Scripture Reflection and Prayer : Journeying together: September 2024

Monday, 30 September 2024

SELF-IMPORTANCE

20240930 SELF-IMPORTANCE

First reading

Job 1:6-22

The Lord gave, the Lord has taken back: blessed be the name of the Lord

One day the Sons of God came to attend on the Lord, and among them was Satan. So the Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you been?’ ‘Round the earth,’ he answered ‘roaming about.’ So the Lord asked him, ‘Did you notice my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth: a sound and honest man who fears God and shuns evil.’ ‘Yes,’ Satan said ‘but Job is not God-fearing for nothing, is he? Have you not put a wall round him and his house and all his domain? You have blessed all he undertakes, and his flocks throng the countryside. But stretch out your hand and lay a finger on his possessions: I warrant you, he will curse you to your face.’ ‘Very well,’ the Lord said to Satan ‘all he has is in your power. But keep your hands off his person.’ So Satan left the presence of the Lord.

On the day when Job’s sons and daughters were at their meal and drinking wine at their eldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job. ‘Your oxen’ he said ‘were at the plough, with the donkeys grazing at their side, when the Sabaeans swept down on them and carried them off. Your servants they put to the sword: I alone escaped to tell you.’ He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. ‘The fire of God’ he said ‘has fallen from the heavens and burnt up all your sheep, and your shepherds too: I alone escaped to tell you.’ He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. ‘The Chaldaeans,’ he said ‘three bands of them, have raided your camels and made off with them. Your servants they put to the sword: I alone escaped to tell you.’ He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. ‘Your sons and daughters’ he said ‘were at their meal and drinking wine at their eldest brother’s house, when suddenly from the wilderness a gale sprang up, and it battered all four corners of the house which fell in on the young people. They are dead: I alone escaped to tell you.’

Job rose and tore his gown and shaved his head. Then falling to the ground he worshipped and said:

‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb,

naked I shall return.

The Lord gave, the Lord has taken back.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!’

In all this misfortune Job committed no sin nor offered any insult to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 16(17):1-3,6-7

Turn your ear to me, O Lord; hear my words.

Lord, hear a cause that is just,

pay heed to my cry.

Turn your ear to my prayer:

no deceit is on my lips.

Turn your ear to me, O Lord; hear my words.

From you may my judgement come forth.

Your eyes discern the truth.

You search my heart, you visit me by night.

You test me and you find in me no wrong.

Turn your ear to me, O Lord; hear my words.

I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God.

Turn your ear to me; hear my words.

Display your great love, you whose right hand saves

your friends from those who rebel against them.

Turn your ear to me, O Lord; hear my words.

Gospel Acclamation

Jn14:6

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord;

No one can come to the Father except through me.

Alleluia!

Or:

Mk10:45

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Son of Man came to serve

and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 9:46-50

The least among you all is the greatest

An argument started between the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus knew what thoughts were going through their minds, and he took a little child and set him by his side and then said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For the least among you all, that is the one who is great.’

John spoke up. ‘Master,’ he said ‘we saw a man casting out devils in your name, and because he is not with us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘You must not stop him: anyone who is not against you is for you.’

30 September 2024, Monday, 26th Week in Ordinary Time

SELF-IMPORTANCE

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [JOB 1:6-22; PS 17:1-3,6-7; LUKE 9:46-50]

In the gospel, we read about the incident when the disciples were arguing among themselves as to who was the greatest. This could have been brought about by earlier incidents that could have sparked off jealousy among themselves. Before this event, Jesus brought Peter, James and John up the mountain to pray. And He was transfigured before them. Immediately upon coming down from the mountain, some of the disciples were called upon to deliver a boy from a demon but they could not do it. It was in this context that they started to compare among themselves as to who was the greatest among them.

Indeed, this is the case for us too, when our peers or our friends are doing better than us in life. This happens not just at the workplace and in schools but even in service in the Christian community. We all want to feel more important than others. We want attention and recognition. We are conscious of the office we hold, with its accompanying titles and status. We want to feel great and powerful. Even in the world today, staff are given inflated titles such as managers and directors. Otherwise, they might not be taken seriously by the public or those they deal with. We think that just because they hold the title, they are empowered to make decisions and are thus influential people in their company. So we can appreciate why the disciples were concerned about their ranking.

Not only are we conscious of titles and positions, we also like to show off our rank and power. John said to our Lord, “Master, we saw a man casting out devils in your name, and because he is not with us we tried to stop him.” Jesus replied, “You must not stop him, anyone who is not against you is for you.” John, one of the three belonging to the inner circle, had an air of self-importance. He was not happy that someone was casting out devils and using the authority given to the Twelve. In truth, as we saw earlier, they could not even cast out the devil from the boy, yet they envied someone else who was not one of them doing a good job. So he felt the need to stop him to reaffirm his own importance.

Again, sometimes we try to stop others from doing what we are doing even in the church. We seek to protect our turf. We are weary of others intruding into our area of responsibility. No one should be doing what we are doing except us! We do not want competition and we do not allow others to share our limelight. We must be the only ones who can do the Christmas crib every year, carry the statues for processions, lead the devotional prayers, serve or assist at Mass, especially important liturgical services. How often have we had ministry members fight for honour, position and recognition when it comes to service? At times, it is not that we are not doing a good job, but because others do better than us, we feel threatened that they might make us redundant.

Indeed, it is not about serving God and the community. It is about our prestige, position and power. When these become our motives, then we are no longer serving God or serving our fellowmen but ourselves. Jesus made it clear that it does not matter who is doing the work so long as the person is doing something good and noble. He does not have to officially be a member of the group. Why should we stop someone who likes to offer his services to God and his fellowmen? Why should we be jealous that others are doing what we are doing? The harvest is plentiful and the labourers are few. We will never have enough good people serving our community, society and the world. So instead of begrudging them for coming on board because they do not belong to our group, we should be happy that others are also contributing to our effort. Indeed, if we see people from other religions doing good or even without faith affiliation serving the poor, we should be happy and give glory to God for them since all gifts come from the same Holy Spirit.

Today, the gospel underscores the truth that the values of God are not that of the world’s. The way God values us is different from how the world values us. To illustrate the point, Jesus “took a little child and set him by his side and then said to them, “Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For the least among you all, that is the one who is great.” A child was considered insignificant in the eyes of the world in those days. They were to be seen but not heard. Quite often at church meetings, no one takes a child’s opinion seriously. We only listen to adults. That is why the number of youths involved in church activities is so few compared to the adults. This is simply because they feel that their opinions are not taken seriously by the adults running the church and the ministries. They feel stifled by the older community. Their initiatives are often given a negative reception.

But Jesus thinks differently. His view is that we are all important in our own ways. The dignity of a child is no less than that of an adult. Every one of us is equal before the eyes of God. He sees our importance, not because of the position we hold or what we can do for others. We are important because we are created in the image of God. We must be careful that we do not fall into the mind-set of the world which measures a person by his usefulness to the community. Some are calling for euthanasia for those who are elderly or those mentally and physically challenged because they are unproductive. The world only values us if we are of value to them.

God does not measure us in terms of how productive we are but how we live out our status as the sons and daughters of God. Each of us when serving must always remember that it is God we serve, not man. This is what St Paul wrote, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ.” (Col 3:22-24) We should not be seeking to please men. So long as God is pleased with us, we should be contented. We must remember what the Lord reminded us, “when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” (Mt 6:3) When we try to please men, we will always be insecure because there will be as many people who are happy with our services and as many who have a barrage of criticisms for whatever we do. If we pay heed to them we will be more insecure than ever, and we will even feel angry and resentful of those who do not appreciate our services.

This attitude of receiving our reward from God should keep us from seeking rewards and honour from man. We are not inferior to anyone. In God’s eyes, we are as important to Him as anyone else. God has no favourites. If He has given us a position, it is for our good and the good of others. If we are appointed to an office, it is not about ourselves, about our self-importance or power. It is primarily for service. When the day comes when someone can do the work better than us, we should quickly step aside so that we do not hinder the building of God’s kingdom. So if we are feeling insecure and inferior and start comparing ourselves with others, let us remember that we are God’s children. Jesus does not look at a man’s rank or status.

Today, we are called to learn from Job. He was faithful to God in good times and in bad. When he was blessed with riches, wealth, health and children, he used them well for the good of his family and the community. This was why the Lord said, “There is no one like him on the earth: a sound and honest man who fears God and shuns evil.” But Satan argued that if not for the blessings he received, he would not fear God or do good. So when God allowed Satan to test him by stripping him of all the material blessings, Job did not resent God. He took everything in stride and falling to the ground he worshipped God saying “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I shall return. The Lord gave, the Lord has taken back. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” We read, “In all this misfortune Job committed no sin nor offered any insult to God.” So too, we must trust in His wisdom alone.

Saturday, 28 September 2024

BEING INCLUSIVE BY EMPOWERING OTHERS

20240929 BEING INCLUSIVE BY EMPOWERING OTHERS

First reading

Numbers 11:25-29

If only the whole people of the Lord were prophets!

The Lord came down in the Cloud. He spoke with Moses, but took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the spirit came on them they prophesied, but not again.

Two men had stayed back in the camp; one was called Eldad and the other Medad. The spirit came down on them; though they had not gone to the Tent, their names were enrolled among the rest. These began to prophesy in the camp. The young man ran to tell this to Moses, ‘Look,’ he said, ‘Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.’ Then said Joshua the son of Nun, who had served Moses from his youth, ‘My Lord Moses, stop them!’ Moses answered him, ‘Are you jealous on my account? If only the whole people of the Lord were prophets, and the Lord gave his Spirit to them all!’

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 18(19):8,10,12-14

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 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.

So in them your servant finds instruction;

great reward is in their keeping.

But who can detect all his errors?

From hidden faults acquit me.

The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart.

From presumption restrain your servant

and let it not rule me.

Then shall I be blameless,

clean from grave sin.

The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart.

Second reading

James 5:1-6

The Lord hears the cries of those you have cheated

An answer for the rich. Start crying, weep for the miseries that are coming to you. Your wealth is all rotting, your clothes are all eaten up by moths. All your gold and your silver are corroding away, and the same corrosion will be your own sentence, and eat into your body. It was a burning fire that you stored up as your treasure for the last days. Labourers mowed your fields, and you cheated them – listen to the wages that you kept back, calling out; realise that the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. On earth you have had a life of comfort and luxury; in the time of slaughter you went on eating to your heart’s content. It was you who condemned the innocent and killed them; they offered you no resistance.

Gospel Acclamation

Jn17:17

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your word is truth, O Lord:

consecrate us in the truth.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Mark 9:38-43,45,47-48

Do not stop anyone from working a miracle in my name

John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.

‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.

‘But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out.’

BEING INCLUSIVE BY EMPOWERING OTHERS

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [NUMBERS 11:25-29; PS 19:8,10,12-14; JAMES 5:1-6; MARK 9:38-48]

Parochial-mindedness is practiced not just in the corporate world but also in our parishes and church organizations. This has to do with human nature, which tends to be insecure and respond to threats to our self-interests. Indeed, whether as individuals or as an organization, we seek to protect our own turf, our authority, our sphere of influence and our popularity. When someone or another organization is doing well, we feel not just challenged but threatened because our existence is at stake. This results in us taking actions that seek to delimit the influence of our perceived competitors.

The scripture readings today warn us against adopting a narrow-minded attitude towards those who are also doing good, but in waysnot necessarily in accord with the paths we advocate to advance the kingdom of God. Before we try to dismiss them or thwart their initiatives, we must assume the bigger picture and be honest in our motives to exclude others who seek to build the Kingdom of God according to how the Lord is calling them. We must search ourselves to ensure that we are not driven by fear, by jealousy and insecurity. This was the case of the two men who stayed back in the camp when the Holy Spirit came down on the seventy elders. Not only did the 70 men prophesied, but so, too, the two men in the camp. So a young man reported to Moses that they were prophesying in the camp. “Then said Joshua the son of Nun, who had served Moses from his youth, ‘My Lord Moses, stop them!’ Moses answered him, ‘Are you jealous on my account? If only the whole people of the Lord were prophets, and the Lord gave his Spirit to them all!'”

Indeed, Moses did not feel threatened just because they received the Spirit of prophecy even though they were not among those chosen by him. What was important to Moses was that they too received the gift. If the Lord had blessed them with prophecy, Moses saw it as something good. He did not see them as a threat to his position or his work. So long as their gift had been given to them by the Lord and they used it for the building of His kingdom, Moses would not do anything to prevent them from exercising the gift. Such inclusivity of Moses showed the magnanimity of his leadership and most of all, his focus on strengthening the people. He did not feel that they were a threat to his power or position, as was the case of Aaron and Miriam who spoke ill of Moses and were reprimanded by the Lord. Moses was not motivated by the desire to be in office, or for power and leadership. In fact, he was a reluctant leader who took up the leadership of Israel only because the Lord asked him to. Otherwise, he would have gladly given up his position. His motive was clear. He was called to leadership to promote not himself but Israel, and to use whatever gifts the Lord had blessed the community with for the good of all. It was never about himself.

Similarly, in today’s gospel, the apostles too felt threatened in their position. The apostle, John complained to our Lord, “Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.” This is how some of our church members feel when they hear of healing miracles taking place in other religious communities or Christian denominations. They sarcastically and uncharitably judge them to be empowered by the Evil One. They think that God should work His miracles only in the Catholic Church. This is narrow-mindedness. Again we see how good leaders are open-minded and embracing. Jesus told John, “You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.” Indeed, the person should be tolerated even if he is not within our circle, simply because he is proclaiming and exercising his gifts in the name of our Lord. This is particularly true for those churches outside the Catholic communion and even organizations working for the good of the church and the larger community.

The truth is that anyone who serves Christ directly or indirectly, is blessed by our Father in heaven. Jesus said, “If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.” In the Parable of the Last Judgment, the Lord said, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Mt 25:40) In both instances, the Lord identified Himself with the sick, the poor and the suffering, and especially with His disciples – anyone who serves and helps them is also serving the Lord.

In the second reading the Lord warns those who are inward-looking and only care for themselves and their organization. St James reprimanded the rich and powerful because of the injustices they practiced towards their workers and the poor. They were oblivious to the sufferings of their fellowmen. He wrote, “Labourers mowed your fields, and you cheated them – listen to the wages that you kept back, calling out; realise that the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. On earth you have had a life of comfort and luxury; in the time of slaughter you went on eating to your heart’s content. It was you who condemned the innocent and killed them; they offered you no resistance.” Indeed, our wealth and power cannot protect us and we cannot find life through them. St James warns us, “Now an answer for the rich. Start crying, weep for the miseries that are coming to you. Your wealth is all rotting, your clothes are all eaten up by moths. All your gold and your silver are corroding away, and the same corrosion will be your own sentence, and eat into your body. It was a burning fire that you stored up as your treasure for the last days.”

This is why we need to be more welcoming and embracing of everyone. We might not all agree on everything about Christ. But we need to work with those who have something in common with us. Our task is to build a community of love whereby everyone lives under the rule of God, living in mutual respect and caring for each other. We might not belong to the same organization or even the same religion or community. But we are all members of the family of God since God is the Father of us all. We are called to promote the common welfare of all regardless of race and religion. We are called to acknowledge what is good and noble in other communities and religions. Whatever is good should be cherished and encouraged. We must be ready to share our faith in a respectful way and work together with others, not just with church organizations for the common good.

This does not mean we should compromise our faith and values. We have the Word of God to guide us, as the responsorial psalm says, “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 fear of the Lord is holy, abiding for ever. The decrees of the Lord are truth and all of them just. So in them your servant finds instruction; great reward is in their keeping. But who can detect all his errors? From hidden faults acquit me.” We who have received the gift of faith in our Lord should follow His way in reaching out to those who do not know Him and to work with those who share the universal values of the kingdom.

Consequently, we must first begin from within the Church. It is important to remember that we are all sons and daughters of Christ. We are called to safeguard each other’s interests. We must not be obstacles to the growth and faith of others as the Lord warns us. “Anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck.” Our task is to empower each other and help each other to enter the Kingdom of God. We must work together for the common good. We must also seek to protect each other from being led to sin and to self-destruction. The Lord exhorts us to do everything possible for our salvation and that of others. He said that if our hand or foot or eye should cause us to sin, then it is better to do with one less than to lose both. So let us place ourselves last for the greater good of others. Let us give ourselves humbly in service to all and include everyone in our outreach so that the Good News is welcomed and received by all. We must find courage and magnanimity to welcome the gifts that God has blessed us all in different ways but always for the good of everyone.

PREPARING FOR OLD AGE

20240928 PREPARING FOR OLD AGE

First reading

Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8

Remember your creator in the days of your youth

Rejoice in your youth, you who are young;

let your heart give you joy in your young days.

Follow the promptings of your heart

and the desires of your eyes.

But this you must know: for all these things God will bring you to judgement.

Cast worry from your heart,

shield your flesh from pain.

Yet youth, the age of dark hair, is vanity. And remember your creator in the days of your youth, before evil days come and the years approach when you say, ‘These give me no pleasure’, before sun and light and moon and stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;

the day when those who keep the house tremble

and strong men are bowed;

when the women grind no longer at the mill,

because day is darkening at the windows

and the street doors are shut;

when the sound of the mill is faint,

when the voice of the bird is silenced,

and song notes are stilled,

when to go uphill is an ordeal

and a walk is something to dread.

Yet the almond tree is in flower,

the grasshopper is heavy with food

and the caper bush bears its fruit,

while man goes to his everlasting home. And the mourners are already walking to and fro in the street

before the silver cord has snapped,

or the golden lamp been broken,

or the pitcher shattered at the spring,

or the pulley cracked at the well,

or before the dust returns to the earth as it once came from it, and the breath to God who gave it.

Vanity of vanities, the Preacher says. All is vanity.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 89(90):3-6,12-14,17

O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.

You turn men back to dust

and say: ‘Go back, sons of men.’

To your eyes a thousand years

are like yesterday, come and gone,

no more than a watch in the night.

O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.

You sweep men away like a dream,

like the grass which springs up in the morning.

In the morning it springs up and flowers:

by evening it withers and fades.

O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.

Make us know the shortness of our life

that we may gain wisdom of heart.

Lord, relent! Is your anger for ever?

Show pity to your servants.

O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.

In the morning, fill us with your love;

we shall exult and rejoice all our days.

Let the favour of the Lord be upon us:

give success to the work of our hands.

O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Ac16:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

Open our heart, O Lord,

to accept the words of your Son.

Alleluia!

Or:

cf.2Tim1:10

Alleluia, alleluia!

Our Saviour Jesus Christ abolished death

and he has proclaimed life through the Good News.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 9:43-45

They were afraid to ask him what he meant

At a time when everyone was full of admiration for all he did, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘For your part, you must have these words constantly in your mind: “The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men.”’ But they did not understand him when he said this; it was hidden from them so that they should not see the meaning of it, and they were afraid to ask him about what he had just said.

28 September 2024, Saturday, 25th Week in Ordinary Time

PREPARING FOR OLD AGE

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ECCLESIASTES 11:9-12:8; LUKE 9:43-45]

When is the best time to prepare for old age? From the day we were born! The old man of tomorrow will be determined very much by the young man of today. What we do now, the values we imbibe, the lifestyle we live, the relationships we form will determine what kind of person we will be when we grow old. This is why it is important for us to prepare for our exit gracefully. Are we prepared for old age? Most of us only think of preparing ourselves financially – ensuring that we can afford our medical expenses, have a roof over our heads, being able to look after ourselves, especially when our mobility is impaired and we need a caregiver, or resign ourselves to stay in a nursing home. Such provisions are well and good, but more importantly, we need to prepare our emotional, mental and spiritual state of mind; not just our physical needs. Will we be able to live our life gracefully, contributing our talents, time, resources and wisdom to the next generation? What kind of legacy do we want to leave behind?

The gospel tells us how Jesus not only prepared Himself, but His apostles to meet His end. He did not want them to be scandalized by what would happen, or to lose hope when His passion took place. He knew that they would be carried away by success, glory and popularity, especially when they are sent out on mission to do what Jesus did, “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.” (Mt 10:9) Jesus had just performed a case of exorcism when a boy with epilepsy was delivered from an evil spirit. “Everyone was awestruck by the greatness of God.” But instead of being carried away by His fame and popularity, Jesus immediately invited His disciples to prepare for the humiliation and scandal before them. Jesus said to His disciples, “For your part, you must have these words constantly in your mind: The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men.” Jesus was being frank and honest about the mission which His Father gave to Him. It would not be accomplished in terms of worldly wisdom, success, power and glory and victory over His enemies. On the contrary, He would suffer humiliation, persecution, unjust judgment, suffering and death on the cross.

What was the apostles’ reaction? “But they did not understand him when he said this; it was hidden from them so that they should not see the meaning of it, and they were afraid to ask him about what he had just said.” They could not accept what Jesus said and refused to confront the truth of what they heard. They could not believe that their master who worked miracles could be overcome by His enemies. It was something unthinkable because if He could perform miracles and raise the dead back to life, who could ever touch Him? At any rate, still basking in their success and the fame of Jesus in the ministry, they did not want to think about it. That was why even though they could not understand fully the prophecy of our Lord about His death, they were not ready to clarify with Him. They just presumed they had heard wrongly, or that Jesus never meant exactly what He said.

And this is true for us as well who are aging, whether we are still young or getting older chronologically. We are not ready to face death or old age. This is why the psalmist invites us to consider the shortness of our life so that we will be prepared. To know how short our life is should not make us feel depressed but help us to be realistic and learn to live fully now for the future, to prepare ourselves to be that old man and that old woman not many years from now. Indeed, the psalmist was being realistic when he said, “You turn men back to dust and say: ‘Go back, sons of men.’ To your eyes a thousand years are like yesterday, come and gone, no more than a watch in the night. You sweep men away like a dream, like the grass which springs up in the morning. In the morning it springs up and flowers: by evening it withers and fades. Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart. Lord, relent! Is your anger for ever? Show pity to your servants.”

To start preparing for old age, we must begin whilst we are still young. This is what the Preacher in the first reading urges us. He wrote, “Rejoice in your youth, you who are young; let your heart give you joy in your young days. Follow the promptings of your heart and the desires of your eyes.” Firstly, we must cherish our youth. This is a great blessing from God. When we are young, we are able to do many things. We have lots of energy and desire to do many things. We feel empowered when we give ourselves to excitement, ambition, fame, popularity. We like to be active, do things and feel great when we can execute them well. We want to learn. All these are good. It helps us to be truly alive.

Unfortunately, sometimes, youthful days can also be dangerous because the young tend to live recklessly, thinking that no harm will come to them, to their health and to their life. They feel invincible and have no thought or concern and care for their loved ones. They think they are young and have a long life ahead of them. So they drink, smoke, do drugs, engage in immoral activities, steal, cheat and live a flirtatious and lustful life. They just want fun and excitement. They live a carefree life, one without responsibility. The Preacher warned such young people, “But this you must know: for all these things God will bring you to judgement. Cast worry from your heart, shield your flesh from pain.”

We will suffer judgment for the things that we do today. If we do not live a responsible life, we will suffer the outcomes eventually. St Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.” (Gal 6:7-10) Indeed, if we do not study hard, we cannot expect to anchor a good career in the future. If we do not take care of our health, when we get older, then all the sicknesses will start surfacing. If we eat and drink unhealthily, we will suffer all kinds of illnesses. If we do not exercise, our body will lose its strength and at old age, the body will be weak and lose immunity against illnesses. If we live a sinful life, the past will catch up with us. If our heart is full of wickedness and evil, few would want to associate with us. If we are selfish, self-centred, grumpy and nasty, do not expect people to care for us in our old age, not even our relatives. They will all run away from us, for who wants to care for demanding and unreasonable people.

Hence, the Preacher urges young people to be ready for old age by living their life well and responsibly. “Yet youth, the age of dark hair, is vanity. And remember your creator in the days of your youth, before evil days come and the years approach, when you say, ‘These give me no pleasure’, before sun and light and moon and stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; the day when those who keep the house tremble and strong men are bowed … And the mourners are already walking to and fro in the street, or before the dust returns to the earth as it once came from it, and the breath to God who gave it.” Truly, one cannot escape from old age and death. When the time comes, we will not be able to see or hear as clearly, or continue labouring as before. This is why we must cherish our youth whilst we are still young and strong.

When the time comes, let us be gracious as we gradually exit from the hurly burly of life. It does not mean that we wait for death to come. But rather, we must live a quiet life of tranquillity, pondering over the works of creation and especially the divine providence and majesty of our creator. Like the psalmist, we must be thankful to God for all that we have been and all that we are. We must be grateful for whatever help people give to us and with humility recognize our greater dependence on others. If we have formed ourselves in the right virtues, then we will be able to grow old graciously, full of gratitude for all that we have gone through in life, and without regret. We could then be ready to exit when the time comes, because we know the fullness of life awaits us in heaven when we are one with Christ and the Father in the Holy Spirit.

Thursday, 26 September 2024

MEMORY AND MEMORIES

20240926 MEMORY AND MEMORIES

First reading

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11

Nothing is new and all is vanity

Vanity of vanities, the Preacher says. Vanity of vanities. All is vanity! For all his toil, his toil under the sun, what does man gain by it?

A generation goes, a generation comes, yet the earth stands firm for ever. The sun rises, the sun sets; then to its place it speeds and there it rises. Southward goes the wind, then turns to the north; it turns and turns again; back then to its circling goes the wind. Into the sea all the rivers go, and yet the sea is never filled, and still to their goal the rivers go. All things are wearisome. No man can say that eyes have not had enough of seeing, ears their fill of hearing. What was will be again; what has been done will be done again; and there is nothing new under the sun. Take anything of which it may be said, ‘Look now, this is new.’ Already, long before our time, it existed. Only no memory remains of earlier times, just as in times to come next year itself will not be remembered.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 89(90):3-6,12-14,17

O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.

You turn men back to dust

and say: ‘Go back, sons of men.’

To your eyes a thousand years

are like yesterday, come and gone,

no more than a watch in the night.

O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.

You sweep men away like a dream,

like the grass which springs up in the morning.

In the morning it springs up and flowers:

by evening it withers and fades.

O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.

Make us know the shortness of our life

that we may gain wisdom of heart.

Lord, relent! Is your anger for ever?

Show pity to your servants.

O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.

In the morning, fill us with your love;

we shall exult and rejoice all our days.

Let the favour of the Lord be upon us:

give success to the work of our hands.

O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.

Gospel Acclamation

Ps118:18

Alleluia, alleluia!

Open my eyes, O Lord, that I may consider

the wonders of your law.

Alleluia!

Or:

Jn14:6

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord;

No one can come to the Father except through me.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 9:7-9

'John? I beheaded him; so who is this?'

Herod the tetrarch had heard about all that was being done by Jesus; and he was puzzled, because some people were saying that John had risen from the dead, others that Elijah had reappeared, still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. But Herod said, ‘John? I beheaded him. So who is this I hear such reports about?’ And he was anxious to see Jesus.

26 September 2024, Thursday, 25th Week in Ordinary Time

MEMORY AND MEMORIES

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ECCLESIASTES 1:2-11; LUKE 9:7-9]

One of the components of the human mind is the faculty of memory. The memory stores all our memories of past events. We can use our memory for good, as the Preacher did by inviting us to reflect on the cyclical reality of human nature and the way we live, or it can haunt us, especially if these memories spring from a bad conscience, as in the case of King Herod who killed John the Baptist. We should therefore learn from our memory of things and events so that we can grow in life. Indeed, the reason why we keep on making mistakes is because, as Qoheleth says, “Only no memory of remains of earlier times, just as in times to come next year itself will not be remembered.” Why is this so?

We all tend to forget the good that God and our loved ones have done for us. We often take for granted what people have done for us, the sacrifices that they have made, the efforts they have taken to help us, whether in things big or small. Indeed, so short is our memory that deep friendships are broken simply because our friend or loved ones failed us just once. We take to heart that they have disappointed us. We no longer trust them anymore. We cannot let go of their negligence or weakness. Indeed, it is so sad that many years of friendship and intimacy are forgotten over a mistake or a failure in weakness. We expect our friends to be perfect and always be there for us. When they fall short of our expectations of them, we terminate the friendship. In the process, we deprive ourselves of true friendship. We forget that true friendship takes time to build and true friends must go through the thick and thin of the vicissitudes of life to grow in friendship.

On the contrary, when it comes to our own failures, we forget easily. We keep repeating the same mistakes even when we have paid a price for them. We allow our weak human nature to get the better of us by succumbing to indulgence for food, drinks, and unhealthy entertainment. Some of us have caused much suffering not just to ourselves but to others as well due to the mistakes or offences we committed. There are some who never learn their lessons – such as getting addicted to gambling and running up a debt, drinking and reckless driving, eating unhealthily at the expense of their health, watching pornography, not studying and working diligently. Some of our mistakes have caused us and our loved ones to suffer tremendously when they had to bail us out or when they were deprived of their needs. Unfortunately, we never learn. A lazy student does not learn from his failure; a person in debt does not learn from the evils of greed and gambling.

Indeed, when we forget, we will repeat the same mistakes over and over again. The preacher said, “No man can say that eyes have not had enough of seeing, ears their fill of hearing. What was will be again; what has been done will be done again; and there is nothing new under the sun. Take anything of which it may be said, “Look now, this is new.” Already, long before our time, it existed.” We have made our mistakes. We have seen how others made mistakes. We have seen the possible consequences. Every day we read in the news of crimes committed – rape, molest, criminal breach of trust committed even by professionals and influential people and murder. Yet, why is it that we never learn from our mistakes or that of others? If that is the case, why even bother to read the papers at all, if not to learn from the experiences and events of life. This is just indulging in gossip and it does us no good, unless we allow them to jolt our conscience so that we can avoid them. Alas, what we read about others going to jail for their crimes would and could happen to us at some other time. We never learn!

History unfortunately repeats itself. This was the case of King Herod. We are told that he liked to listen to John the Baptist. “Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.” (Mk 6:20) But he did not think deeply or reflected for himself. Instead, he allowed the temptations of the world to distract him. He allowed power, fame, popularity and lust to overcome him. So his whole life was but a repetition of his mistakes and he would end up destroying himself.

The truth about history is that it is meant to be a collection of memories of past events so that we can be inspired by the great and noble things that our forefathers have done, and also their mistakes as well, so that we can learn from them. History is meant to be instructive. When we study history, we read with the keen eye of a student. This is why, objectivity in reading history is important for our growth. A subjective reading of history would only perpetuate our views and thinking, and not allow us to grow and be challenged by the past. Because most history is written from a contextualized and subjective viewpoint, we must read different interpretations of historical events so that we have a more holistic understanding of such events.

We must use history as our teacher of life, of love and of truth so that we never repeat the mistakes in our lives. Indeed, our memory must be put to good use. Storing such memories in our mind will help us to walk in wisdom and love. This is true when we read the scriptures, the Word of God, the life of Christ, the history of the Church, the lives of saints and martyrs. They help us to live our life more purposefully and inspire us to persevere and learn from their examples, good or bad. We must look at history objectively and yet positively, recognizing where we have failed and the lessons we have learnt; or be inspired by the lives of others. History should give us hope for the future so that we can do better. History helps us to understand our humanity and the process of growth and purification.

Otherwise, history cannot be our teacher. It becomes a bad conscience as in the case of King Herod. He was haunted by his past. Instead of history being our teacher, it becomes our guilt. We live in fear of our past. We cannot let go of what happened to us or to our loved ones. We think negatively of all the things that happened in our life. We become sad, bitter and fall into depression. We blame people for the situations in our life. We live in guilt and we punish ourselves again and again. We will only paralyze our present and forfeit our future. Having a bad conscience will not save us unless it comes from good guilt, that is, an awareness that we have done wrong and a desire to repent.

This is why, the Preacher invites us to reflect on the natural cycle of life. He said, “A generation goes, a generation comes, yet the earth stands firm for ever. The sun rises, the sun sets; then to its place it speeds and there it rises. Southward goes the wind, then turns to the north; it turns and turns again; back then to its circling goes the wind. Into the sea all the rivers go, and yet the sea is never filled, and still to their goal the rivers go.” Life is a cycle, but it is not wearisome as he said. But for us, Christians, our destiny is not cyclic but linear. We are moving in Christ towards the eschaton, towards heaven. We are exactly like the rest of nature, rising and dying, dying and rising. Rather, our Christian faith shows that amidst the rising and dying; the dying and rising, we are moving towards the fulfilment of our being.

Life is short. The psalmist said, “O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next. To your eyes a thousand years are like yesterday, come and gone, no more than a watch in the night. You sweep men away like a dream, like the grass which springs up in the morning. In the morning it springs up and flowers: by evening it withers and fades. Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart.” When we come to realize the shortness of our life, then we will want to take our life seriously, instead of wasting it away. We have our memories of the past, and we can use them to our advantage and not for our destruction. Rather than depending on ourselves, we turn to the Lord for mercy and help. “O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next. Lord, relent! Show pity to your servants. In the morning, fill us with your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days. Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands.”