20241003 MISSION AND MINISTRY
First reading | Job 19:21-27 |
My Avenger lives and will set me close to him when I awake
Job said:
Pity me, pity me, you, my friends,
for the hand of God has struck me.
Why do you hound me down like God,
will you never have enough of my flesh?
Ah, would that these words of mine were written down,
inscribed on some monument
with iron chisel and engraving tool,
cut into the rock for ever.
This I know: that my Avenger lives,
and he, the Last, will take his stand on earth.
After my awaking, he will set me close to him,
and from my flesh I shall look on God.
He whom I shall see will take my part:
these eyes will gaze on him and find him not aloof.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 26(27):7-9,13-14 |
I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.
O Lord, hear my voice when I call;
have mercy and answer.
Of you my heart has spoken:
‘Seek his face.’
I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.
It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;
hide not your face.
Dismiss not your servant in anger;
you have been my help.
I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.
I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.
Hope in the Lord!
I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.
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.’
03 October 2024, Thursday, 26th Week in Ordinary Time
MISSION AND MINISTRY
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [JOB 19:21-27; LUKE 10:1-12]
In the gospel today, we are told that we all have received the same mandate to collaborate in the mission of Christ and the Church. Mission is for both the ordained and non-ordained, but the way this mission is carried out will differ in degree and essence. Over and above the sending out of the Twelve apostles for the mission (cf Lk 9:1-6), the Lord also appointed “seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit.” The number 70 or 72 refers to the nations of the world. In other words, the disciples were also sent out on mission to proclaim the gospel to all the nations. By virtue of our baptism, we are called and given the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, this mission involves proclamation and service. “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.” This mission of proclaiming the gospel, therefore, is carried out in different ways by different people. It could be teaching and education or in works of charity. Indeed, we read in the New Testament of the different gifts of the Holy Spirit given to the Christian community. “The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” (Eph 4:11-13) These gifts are innumerable and not confined to those mentioned in the bible. “We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.” (cf Rom 12:6-8)
However, today there is a certain confusion between Ordained ministry, Instituted ministries and the lay ministries. The confusion lies in the fact that the loose term of the word “ministry” could give the impression that one is a minister because of the tasks he or she performs. But in the understanding of the Church, one is a minister not simply by virtue of his performing a task but through sacramental ordination. Hence, during the Pontificate of St John Paul II, he promulgated the document “On certain questions on collaboration” (1997) of the non-ordained faithful in the sacred ministry of the priest. This instruction sought to deal with the ambiguity between the ordained Ministry and the non-ordained ministry in the mission of the Church. In order to distinguish the functions of the ordained Ministry and the collaboration of the laity in the pastoral ministry of the clergy, it was necessary to clarify the loose use of the term “ministry”, which is now used widely as those who are at the service of the Church. This is partly also because of the influence of Protestant theology as they do not distinguish clearly between the Ordained Ministry and the Lay Ministry, as they believe there is only one priesthood by which all share by virtue of their baptism. However, for Catholics, the foundation of the Ordained Ministry rests on apostolic succession, unlike the ministry of the common priesthood which is derived from the sacrament of baptism.
However, Pope Francis also underscored the ministries of the lay faithful, warning us not to reduce the word “ministry” merely to the instituted ministries of the Church, for example, lector, acolyte and catechist. These instituted ministries are connected with the Ordained Ministry because they involve some form of participation in the functions of the ministerial priesthood which has its dignity from the Sacrament of Ordination. Yet, Pope Francis reminds us that the instituted ministries do not represent the full extent of the ministeriality of the Church. cf. Apostolic Letter issued Motu proprio Antiquum ministerium 2. They can perform temporary services by being given supplementary functions to assist the priests without the need to be instituted in situations where there are pastoral needs. The ministry of the lay faithful is rooted in their baptism and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Of course, we must also not clericalize the laity and make them into some kind of pseudo-priests, even if they are called to participate in the supplementary services that are given to the instituted ministries. In this sense, when we use the word “ministry” for the laity, we are using it in terms of participation in the prophetic and kingly office of Christ within the Church, and most of all in the world where their presence is felt, especially in the areas of charity, social, economic and political life. These are real ministries in the one mission of Christ – proclamation of the gospel in words and in deeds. It is their witnessing in the world, in politics, humanitarian works and social commitment to the community, that brings Christ to the world. Those who are involved in marriage and family life ministries, providing pastoral care to those in matrimonial crisis, the divorced or separated, those struggling with gender identity, same-sex attraction, including those who are single and feel left out, are truly involved in the work of evangelization. Regardless of whether we are Ordained Ministers or Laity entrusted with “instituted ministries” or simply the wider ministries of service in their families, community and society, we all partake in the one mission of Christ according to the charisms and vocation the Lord has chosen us.
What is important to remember is that these services must be offered in selflessness and humility. When we use the word “ministry” we must never forget the etymology of the world, which is a call to service, to be a servant. The term “ministry” is derived from the world “mini” or “minor.” This is why we must make ourselves small when we serve. Jesus reminded His apostles, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mt 20:25-28) To His apostles whom He sent out, He reminded them, “You received without payment; give without payment.” (Mt 10:8)
Secondly, we must remember that we are sent. We do not send ourselves. We are sent by the Lord. We are called to represent Him in our proclamation and service. We are His ministers, His servants. We must not act as if we have the authority to teach what we want to say or do what we like. We are accountable to the Lord and therefore we may only teach what He commands us and according to what He has instructed. No servant takes it upon himself to change the message and commands of his master. Fidelity to the Lord and those who send us is essential, otherwise, we betray ourselves when we call ourselves “ministers.”
We are not only sent to teach what He wants us to teach but also to manifest His life and love in us by our actions. We are called to bring peace to whichever house we enter and share their fellowship and company. The Lord said, “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 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.”
Finally, because we are sent, we must be totally dependent on the Lord. We must rely on Him alone and not on our strength and resources. Hence, He reminds us, “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.” Indeed, the most important aspect of mission is prayer and intimacy with the Lord. As the Lord said, “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:4f) Indeed, we must pray not just for more labourers to help us in the vineyard of the Lord but also pray for His divine assistance. With Job, we must entrust our lives and ministry to Him, knowing that He is faithful and He will see us through. We should remain focus on Him and He will set us close to Him and we shall see the face of the Lord, and His “goodness in the land of the living.”
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment