20240504 DISCERNING HEART
04 May 2024, Saturday, 5th Week of Eastertide
First reading | Acts 16:1-10 © |
'Come across to Macedonia and help us'
From Cilicia Paul went to Derbe, and then on to Lystra. Here there was a disciple called Timothy, whose mother was a Jewess who had become a believer; but his father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of Timothy, and Paul, who wanted to have him as a travelling companion, had him circumcised. This was on account of the Jews in the locality where everyone knew his father was a Greek.
As they visited one town after another, they passed on the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, with instructions to respect them.
So the churches grew strong in the faith, as well as growing daily in numbers.
They travelled through Phrygia and the Galatian country, having been told by the Holy Spirit not to preach the word in Asia. When they reached the frontier of Mysia they thought to cross it into Bithynia, but as the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them, they went through Mysia and came down to Troas.
One night Paul had a vision: a Macedonian appeared and appealed to him in these words, ‘Come across to Macedonia and help us.’ Once he had seen this vision we lost no time in arranging a passage to Macedonia, convinced that God had called us to bring them the Good News.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 99(100):1-3,5 © |
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
or
Alleluia!
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy.
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
or
Alleluia!
Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us, we belong to him,
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
or
Alleluia!
Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age.
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel Acclamation |
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Lord, who hung for us upon the tree,
has risen from the tomb.
Alleluia!
Or: | Col3:1 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ,
you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is,
sitting at God’s right hand.
Alleluia!
Gospel | John 15:18-21 © |
The world hated me before it hated you
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘If the world hates you,
remember that it hated me before you.
If you belonged to the world,
the world would love you as its own;
but because you do not belong to the world,
because my choice withdrew you from the world,
therefore the world hates you.
Remember the words I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master.
If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too;
if they kept my word, they will keep yours as well.
But it will be on my account that they will do all this,
because they do not know the one who sent me.’
DISCERNING HEART
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ACTS 16:1-10; PS 100:1-3,5; JOHN 15:18-21]
Being a Christian is to follow Christ, which means to take up our cross daily and follow after Him. Jesus told His disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?” (Mt 16:24-26) This is the message of today’s scripture readings. As St Paul told the Christians on the way back to Antioch, “It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22) In today’s gospel, Jesus warned His disciples, “if they persecuted me, they will persecute you too.” Indeed, we will face trials, opposition and persecution from within and from without.
From without, we have to contend with the world. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you do not belong to the world, because my choice withdrew you from the world, therefore the world hates you.” We have been chosen by Christ to be in His kingdom and Jesus made it clear, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” (Jn 18:36) As Christians, we do not belong to this world, not in the sense that creation is not important to us or that we cannot enjoy the blessings of creation. The world in this sense means the worldly values and individualistic and materialistic trends of society. This is why the world hates us because we are not one with the worldly values of society, such as living promiscuous lives, advocating a culture of death of the vulnerable and the elderly, waging war and extermination of our enemies, living only for this world and its pleasures, promoting a licentious form of freedom that does not respect the freedom of others.
Secondly, we expose the evils of this world. Jesus asked us to be the light and salt of the earth. (Mt 5:14-16) This calls for denunciation of the sensual and self-centred lifestyle of this generation. Of course, prophets are not welcome in the world. Evil and self-centered people do not wish to be told that they are doing things that are destroying the rest of humanity. When we speak out for justice among nations, for the poor and the marginalized, integrity of life, protection of the family and marriages, safeguarding the innocent and vulnerable, we can expect to be attacked and opposed. When we live a righteous life, our ethical lifestyle, our attitudes towards work and sexual morality will be a stark reprimand to those whose lifestyle is contrary to ours. When we live in the light, darkness and evil will be exposed.
Thirdly, we will face opposition because we are associated with Jesus. This is what the Lord said. “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they kept my word, they will keep yours as well. But it will be on my account that they will do all this, because they do not know the one who sent me.” People find Christ a threat to their status quo. It was so during the time of Jesus, and it is still the case today. Being identified with Jesus brings opposition. We are often misunderstood, as if we are taking away peoples’ freedom by asking them to submit to the Word of God and the teachings of Christ. Sometimes, Christianity is seen as a joy killer, guilt-tripping the hearts of people. On the contrary, Christ has come to give us life abundantly. (Jn 10:10) He comes to give us true freedom (Jn 8:31f), a joy that is complete, (Jn 15:11) and a peace that the world cannot give. (Jn 14:27)
From within, we also have to face opposition from our fellow Catholics and Christians. There is disagreement in doctrines, especially moral doctrines, in the observance of the laws of the Church, especially liturgical laws. There is disagreement on the way we do things, the way we worship, the way the Church is being managed. We have complaints all the time and dissatisfaction from the community. Within the Church, there is division in opinions and in the way we do things. There is also jealousy from others who envy our position and rank in the Church. Gossip, slander, competition, power-play for honoUr and glory. These are the spiritual worldliness that Pope Francis warns us about.
This was the case of St Paul in his apostolic mission as well. He was facing opposition from within and without. But what is significant is that Paul had a discerning heart. He was reflective and docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. He did not insist on his ways but at the same time, he held on to his principles. With respect to non-essentials and sensitivity to others, he was attentive.
Firstly, he was struggling with the Jewish Christians when they sought to impose the Jewish ceremonial rituals and laws on the Gentile Converts. They wanted the Gentile Christians to adopt Judaism over and above faith in Christ. Salvation, instead of being given by grace, became a merit that could be earned through a meticulous observance of the laws. The matter became so divisive that it almost divided the Church. But Paul remained firm on his principle that salvation is through faith in Christ and by the grace of God and not through the observance of the laws. So when the matter was dealt with by the Council of the apostles and elders in Jerusalem affirming this principle, Paul, in today’s first reading, was willing to compromise by asking Timothy to be circumcised because he had a Greek Father. Paul was not inconsistent in his principle, as this was already spelt out clearly. But he compromised because with Timothy circumcised, it would make their apostolic mission easier and more receptive to the Jewish Christians; not that it was necessary but it was expedient.
Secondly, Paul also had to deal with a leadership tussle between himself and Barnabas. In Acts 13:13, the leadership changed from Barnabas to Paul. This could have caused some unhappiness among the supporters of Barnabas. Perhaps, this could have caused Barnabas’ cousin, John Mark, to drop out of the missionary trip, or it could have been due to the hardship of the rough terrain, or he could have missed home. Regardless, because of that, when Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, “Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and set out, the believers commending him to the grace of the Lord.” (Acts 15:37-41) Again, on hindsight, we see the grace of God at work in this separation because the Word of God was able to spread further with two groups of missionaries, one led by Barnabas with John Mark supporting Peter, and the other, Paul supported by Silas and then Timothy. Eventually, by God’s grace, Paul was reconciled with Barnabas (cf 1 Cor 9:6) and Mark (2 Tim 4:11).
Then when Paul wanted to enter Asia to spread the Word of God, the Holy Spirit told him not to preach the word in Asia. “When they reached the frontier of Mysia they thought to cross it into Bithynia, but as the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them, they went through Mysia and came down to Troas.” There were obstacles to his plans, but Paul was receptive and did not force his plans on God. He waited and God gave him another mission in Macedonia. “One night Paul had a vision: a Macedonian appeared and appealed to him in these words, ‘Come across to Macedonia and help us’. Once he had seen this vision we lost no time in arranging a passage to Macedonia, convinced that God had called us to bring them the Good News.” God works all things for our good when we cooperate with His grace.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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