20250122 PEACE IS THE FRUIT OF LOVE
22 January 2025, Wednesday, 2nd Week in Ordinary Time
First reading |
Hebrews 7:1-3,15-17 |
You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, for ever
You remember that Melchizedek, king of Salem, a priest of God Most High, went to meet Abraham who was on his way back after defeating the kings, and blessed him;and also that it was to him that Abraham gave a tenth of all that he had. By the interpretation of his name, he is, first, ‘king of righteousness’ and also king of Salem,that is, ‘king of peace’; he has no father, mother or ancestry, and his life has no beginning or ending; he is like the Son of God. He remains a priest for ever.
This becomes even more clearly evident when there appears a second Melchizedek, who is a priest not by virtue of a law about physical descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it was about him that the prophecy was made: You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, and for ever.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 109(110):1-4 |
You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.
The Lord’s revelation to my Master:
‘Sit on my right:
your foes I will put beneath your feet.’
You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.
The Lord will wield from Zion
your sceptre of power:
rule in the midst of all your foes.
You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.
A prince from the day of your birth
on the holy mountains;
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.
You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.
The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change.
‘You are a priest for ever,
a priest like Melchizedek of old.’
You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.
Gospel Acclamation | Heb4:12 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
The word of God is something alive and active:
it can judge secret emotions and thoughts.
Alleluia!
Or: | cf.Mt4:23 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom
and cured all kinds of sickness among the people.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Mark 3:1-6 |
Is it against the law on the sabbath day to save life?
Jesus went into a synagogue, and there was a man there who had a withered hand. And they were watching him to see if he would cure him on the sabbath day, hoping for something to use against him. He said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Stand up out in the middle!’ Then he said to them, ‘Is it against the law on the sabbath day to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to kill?’ But they said nothing. Then, grieved to find them so obstinate, he looked angrily round at them, and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out and his hand was better. The Pharisees went out and at once began to plot with the Herodians against him, discussing how to destroy him.
PEACE IS THE FRUIT OF LOVE
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [HEB 7:1-3,15-17; PSALM 110:1-4; MARK 3:1-6]
We all look for peace in life. We desire peace in our family, work-place, in our community and in the world. But instead of promoting and working for peace, we bring division in our world. We cause our family and our marriage to become estranged. Some of the most bitter quarrels, misunderstandings and fighting take place in the family because of differences in monetary matters, jealousy, infidelity and life choices. Most of the time it is because of greed and envy, or simply intolerance of each other’s idiosyncrasies. We cannot live and let live. We want people to adjust to our preferences and lifestyle. We want to impose our values and discipline on others.
At work, there is no peace, because some of us are irresponsible, or we cannot agree on what is the best way forward. Then there are gossips, jealousies, competition and office politics. Sometimes, it does not help that the boss encourages divisions in the office to keep his or her position. When there is no trust, no genuine respect and care for each other, we are in truth working in hell, where everyone is our potential enemy and competitor that cannot be trusted. When each cares for his or her own interests and protects his or her turf, there will be distrust and suspicion.
When we situate this on the global level, we can understand why nations are hostile and suspicious of each other. There is a lack of trust and every nation wants to be better than the others. Not only is there fierce competition but each will find ways and means to prevent the other countries from becoming too prosperous or powerful. Instead of a win-win situation, they want to be the most powerful economically, militarily and technologically. So, they compete for the world’s wealth and land. There is certainly no trust among peoples. We fail to realize that we are one people and everyone has a right to the blessings of creation. It is not meant for one preferred race but for all. In truth, all of us belong to one humanity. The boundaries created by man are to protect their citizens from selfish and evil people who seek to take away their freedom and happiness.
Within this context, we can appreciate today’s first reading about Melchizedek, King of Salem. He was the King of peace as his title suggests, but he was also a priest. What is strange about this King is that the bible does not tell us his origin, his ancestry or progeny. He appeared suddenly and disappeared in the Genesis passage in a mysterious manner. Although Abraham was recognized as the Father of Israel, Melchizedek was superior to Abraham, who gave him 10% share of his spoils from the battles with his enemies as a tithe for priests. His acceptance of the gift showed that Melchizedek was both a priest and a king.
Based on these ideas, the author of Hebrew suggests that Christ is the High Priest of a different order from the high priesthood of the order of Aaron. His priesthood was more likened to that of Melchizedek because like him, Jesus was also the King of Peace and a high priest of Jerusalem. This claim finds justification in Psalm 110 (109). Furthermore, this psalm was used by Jesus Himself to indicate His true identity in His controversy at the Temple. The Lord asked the people, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.” David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?” (Mk 12:35-37) Obviously, the answer is that the son of David must be greater than King David himself.
Jesus therefore, as the author argues, is the priest-king of a higher and different order than the Levitical priesthood. His priesthood lasts forever because He lives forever. He wrote, “This becomes even more clearly evident when there appears a second Melchizedek, who is a priest not by virtue of a law about physical descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it was about him that the prophecy was made: You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, and forever.”
But how did Jesus exercise His priesthood and kingship to bring us peace? The principle to peace is clear when the Lord said to the onlookers at the synagogue who were watching to see if He would cure the man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, “Is it against the law on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to kill?” This should be the guiding principle when we discern the right thing or action to take in every situation. All that we do must be for the greater good of all. It must advance life and not destruction. This is a very good principle we can use in our words and actions. Our words must inspire, or help people to be good. We must not use destructive words to put people down and discourage them. We must do everything to give life to others. So long as we seek to do good and to save lives, regardless of race, religion and nationality, we are peacemakers.
This is what Vatican II in Gaudium et Spes calls us to do. For Christians, peace is a fruit of love which goes beyond what justice can provide. This peace of Christ comes from God the Father. Jesus is the prince of Peace that reconciles men with God. Jesus restores all men to the unity of one people and one body. With the love of God in our hearts, comes respect for others and their dignity. Love will never use violence to defend one’s rights. We will avoid all kinds of discrimination based on sex, race, colour, religion or culture. Peace can happen only when we promote the common good of humanity. Wars are evil, and the army should be used to protect freedom and provide security for the people, not to cause more death. Hence, it is our duty as Christians to act in love and truth and join with all true peacemakers to work for peace, which is an on-going work because the human will is wounded by sin.
The Pharisees unfortunately did not have love in their hearts. They were self-righteous. They allowed their study of the laws to rule their hearts. They did not have any compassion in them. They were legalistic and saw themselves as judges, ever ready to find fault with anyone who broke the laws. They had no love and no feelings for those who needed help. At the same time, they were trying to find evidence to condemn Jesus for doing good even on the Sabbath day. But what ultimately revealed that they were no lovers of God was their total lack of sensitivity to the man with the withered hand. After Jesus healed the man, “the Pharisees went out and at once began to plot with the Herodians against him, discussing how to destroy him.” Just to achieve their goal of eliminating Jesus, they would even work with their enemies to kill Jesus. So we see how their spiritual blindness and self-righteousness had colored their judgement of people and what was right.
Today, let us learn from Jesus, the prince of peace. He was courageous in bringing peace to all, even at the expense of His life. In truth, Jesus did nothing wrong. He only wanted to bring the love of God to all men. He came to teach us how to love and care for each other. He came to reconcile us with God and with each other. But He was misunderstood. Not only misunderstood; He became a threat to the institutions. And so they wanted to get rid of Him. Ultimately, it is love that overcomes our enemies. As St Peter wrote, “When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.” (1 Pt 2:23-25) This is why Jesus is our High Priest forever because by His death, we share in His resurrection. His death and resurrection is His victory over sin and death.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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