20250115 NOT FORGETTING OUR HUMANITY IN OUR MINISTRY
First reading | Hebrews 2:14-18 |
He took to himself descent from Abraham
Since all the children share the same blood and flesh, Christ too shared equally in it, so that by his death he could take away all the power of the devil, who had power over death, and set free all those who had been held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it was not the angels that he took to himself; he took to himself descent from Abraham. It was essential that he should in this way become completely like his brothers so that he could be a compassionate and trustworthy high priest of God’s religion, able to atone for human sins. That is, because he has himself been through temptation he is able to help others who are tempted.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 104(105):1-4,6-9 |
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or
Alleluia!
Give thanks to the Lord, tell his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
O sing to him, sing his praise;
tell all his wonderful works!
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or
Alleluia!
Be proud of his holy name,
let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.
Consider the Lord and his strength;
constantly seek his face.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or
Alleluia!
O children of Abraham, his servant,
O sons of the Jacob he chose.
He, the Lord, is our God:
his judgements prevail in all the earth.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or
Alleluia!
He remembers his covenant for ever,
his promise for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel Acclamation | cf.Col3:16a,17 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Let the message of Christ, in all its richness,
find a home with you;
through him give thanks to God the Father.
Alleluia!
Or: | Jn10:27 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice,
says the Lord,
I know them and they follow me.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Mark 1:29-39 |
He cast out devils and cured many who were suffering from disease
On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon’s mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.
That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.
In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.
15 January 2025, Wednesday, 1st Week in Ordinary Time
NOT FORGETTING OUR HUMANITY IN OUR MINISTRY
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [HEB 2:14-18; PS 105:1-4,6-9; MK 1:29-39]
We are all called to be healers in life. Like Jesus, we are called to proclaim the Good News to the poor. The Lord is clear about His mission. Citing the prophet Isaiah at the start of His mission, He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (Luke 4:18f). Indeed, we are reaching out to those who are weak, sick, forlorn, downtrodden, depressed, or even possessed.
To effectively reach out to them, it is essential we feel with them in their pains. This is why “It was essential that he should in this way become completely like his brothers so that he could be a compassionate and trustworthy high priest of God’s religion, able to atone for human sins.” Indeed, the author of Hebrews wrote, “Since all the children share the same blood and flesh, Jesus too shared equally in it, so that by his death he could take away all the power of the devil, who had power over death, and set free all those who had been held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.”
Jesus therefore not only showed us the way, but also walked the way. He did not simply tell us what we should do to be saved. He practiced what He taught in the Sermon on the Mount, especially in loving our enemies, not retaliating when persecuted, and doing all things for the love of God and our fellowmen. He was a peacemaker, a man who lived simply and depended on divine providence. He was pure in heart and He identified with the sufferings of every man. Indeed, in today’s gospel we see His close association with our human sufferings. He knows our feelings and our needs being a man Himself.
Upon leaving the synagogue, and hearing that Simon’s mother-in-law had a fever, without delay, “He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.” Jesus felt with His disciples in their need. He did not just make use of them to help Him in His mission. When they needed help, Jesus was there for them. We can be so involved in church ministry and helping others, yet abandon our loved ones at home when they need our presence and our help. If we are to gain loyalty from those who help us in our work, we must also be there for them when they need our support and assistance. We should never take our supporters for granted. When those who help us know we are personally concerned about their well-being, they will be willing to serve us more. This is an important lesson for those of us who are bosses.
Despite His busy day at the synagogue and after attending to Simon’s mother-in-law, Jesus still healed those who were sick. Again, we see how sensitive He was. Observing Sabbath law, the people waited until sunset to bring the sick to the Him for healing. “That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.” Jesus must have felt great sympathy for them in their pain and suffering. So He made Himself available to assist them.
Whilst it is important that we aid those who need help, we must not forget our limitations. We are human with weaknesses and constraints. Unless we are aware of our limitations and imperfections, we will be judgmental or impatient with others. “That is, because he has himself been through temptation he is able to help others who are tempted.” Jesus is the great high priest that we can turn to for mercy and compassion. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15f).
We must remember that the work we are doing is the work of God in us. Saint Paul wrote, “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10). Only because God works in and through us can we do what we are doing. We must not get carried away by doing good works, as if they were solely due to our own strength and ingenuity. This leads us to pride and our downfall. Many great leaders started humbly, and God used them greatly. But when they became great, they thought highly of themselves and allowed their pride to ruin them.
Even as we go out to help others, we must remember we are not building our kingdom, but God’s kingdom. The Baptist said, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29f). Our task is to lead people to Jesus, not to ourselves. Jesus was very much aware of His mission and did not allow success to carry Him away. The Gospel tells how “Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.” Jesus did not stay on in the village even though He was in great demand. He was focused on His mission, to announce the coming of God’s kingdom, not in building His own kingdom.
The secret of Jesus’ effectiveness in His mission and staying focused was being in close intimacy with His Father. He did not allow His ministry to continue without basking in His Father’s presence and love. He took instruction from His Father. This was why, “In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, he went off to a lonely place and prayed there.” He knew that human strength alone would not bring about conversion of heart. He depended on the Spirit of God to touch the hearts and open the ears of believers. In the final analysis, if we want to serve the People of God as ministers, we must put prayers before ministry and everything else. Without being in constant union with God, we will end up being tired, frustrated, and burnt out. We will lose our perspective. We will be doing the work for God, but not the work of God. Prayers help us to get in touch with ourselves, our needs, and our struggles. Prayers help us hear God’s wisdom and fill ourselves with His love. Let us pay attention to the psalmist’s advice, “Be proud of his holy name, let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice. Consider the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face.”
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment