20150304 NO SHORT CUT TO GLORY

20150304 NO SHORT CUT TO GLORY

Readings at Mass

First reading

Jeremiah 18:18-20 ©

‘Come on,’ they said, ‘let us concoct a plot against Jeremiah; the priest will not run short of instruction without him, nor the sage of advice, nor the prophet of the word. Come on, let us hit at him with his own tongue; let us listen carefully to every word he says.’

Listen to me, O Lord,

hear what my adversaries are saying.

Should evil be returned for good?

For they are digging a pit for me.

Remember how I stood in your presence

to plead on their behalf,

to turn your wrath away from them.

Psalm

Psalm 30:5-6,14-16 ©

Save me in your love, O Lord.

Release me from the snares they have hidden

  for you are my refuge, Lord.

Into your hands I commend my spirit.

  It is you who will redeem me, Lord.

Save me in your love, O Lord.

I have heard the slander of the crowd,

  fear is all around me,

as they plot together against me,

  as they plan to take my life.

Save me in your love, O Lord.

But as for me, I trust in you, Lord;

  I say: ‘You are my God.

My life is in your hands, deliver me

  from the hands of those who hate me.

Save me in your love, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Jn6:63,68

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life;

you have the message of eternal life.

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Or

Jn8:12

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Gospel

Matthew 20:17-28 ©

Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, and on the way he took the Twelve to one side and said to them, ‘Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the pagans to be mocked and scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will rise again.’

  Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low; and he said to her, ‘What is it you want?’ She said to him, ‘Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ ‘You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus answered. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’ They replied, ‘We can.’ ‘Very well,’ he said ‘you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.’

  When the other ten heard this they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants 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 as a ransom for many.’

NO SHORT CUT TO GLORY

SCRIPTURE READINGS: JER 18:18-20; MT 20:17-28

http://www.universalis.com/20150304/mass.htm

There was once a group of traders who decided to travel to another land for business.  They hired a guide to show them the way.  One day, they passed a temple.  Then one of them said, “According to our custom, we must make a human sacrifice to the gods to ensure a safe journey.  But as relatives, we cannot kill each other.”  And so in the end, they killed the guide and offered him as a sacrifice.  Soon after, without the guide to lead them, they lost their way in the wilderness and all of them died there.

Yes, many of us are just like them.  We want to have quick solutions to a difficult problem.  Very often, we look for short-term solutions only to conceal a bigger crisis.  But such short term solutions will cause us even more difficulties down the road.  This is true especially in the area of our personal and spiritual growth.

In the first reading, we see how the tender-hearted Jeremiah was a victim of a plot.  Jeremiah spoke out for the sake of his countrymen.  He saw that his country men were heading for disaster.  Unfortunately, his prophetic words were seen as threats to the well-being of the people, especially of the leaders.  Thus, they plotted to kill Jeremiah.  They said, “Come on, let us concoct a plan against Jeremiah; the priest will not run short of instruction without him, nor the sage of advice, nor the prophet of the word. Come on, let us hit at him with his own tongue; let us listen carefully to every word he says.” Indeed, all of us who dare to speak the truth which is unpleasant to the ears of the perpetuators of evil will have to face similar persecution.  But if we examine the reaction of Jeremiah’s enemies deeper, it was very foolish of the leaders to kill Jeremiah.  By killing him, they were actually killing themselves, for without prophetic people like Jeremiah, they would be lost and continue to indulge in a life-style that brings about decadence for the country.  Indeed, because they did not heed the words of Jeremiah, they were eventually destroyed and sent into exile.  By listening to the false prophets who predicted blessings and victory for the kingdom, they allowed themselves to be misled.

Now what is said for the leaders and citizens of Judah, could very well be applied to the disciples as well.  Again, like them, they too were seeking for an easy solution to the struggles of life.  They knew their lives were unstable and insecure.  After all, they were simply a bunch of vagrants.  Furthermore, we can be certain that they were aware of the mounting tensions against them, coming from the Jewish leaders.  Against such a backdrop, Jesus spoke about His impending death and the sufferings that He would have to go through in order to bring about the realization of His Father’s kingdom.

But of course, the sentiments, fears and words of Jesus fell on deaf ears.  They were not ready to speak about such matters.  They were more concerned about their positions and status, as evidenced by the request of James and John to be given places at the right and left of Jesus in His Kingdom.  In St Matthew’s account of this incident however, this request for power and glory was assigned to their mothers, in deference to the apostles, who by then were holding positions of authority in the Christian community. The truth is that the apostles were not ready to face any sufferings, much less death.  They did not even realize what they were saying when they said they were ready to drink the cup with Jesus, for we know how they fled when Jesus was arrested at Gethsemane.  Only Jesus had the courage to drink the cup of suffering caused by the sins of His enemies.

The most important lesson we can draw from today’s scripture readings is that there is no short cut to success and glory.  The way of Jesus is through the cross.  And it will be no exception for us.  This we all know!  But there is something even more important than simply realizing that the cross is the way to victory.  What is it?  It is this – to follow the cross to glory is nothing else but to choose the way of self-emptying.  Consequently, Jesus’ admonition on the need to be servants of each other is a reminder that the only glory that we can seek to bring us real liberation is to be a servant, or better still, be a slave, as Paul would say of Jesus in his letter to the Philippians.  “anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants 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 as a ransom for many.”

True greatness lies in self-emptying.  True greatness lies in one who is not great in worldly standards.  A person is truly great when he does not seek to be great.  This is the irony of life.  If one has to be great in order to feel great, it simply means that we are not so great after all.  What is said about greatness can easily be extended to the other pursuits as well, be it glory, honour, recognition or success.  Thus, the person who has emptied himself and given his life for others actually finds life in himself.  This was the case for Jesus and it will also be true for us.  Such a road to life is surely the most difficult route to take for many.  But there is no escape from the cross for those who really want to find life.

Hence, the challenge is given to us.  Do we prefer to take the short-cut to life?  Or do we take the difficult path of self-emptying?  So long as we prefer worldly success, worldly honour and recognition for who we are and what we do, our happiness will be short lived.  Because the moment we become successful, we also become frightened, for we fear that either we might not be successful the next time or that others will compete with us for the crown.  To win is surely to lose at the same time.  But if we choose the lowest, the joy to be unknown, unrecognized, unappreciated, misunderstood, then there is nothing to fear because there is nothing one can possibly lose when he lives on that level.  Then truly, joyful and liberated is that person.

Of course, we cannot do it by our own strength.  Even Jesus could not do it without the help of His Father!  That is why, if we want to overcome our enemies, who could come in the form of external opposition from our opponents, or interiorly from our sins of pride, envy, anger, lust, gluttony and greed, we must,  following Jeremiah, cry out to God for divine assistance.  He cried out to the Lord and prayed “Listen to me Lord, hear what my adversaries are saying. Should evil be returned for good?  For they are digging a pit for me. Remember how I stood in your presence to plead on their behalf, to turn your wrath away from them.”  The testimony of the psalmist should give us encouragement and hope when he said. “Save me, O Lord, in your kindness. You will free me from the snare they set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O Lord, O faithful God. My trust is in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” In your hands is my destiny; rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.” When the Lord is with us, we will overcome.  Not even death could overcome life, nor hatred overcome love.  The resurrection of Jesus is the proof of God’s victory over sin, falsehood and death.

WRITTEN BY THE MOST REV WILLIAM GOH

ARCHBISHOP OF SINGAPORE

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

20150303 HOLINESS IS GROWING IN INTEGRITY THROUGH SELF-AWARENESS

20150303 HOLINESS IS GROWING IN INTEGRITY THROUGH SELF-AWARENESS

Readings at Mass

First reading

Isaiah 1:10,16-20 ©

Hear the word of the Lord,

you rulers of Sodom;

listen to the command of our God,

you people of Gomorrah.

‘Wash, make yourselves clean.

Take your wrong-doing out of my sight.

Cease to do evil.

Learn to do good,

search for justice,

help the oppressed,

be just to the orphan,

plead for the widow.

‘Come now, let us talk this over,

says the Lord.

Though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson,

they shall be like wool.

‘If you are willing to obey,

you shall eat the good things of the earth.

But if you persist in rebellion,

the sword shall eat you instead.’

Psalm

Psalm 49:8-9,16-17,21,23 ©

I will show God’s salvation to the upright.

‘I find no fault with your sacrifices,

  your offerings are always before me.

I do not ask more bullocks from your farms,

  nor goats from among your herds.

I will show God’s salvation to the upright.

  ‘But how can you recite my commandments

  and take my covenant on your lips,

you who despise my law

  and throw my words to the winds,

I will show God’s salvation to the upright.

‘You do this, and should I keep silence?

  Do you think that I am like you?

A sacrifice of thanksgiving honours me

  and I will show God’s salvation to the upright.’

I will show God’s salvation to the upright.

Gospel Acclamation

Mt4:17

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

Repent, says the Lord,

for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

Or

Ezk18:31

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

Shake off all your sins – it is the Lord who speaks –

and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

Gospel

Matthew 23:1-12 ©

Addressing the people and his disciples Jesus said, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they! Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader phylacteries and longer tassels, like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues, being greeted obsequiously in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi.

  ‘You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.’

HOLINESS IS GROWING IN INTEGRITY THROUGH SELF-AWARENESS

SCRIPTURE READINGS: ISA 1:10, 16-20; MT 23:1-12

http://www.universalis.com/20150303/mass.htm

In the gospel, Jesus made it clear that there is only one Master, one Father and one Teacher, the Christ.  Indeed, there is no other.  We are only servants of the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.  Hence, Jesus concludes by teaching us that “the greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will exalted.”

Truly, as priests and Christians, it is a great honour to be His servant by representing Him to others.  Whether as priests or baptized Christians, the vocation to be His messenger in person to others is a noble calling, filling us with deep gratitude.  Yet at the same time, it makes us tremble and sad because we often fail so miserably in being His image and likeness.  Yes, we can identify ourselves with the political leaders of Israel condemned in the first reading and the religious leaders reprimanded by Jesus in the gospel. 

Like the scribes and the Pharisees who “occupy the chair of Moses”, we know the right things to say.  As priests we can preach eloquent sermons and teach sound moral principles, yet, often we are unable to live what we preach.  As parents and leaders too, we would tell our children or our subordinates what to do and what not to do, yet in our own lives, we act contrary to the rules we set for others.  Yes, as Jesus remarked, “You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they!”

Not only do we fail to live up to the truths which we expound, but we also do the right things with the wrong intentions, or at least not so noble motives.  How often have we conducted ourselves properly in public and show ourselves to be exemplary or philanthropic, but all for the sake of glory and honour?  Like the religious leaders who did everything to “attract attention, like wearing broader phylacteries and longer tassels, like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues, being greeted obsequiously in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi”, we, too, seek honour, recognition and approval from people.

Most of all, behind all our so called religious and good works, quite often, these could be a cover up for our failure to love and for our dishonest living.  Prophet Isaiah condemned the political leaders because they were cheating the poor, oppressing the helpless, orphans and widows.  Yet, they pretended that they were right with God by offering sacrifices, burnt offerings of bulls and goats, to God.  But as God spoke through the psalmist, He despises such sacrifices.  In dismay, God said to such insincere leaders, “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?”

Don’t we, too, try to mitigate our deceitful way of living by giving charity to the poor or helping in the Church?  Employers ill-treat their workers or domestic helpers but try to soothe their conscience by serving God and their fellowmen in other ways.  We can even serve at the Altar and volunteer at charitable organizations, making ourselves look decent and good people, but in our hidden life, we cheat and lie.  It is not uncommon for those who cheated in their earlier days in life to compensate for the sins of their past life by doing good works, helping the poor and serving them, now that they are older and know that they do not have much time left.  In itself it is a good way to show remorse for the lack of justice and compassion in our lives.  But there are others who, whilst doing good, continue to perpetuate sins against justice in their own lives.

When we live a life without integrity, the resultant feeling in our hearts is one of division and restlessness.   As preachers, teachers and superiors, we cannot preach or teach with conviction or faith to those under our charge if there is incongruity between what we say and what we do.  In truth, people can see that we do not walk the talk even though they do not tell us.  As a result, we become less effective in our ministry, for we cannot truly represent God in our very being. We lack the moral authority to tell others what they must do when we ourselves are not even striving to put into practice what we teach.  And so we know that what we say is a lie.  There is a lack of peace and joy within ourselves.  So, too, for us as leaders, we lack the authority to mentor and inspire those under our charge.  They distrust us and are suspicious of us, for they know that we care more for ourselves than for them.

The real crisis in the world today is the crisis in leadership.  This is the true cause of confusion in the world.  Today, many people no longer trust those in authority, whether political or even religious authority.  In the days of old, those in authority, be they corporate leaders, politicians or religious, were held in great regard and respected by the common people.  Today, many are so cynical about those who take up political office, for they see them as serving their own interests, rather than the interests of the people.  Similarly, too, those in religion are also losing their moral authority, because of scandals and because they live a life of inner contradiction, a dichotomy between the gospel they proclaim and the lifestyles they live.  Gone are the days when we were so inspired by priests and religious. Today, many are just tolerating the weaknesses of their priests.  However, for those priests and religious, as well as lay leaders in charge of ministry and organizations who live exemplary lives, matching their teaching and leadership with a holy life according to the gospel values, they are respected not because of the office or position they hold but mostly because of the moral authority they exert on others.

Hence, if we want to grow in true holiness, then we must be determined in wanting to live a holistic and integrated life.  We must begin by acknowledging the lack of inner peace and joy in our hearts.  Then we must pray for the courage and humility to enter deeper into our motives for what we do.  Jesus reminds us that if we want to grow in holiness, then we need to go beyond the virtues of the scribes and Pharisees.  We must confess our sins and ask for forgiveness as Isaiah asks of us. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”  Of course, we must complement our repentance with prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  Most of all, we must implore God’s grace to live a righteous and holy life, for without His grace, we can never live such a life.

Holiness, in the final analysis, means living a life of integrity and authenticity.  Being true to ourselves means not to behave hypocritically as Jesus cautions us, to be more than who we really are, even as leaders or persons in authority.  We must know our place in life, which is that of servants of our Lord and servants of His people.  Thus, we must remember that unless we turn to Jesus our Master and Teacher, we cannot find the grace to be true images of His Father as He was for us.  Only He is the Teacher and the Master because He is totally faithful to Himself.  For Jesus, the person is the Word, the message is identified with the person.  There is no dichotomy between Jesus and the Word He proclaims.  So let us turn to Jesus, the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit, our inner teacher, to inspire us to become more like Jesus and be configured in Him.

Yes, if we live authentic lives, then we will see the power of God at work in our lives, as the psalmist says, “To the upright I will show the saving power of God.  If you are willing to obey, you shall eat the good things of the earth. But if you persist in rebellion, the sword shall eat you instead.”  And again, the psalmist says, “He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”  When we live truly integrated lives, we will shine before man, not because we walk around as if we are gods but because in us, they see the joy, love and peace that radiates from within, reflecting our true identity as sons and daughters of God.

