20250604 WATCHFULNESS
04 June 2025, Wednesday, 7th Week of Easter
First reading | Acts 20:28-38 |
I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, and its power
Paul addressed these words to the elders of the church of Ephesus:
‘Be on your guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you the overseers, to feed the Church of God which he bought with his own blood. I know quite well that when I have gone fierce wolves will invade you and will have no mercy on the flock. Even from your own ranks there will be men coming forward with a travesty of the truth on their lips to induce the disciples to follow them. So be on your guard, remembering how night and day for three years I never failed to keep you right, shedding tears over each one of you. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace that has power to build you up and to give you your inheritance among all the sanctified.
‘I have never asked anyone for money or clothes; you know for yourselves that the work I did earned enough to meet my needs and those of my companions. I did this to show you that this is how we must exert ourselves to support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.”’
When he had finished speaking he knelt down with them all and prayed. By now they were all in tears; they put their arms round Paul’s neck and kissed him; what saddened them most was his saying they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 67(68):29-30,33-36 |
Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.
or
Alleluia!
Show forth, O God, show forth your might,
your might, O God, which you have shown for us.
For the sake of your temple high in Jerusalem
may kings come to you bringing their tribute.
Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.
or
Alleluia!
Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, praise the Lord
who rides on the heavens, the ancient heavens.
He thunders his voice, his mighty voice.
Come, acknowledge the power of God.
Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.
or
Alleluia!
His glory is on Israel; his might is in the skies.
God is to be feared in his holy place.
He is the Lord, Israel’s God.
He gives strength and power to his people.
Blessed be God!
Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel Acclamation | Mt28:19,20 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Go, make disciples of all the nations.
I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.
Alleluia!
Or: | Jn17:17 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Your word is truth, O Lord:
consecrate us in the truth.
Alleluia!
Gospel | John 17:11-19 |
Father, keep those you have given me true to your name
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:
‘Holy Father,
keep those you have given me true to your name,
so that they may be one like us.
While I was with them,
I kept those you had given me true to your name.
I have watched over them
and not one is lost
except the one who chose to be lost,
and this was to fulfil the scriptures.
But now I am coming to you
and while still in the world I say these things
to share my joy with them to the full.
I passed your word on to them,
and the world hated them,
because they belong to the world
no more than I belong to the world.
I am not asking you to remove them from the world,
but to protect them from the evil one.
They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth;
your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
I have sent them into the world,
and for their sake I consecrate myself
so that they too may be consecrated in truth.’
WATCHFULNESS
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ACTS 20:28-38; PS 68:29-30,33-36; JOHN 17:11-19]
The meaning of the word, bishop is “overseer”. A bishop is called to have oversight of the flock entrusted to his care. He is to ensure that the flock is well looked after, protected and united as one. This was how Paul addressed the elders of the Church of Ephesus. “Be on your guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you the overseers, to feed the Church of God which he bought with his own blood.” In different ways, all of us too are called to be overseers of those entrusted to our care – be they our children, ministries, organizations, or departments.
But in order to become effective overseers, we must first take care of ourselves. St Paul began by reminding the elders, “Be on your guard for yourselves.” This is often the biggest mistake made by leaders and those in ministry. We help people under our care but forget to take care of ourselves. Indeed, many great leaders, priests and religious – though talented – are often so sought after that they get carried away by fame, honour, popularity, and privileges. They have no time for prayer, meditation, or spiritual reading. As a result, the Evil One misleads them, causes them to fall and scandalize others. Some unwittingly become instrument of the devil, allowing themselves to be influenced by worldly values. So, it is important that leaders are reminded to take care of their spiritual life and health, and to be mindful of the activities and relationships they engage in. Otherwise, they will easily be led astray by the pleasures and temptations of the world.
This is why, before His return to the Father, the Lord prayed, “Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name, so that they may be one like us. While I was with them, I kept those you had given me true to your name.” While on earth, Jesus tirelessly taught and strengthened His disciples in their faith. He knew that they were weak, but He walked with them patiently, slowly instructing them to purify their motives in serving Him and the people of God. This was particularly so when the apostles were fighting for positions of honour. He taught them the Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount and, through His many miracles, helped them to grow in holiness. The Lord would bring them to a quiet place where He would instruct them on the path to a life of holiness.
Secondly, leaders must remember that we have been appointed by the Holy Spirit “to feed the Church of God which he bought with his own blood”. Quite often, we forget that we are caring for God’s people on His behalf. They are not our property, nor our sheep. They belong to God. God loves them so much that He sent us His Son, Jesus Christ to pay the price of His own blood to save them. Therefore, we must not imagine that we are merely serving those under our charge – they are deeply loved by God. He expects us to be good stewards and be accountable to Him. At the end of our life, we would have to give an account of our stewardship. The Lord warned us in the gospel, “That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” (Lk 12:47f)
The Lord said to His Father at the end of His life, “I have watched over them and not one is lost except the one who chose to be lost, and this was to fulfil the scriptures.” Indeed, Jesus came for everyone. He came to save the lost, the sinners, those despised by society, such as the tax-collectors and prostitutes. Jesus came to save even the religious leaders. For Jesus, no one is excluded from the Kingdom of God. He even reached out to the Gentiles in the person of the Centurion and the Syrophoenician woman whose daughter was ill. He did not give up on Judas, even though He knew that he had made up his mind to betray Him. He gave him a morsel of bread at the Last Supper as an appeal of love. But alas, Judas chose to be lost. Jesus gives us the freedom to respond, but He never gives up on us.
Thirdly, a leader must realize that the greatest enemy is not from without but from within. St Paul told the elders, “I know quite well that when I have gone fierce wolves will invade you and will have no mercy on the flock. Even from your own ranks there will be men coming forward with a travesty of the truth on their lips to induce the disciples to follow them.” This is always the real danger in any organization. Even for Jesus, the betrayal came from the Twelve and not from outside. Today, the Church is heavily infiltrated by people with worldly ideologies who seek to destroy the Church by importing elements and values contrary to the gospel. We have never had a situation when the Magisterium is so divided on moral issues. Today, we speak of rightists and leftists. In the past, we only speak of those who are Catholic or non-Catholic.
The real challenge is in seeking to expose half-truths. With the help of mass media, many are succumbing to the values promoted by the world. Even in the time of St Paul, heresies were threatening the unity of the Church. He warned the elders, “Even from your own ranks there will be men coming forward with a travesty of the truth on their lips to induce the disciples to follow them.” This is why the Church is so divided today – because we no longer know what is true anymore. Everything is so ambiguous. We can provide convincing arguments for every proposal we make. But we never consider the long-term consequences of what we do or decide today.
For this reason, the Lord prayed for the Church to be consecrated in the truth. “Consecrate them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world, and for their sake I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth.” Those who seek to be true to the gospel are often persecuted – not from without but from within. They are labelled as conservatives and rightists. As the Lord said, “I passed your word on to them, and the world hated them.” Yet the truth is that we cannot behave like people in the world. We are different. This is what it means to be consecrated and holy. We are called to act differently from the world. We must not, in our desire to bring more people to our Church, dilute our doctrines and distinctiveness and become one with the world. Indeed, our Lord reminds us, “I passed your word on to them, and the world hated them, because they belong to the world no more than I belong to the world. I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.”
Finally, as leaders, we must lead by example – with love, devotion and prayers. This was how our Lord and St Paul led. St Paul expressed his devotion to the people when he wrote, “So be on your guard, remembering how night and day for three years I never failed to keep you right, shedding tears over each one of you.” He lived by example, putting the people’s interests above his own. “I have never asked anyone for money or clothes; you know for yourselves that the work I did earned enough to meet my needs and those of my companions. I did this to show you that is how we must exert ourselves to support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said, ‘There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.'” Above all, a leader leads through prayer. Paul entrusted the flock under his charge to the Lord as Jesus did. “And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace that has power to build you up and to give you your inheritance among all the sanctified.” Indeed, it was because of his spiritual leadership that moved the people were moved to tears. “When he had finished speaking he knelt down with them all and prayed. By now they were all in tears; they put their arms round Paul’s neck and kissed him.”
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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