20241116 WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE TRUTH, IN TRUTH, AND WITH CHARITY
First reading | 3 John 5-8 |
It is our duty to welcome missionaries and contribute our share to their work
My friend, you have done faithful work in looking after these brothers, even though they were complete strangers to you. They are a proof to the whole Church of your charity and it would be a very good thing if you could help them on their journey in a way that God would approve. It was entirely for the sake of the name that they set out, without depending on the pagans for anything; it is our duty to welcome men of this sort and contribute our share to their work for the truth.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 111(112):1-6 |
Happy the man who takes delight in the commands of the Lord.
Happy the man who fears the Lord,
who takes delight in all his commands.
His sons will be powerful on earth;
the children of the upright are blessed.
Happy the man who takes delight in the commands of the Lord.
Riches and wealth are in his house;
his justice stands firm for ever.
He is a light in the darkness for the upright:
he is generous, merciful and just.
Happy the man who takes delight in the commands of the Lord.
The good man takes pity and lends,
he conducts his affairs with honour.
The just man will never waver:
he will be remembered for ever.
Happy the man who takes delight in the commands of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation | Jm1:21 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Accept and submit to the word
which has been planted in you
and can save your souls.
Alleluia!
Or: | cf.2Th2:14 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Through the Good News God called us
to share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 18:1-8 |
The parable of the unjust judge
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge in a certain town’ he said ‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.”’
And the Lord said ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’
16 November 2024, Saturday, 32nd Week in Ordinary Time
WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE TRUTH, IN TRUTH, AND WITH CHARITY
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [3 JOHN 5-8; LUKE 18:1-8]
The Good News is essentially a proclamation of truth and love. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. In Jesus, we see the truth and love of God in person. This is why St John in the first reading speaks about contributing our share in the “work for the truth.” Truth of course is not a philosophical argument of words and ideas. Truth is love. There is no truth but love. When Jesus told Pilate at His trial, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” In response, Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” (Jn 18:37f) He was still thinking on the philosophical level when he was before Jesus Himself who revealed to us the love of God in His life, and who revealed the falsehoods in us when we put Him to death on the cross, the selfishness, the ignorance and fear of man, seen most vividly in the person of Pilate.
Consequently, for us to continue to proclaim the truth is tantamount to proclaiming Jesus. For this reason, St John commended the Christians for supporting those brothers who were itinerants in proclaiming the gospel. He wrote, “My friend, you have done faithful work in looking after these brothers, even though they were complete strangers to you. They are a proof to the whole Church of your charity and it would be a very good thing if you could help them on their journey in a way that God would approve.” Indeed, to support those who are in ministry, especially those who are full-time ministers of the gospel, is the duty of the Christian people. The Lord Himself reminded us in the gospel when appointing the seventy disciples, “Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house.” (Lk 10:7) St Paul himself wrote, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in preaching and teaching; for the scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and, ‘The labourer deserves to be paid.’ (1 Tim 5:17f)
Thus, it is the responsibility of the Christian community to look after those who give themselves fully to the work of the gospel – priests, religious, full lay ministers and workers, including volunteers. They, too, have a family and their basic needs to be taken care of. We cannot expect them to work fully for the church whilst allowing their families to go without food or the necessities of life. St Paul wrote, “It was entirely for the sake of the name that they set out, without depending on the pagans for anything; it is our duty to welcome men of this sort and contribute our share to their work for the truth.” We, too, who have received the gospel freely should in turn share what we have with the Church so that the gospel can continue to be proclaimed freely to the many people who have yet to find the Lord. The Church which seeks to proclaim the gospel freely and for free, depends on the generosity of the Christian community to support her mission. Without which, the gospel cannot be proclaimed. We are reminded of what St Paul wrote about our Lord, “For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” (2 Cor 8:9) We are also reminded of the examples of the holy women during the time of our Lord, “some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.” (Lk 8:2f)
Of course, ministers, which include lay ministers and volunteers, should not be out to make money from their ministry. If their focus is in making enriching themselves, their lives and their actions will contradict what they teach, even if they may be proclaiming the truth. Their motives are not pure and noble; in fact, selfish. For them, preaching the gospel is but a means to earn a living. Hence they lack zeal for the gospel. They are calculative in their work and demanding. Such workers or ministers should leave the ministry because their hearts are not with the Lord. They will not add much value to the mission.
Worse still, some manipulate the generosity of their parishioners or listeners to raise funds for themselves so that they can live a life of luxury. Their hearts are not for the people. They only bring disrepute to the gospel. Unfortunately, by their bad examples and crooked ways, they cause the people to lose confidence in the genuine ministers and preachers of the gospel. We must therefore exercise prudence and not tempt them to power, a life of luxury and pleasures. Sometimes, lay people do not realize that their goodwill could unintentionally weaken the ministry and holiness of our ministers when they make them lose focus in their ministry, from one of selfless service to just serving the rich and those who care for them.
This happened in the early Christian community when St Paul wrote a letter to Timothy warning them, “Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.” (1 Tim 6:7-10) Instead, for those who can, we are exhorted to imitate the example of St Paul when he wrote, “I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this so that they may be applied in my case. Indeed, I would rather die than that – no one will deprive me of my ground for boasting! If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.” (1 Cor 9:15-18) St Paul remembered the words of our Lord when He instructed the Twelve, “Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.” (Mt 10:8)
Indeed, in today’s parable, we must not behave like the selfish judge. We read he “had neither fear of God nor respect for man.” He was not concerned about doing the right thing. He was thinking of his own convenience and interests. He eventually acted and restored the right of the widow only because she kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time, he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death”. There is no sincerity and truth in the judge. He is supposed to be the defender of truth and of justice but he was negligent and irresponsible.
Instead, the Lord exhorts us to be like God who is a God of justice. He urged us to pray for justice and to persevere in our prayers. He said, “You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?” God will hear our prayers. Today, let us pray for more labourers in the vineyard of the Lord, whether they be priests, religious or full-time lay workers. More and more we need the lay people to work alongside our priests and religious if we are to proclaim the gospel. So, we must pray for them and we must pray for generous people who have encountered the Lord and received His blessings to be ready to share their abundance, whether in resources or expertise with the Church.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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