God, His Word will have no effect in our lives. A true preacher of the gospel must depend on Christ alone who gives us His Holy Spirit to announce Him to the world.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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