WRITTEN BY THE MOST REV WILLIAM GOH

ARCHBISHOP OF SINGAPORE

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

20150302 REPENTANCE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND SELF

20150302 REPENTANCE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND SELF

Readings at Mass

First reading

Daniel 9:4-10 ©

O Lord, God great and to be feared, you keep the covenant and have kindness for those who love you and keep your commandments: we have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly, we have betrayed your commandments and your ordinances and turned away from them. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. Integrity, Lord, is yours; ours the look of shame we wear today, we, the people of Judah, the citizens of Jerusalem, the whole of Israel, near and far away, in every country to which you have dispersed us because of the treason we have committed against you. To us, Lord, the look of shame belongs, to our kings, our princes, our ancestors, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God mercy and pardon belong, because we have betrayed him, and have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God nor followed the laws he has given us through his servants the prophets.

Psalm

Psalm 78:8-9,11,13 ©

Do not treat us according to our sins, O Lord.

Do not hold the guilt of our fathers against us.

  Let your compassion hasten to meet us;

  we are left in the depths of distress.

Do not treat us according to our sins, O Lord.

O God our saviour, come to our help.

  Come for the sake of the glory of your name.

O Lord our God, forgive us our sins;

  rescue us for the sake of your name.

Do not treat us according to our sins, O Lord.

Let the groans of the prisoners come before you;

  let your strong arm reprieve those condemned to die.

But we, your people, the flock of your pasture,

  will give you thanks for ever and ever.

  We will tell your praise from age to age.

Do not treat us according to our sins, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower;

whoever finds this seed will remain for ever.

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

Or	cf.Jn6:63,68

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life;

you have the message of eternal life.

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

Gospel

Luke 6:36-38 ©

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’

REPENTANCE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND SELF

SCRIPTURE READINGS: Daniel 9:4-10; Luke 6:36-38

http://www.universalis.com/20150302/mass.htm

Lent begins with the call to holiness.  How then can one begin the path of conversion to holiness?  It must begin with repentance.  Last week, the gospel invited us to personal conversion by giving up our sins and keeping the commandments.  We were called to be reconciled with our brothers, forgiving our enemies and loving them so that we can be perfect like the Heavenly Father.

However, we are called not only to personal but also collective repentance.  In the first reading today, Daniel as a member of the Israelite community confessed the sins of his people.  He said, “We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly, and we have betrayed your commandments and your ordinances and turned away from them.  We have not listened to your servants the prophets”.   Such confession of guilt would mean therefore that it was done on the collective level.  Collective repentance reminds us that our sins are never personal, but also communal.  Somehow our sins and the sins of others affect each other.  Our sins cause pain and scandal.  The sins of one member of the community can make the community less credible and discouraged.

But for real repentance to be effected, we must be ready to acknowledge our sins.  Two points are important for us to take note of in the confession by Daniel.  Firstly, Daniel did not make any excuses for the sins of his people.  In all humility, Daniel put the blame on himself and his people.  There was no attempt to rationalize or cover up the sins.  So for true repentance, we must admit that a sin is a sin instead of trying to discount it as a weakness, as many of us do.  When we sin, we find all kinds of excuses for our wrongs or at least try to mitigate our failings.  For true repentance, we must take full responsibility for the sins committed by us.  There must be no buts.   We must begin by humbly admitting that we have sinned and not to lay the blame on others, the environment or the circumstances.  The truth is that ultimately, we are responsible for our personal decisions.  We transcend the community.

Secondly, it is important to note that in the confession of sins, one must be specific.  The real danger in contemporary times is that many of us are not conscious of our sins.  Of course, fortunately, many are aware that we are sinners but that awareness remains ambiguous.  We are unable to name our sins.  As it is said, if we are unable to name the sin, we cannot shame the devil.  In the past, we were obsessed with the number and kinds of sins we committed.  But today, the extreme reality is that we only know vaguely that we are sinners.  As a result, there is no possibility of repentance and conversion since repentance presupposes we know that we are wrong and what we want to change.

How then can we arrive at our true self?  The gospel gives us some criteria to help us attain self-awareness.  Fundamentally, it boils down to our relationships with others.  Jesus tells us, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned.”   Very often, how we judge others could be but a reflection of who we are.  This is because judgment always implies reading into the motives of the actions of others.  The truth is that motives ultimately are only known by the person himself.  So in judging, we must be extremely prudent.

Similarly, when we condemn others, we cannot but also condemn ourselves.  For condemnation reveals the depth of our empathy, understanding of and compassion for others.  Those who condemn others are probably not in touch with their own sinfulness.  In fact, quite often, we condemn others so quickly and harshly but when it comes to our mistakes, we often seek understanding and sympathy.  Finally, another way to gauge our capacity to love is the extent of our willingness to forgive.  If we are unable to forgive, then it shows that we are not able to feel with others and are also lacking the capacity for unconditional love.

The point is that one who is like the Father, perfect in love and mercy, will always judge not the externals but the heart, not condemn but always finding excuses for others; and unconditionally forgiving.  So if we have the attitudes of the Father, then we will share in His love.  As a result, we will not be judged or condemned ourselves.  For when Jesus said, “Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back’”, He is implying that the degree of our likeness to the Father in love and mercy is itself the reward.

But where can we find the capacity to love and forgive like the Father?  This is where the liturgy puts us in perspective again.  The magnanimity to forgive lies in our receptivity to the Father’s prior love and mercy for us.  The liturgy underscores that the repentance that is spoken of is not simply a confession of guilt or an infringement of some ideals of Christian life.  Rather it is our failure to respond to the love of God and His mercy for us, especially shown in the passion, death and resurrection of His only Son.

Within this context, we can appreciate why in the penitential rites; the mighty acts of God, especially as manifested in Jesus, are always recounted first and only then our failures.  This is because the greatest sin is to forget God’s love and mercy.  Not being mindful of what God has done for us results in ingratitude and indifference.   However, if we are conscious of the extent of God’s sacrificial love for us, it would at least arouse us to repentance and conversion.  Incidentally, all conversions happen only through a deep awareness of God’s love and one’s selfishness and ingratitude.  Only then can we speak of the capacity to live the new life by turning away from our sins.

Accordingly, the call to forgive and be merciful is rooted in the fact that the Father is compassionate.  Thus, Jesus prefaced His invitation by saying,” Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate.”  Daniel also prayed, “To the Lord our God mercy and pardon belong, because we have betrayed him, and have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God nor followed the laws he has given us through his servants the prophets.”

In the penitential rites, the focus is on God’s mercy rather than our sins.  This is further seen when Mass is incorporated with Lauds and Vespers.  The penitential rite is omitted since the psalms recall God’s mercy and love.  The liturgy presumes that such awareness will lead to true repentance.  Even in the Rite of Penance, we are urged to listen and reflect on the Word of God before the confession of sins.  This is to put us in perspective and recognize that God’s love for us is the backdrop against which we acknowledge our sinfulness.

Of course, lest we go to the extreme of taking His love for granted, the Church in the penitential rites still offer us the traditional “I Confess” in order to help us be sensitive to the sins in our lives, presuming that we see them in the context of our failure to respond to His love and mercy.   This provision is certainly in order.  We must not neglect the importance of making a good examen and an in-depth examination of conscience a couple of times a day.  Without such a practice, we will lose sensitivity to our sins, which would then block us from being conscious of God’s love.

Let us pray for the grace of true repentance from our sins so that we can grow in perfection and in holiness.  As we contemplate on God’s love for us in the Eucharistic sacrifice, let us pray that His love for us will lead us to respond more generously to the Father’s love and mercy so that we can reflect His life in our lives.

WRITTEN BY THE MOST REV WILLIAM GOH

ARCHBISHOP OF SINGAPORE

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED