Scripture Reflection and Prayer : Journeying together

Saturday, 4 December 2021

RENEWING OUR DREAMS

20211205 RENEWING OUR DREAMS

05 December, 2021, Sunday, 2nd Week of Advent

First reading

Baruch 5:1-9 ©

God means to show your splendour to every nation

Jerusalem, take off your dress of sorrow and distress,

put on the beauty of the glory of God for ever,

wrap the cloak of the integrity of God around you,

put the diadem of the glory of the Eternal on your head:

since God means to show your splendour to every nation under heaven,

since the name God gives you for ever will be,

‘Peace through integrity, and honour through devotedness.’

Arise, Jerusalem, stand on the heights

and turn your eyes to the east:

see your sons reassembled from west and east

at the command of the Holy One, jubilant that God has remembered them.

Though they left you on foot,

with enemies for an escort,

now God brings them back to you

like royal princes carried back in glory.

For God has decreed the flattening

of each high mountain, of the everlasting hills,

the filling of the valleys to make the ground level

so that Israel can walk in safety under the glory of God.

And the forests and every fragrant tree will provide shade

for Israel at the command of God;

for God will guide Israel in joy by the light of his glory

with his mercy and integrity for escort.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 125(126) ©

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage,

it seemed like a dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter,

on our lips there were songs.

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels

the Lord worked for them!’

What marvels the Lord worked for us!

Indeed we were glad.

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage

as streams in dry land.

Those who are sowing in tears

will sing when they reap.

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

They go out, they go out, full of tears,

carrying seed for the sowing:

they come back, they come back, full of song,

carrying their sheaves.

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

Second reading

Philippians 1:4-6,8-11 ©

May you become pure and blameless in preparation for the day of Christ

Every time I pray for all of you, I pray with joy, remembering how you have helped to spread the Good News from the day you first heard it right up to the present. I am quite certain that the One who began this good work in you will see that it is finished when the Day of Christ Jesus comes; and God knows how much I miss you all, loving you as Christ Jesus loves you. My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognise what is best. This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ, when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.

Gospel Acclamation

Lk3:4,6

Alleluia, alleluia!

Prepare a way for the Lord,

make his paths straight,

and all mankind shall see the salvation of God.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 3:1-6 ©

The call of John the Baptist

In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the lands of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas the word of God came to John son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. He went through the whole Jordan district proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the sayings of the prophet Isaiah:

A voice cries in the wilderness:

Prepare a way for the Lord,

make his paths straight.

Every valley will be filled in,

every mountain and hill be laid low,

winding ways will be straightened

and rough roads made smooth.

And all mankind shall see the salvation of God.

RENEWING OUR DREAMS

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Baruch 5:1-9; Ps 126:1-6; Phil 1:4-6.8-11; Lk 3:1-6 ]

We are in the midst of our celebration of Catholic200SG festival, culminating in the closing Mass next Sunday. Our theme is Ignite and Shine. Why the need to be ignited? This is because after 200 years of Catholicism in Singapore, there is a danger for some of us to be complacent about our Faith, taking it for granted, especially those of us who are cradle Catholics. Then there are many who feel disconnected with the Church either because they had no Catholic community, or they had been hurt or abandoned by the Church, or simply because they do not agree with the teachings of the Church. Finally, there are those who have lost their fervour for Christ, the Sacraments and the Church because they feel so distant, having stayed away from church and the Catholic Community for almost two years during this time of the Covid-19 Pandemic. In some sense, we are just like the Israelites that the prophet Baruch was addressing. He was a prophet to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. They had lost their homeland, their temple and their kingdom to the Babylonians. The temple was in ruins. They had lost all hope. And the new generations of Israelites who were born in Babylon had no attachment or ties to Jerusalem. Having settled down comfortably in their land of exile, they were not interested in returning to rebuild Jerusalem when the time of exile ended. Indeed, they had lost their faith in God.

What must we do to re-ignite our faith? We must look to the past with gratitude. Although St Paul was in prison and we would think that he would be depressed or feeling miserable, yet his letter to the Philippians was one that was filled with joy, gratitude and hope for the future. He wrote, “Every time I pray for all of you, I pray with joy, remembering how you have helped to spread the Good News from the day you first heard it right up to the present.” St Paul remembered the kindness of the Philippians, how they supported him and how they had grown as a Christian community. When he thought of the past, he was filled with gratitude. This was the same motivation for the Israelites whenever they thought of their struggles by remembering their deliverance from the Egyptians and the Babylonians. The psalmist remembered this event with joy and gratitude, “When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage, it seemed like a dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, on our lips there were songs. The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels the Lord worked for them!’ What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.”

We too must look to the past, the 200 years of history and marvel at how the Lord had helped the Church in Singapore to grow and also our contributions to the development of the country in forming leaders with integrity and strong moral values. We are grateful for the missionaries who planted the seeds of faith. When we think of the sacrifices they made for us, leaving their home and country and loved ones, we cannot but be grateful for all that they had done for us. Without the foreign missionaries bringing with them not just the faith but education, medicine and providing us the resources to buy land and building the churches, the Church would not be what it is today. We have grown much over these last 200 years.

But we must also look to the future as well. Glorifying our past, whilst necessary to ignite gratitude in our hearts, will not change lives unless we dream of the future as well. This was how the prophet inspired the Israelites in exile. In a situation of despair and despondency, the prophet Baruch stirred up the hopes of Israel once again. He dared to dream of the future ahead of them. God, he said, would “put the diadem of the glory of the Eternal on your head: since God means to show your splendour to every nation under heaven.” God will bring them back like “royal princes carried back in glory. For God has decreed that Israel can walk in safety under the glory of God. God will guide Israel in joy by the light of his glory with his mercy and integrity for escort.” Such was the glorious dream that Baruch had for his people. This, too, is our dream as well.

Gratitude for the past and hope for the future is what will drive us in the present to work for the dream. Indeed, St Paul expressed confidence in the future by urging the Christians to grow in their faith, trusting in God. “I am quite certain that the One who began this good work in you will see that it is finished when the Day of Christ Jesus comes. My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognise what is best.” The Christians must continue to make progress in their knowledge of our Lord and grow in love for each other as well. Doctrine and life must go together.

We are called to be the glory of God here and now. The prophet said to the people, “Jerusalem, take off your dress of sorrow and distress, put on the beauty of the glory of God for ever, wrap the cloak of the integrity of God around you.” Similarly, St Paul said to the Christians, “This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ, when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.” Indeed, our dream is to be God’s glory and splendour so that His light, life and love shine in us. This can come about only when we live lives of integrity and devotion to God and our fellowmen. The prophet Baruch said, “the name God gives you forever will be, Peace through integrity, and honour through devotedness.” There can be no peace in this life unless we live a life of integrity, follow our conscience and be faithful to our beliefs. There can be no other glory that can last except through selfless and faithful devotion in service of God and our fellowmen just as our early missionaries had shown us.

For the glory of God to shine through us, we need to straighten our lives. This is what John the Baptist is asking of us just like the prophet Baruch. “Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley will be filled in, every mountain and hill be laid low, winding ways will be straightened and rough roads made smooth. And all mankind shall see the salvation of God.” We need to put our lives in order. What are the mountains that we need to level? Is it our pride, arrogance, self-sufficiency, and self-reliance that hinder us from recognizing the goodness of God in our lives and the love of our fellowmen? What are the valleys that keep us from being receptive to God’s love and our fellowmen? Perhaps, our ability to see goodness in this life is clouded by our negativities, our failures, our disappointments, our hurts and wounds that were inflicted on us in life or in ministry. So we are looking at the world and God with vindictive hearts. What are those winding ways and rough roads that need to be straightened and made smooth? Even though many of us are good Catholics, yet we all know that we are far from perfect. We have our weaknesses, our attachments, our weakness to the sin of gluttony, lust and greed. Some live an ambiguous life, trying to appear and live as good Catholics but yet cannot let go for our sins completely.

So what must we do? We must go to the desert. It is the place where we hear the Word of God. This explains why John the Baptist was in the wilderness. It was there that the Word of God came to him. John the Baptist, citing the Prophet Isaiah said, “A voice cries in the wilderness.” What would a prophet be speaking to in the wilderness when no one was there? This wilderness refers to the emptiness of our hearts and the loss of meaning and purpose in life. It is a life lived in a vacuum. Hence, to re-ignite ourselves, we must go back to the wilderness so that the Word of God can come to us. Only through the word of God can we come to know ourselves and be able to find consolation, inspiration and direction. John the Baptist, after receiving the Word of God, “went through the whole Jordan district proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Indeed, unless we have heard the Word of God for ourselves, unless we have encountered Him, we will have no enthusiasm for God and His people. Unless we are touched by His love, and have fallen in love with Him, we will treat Catholicism as a religion of doctrines and practices. This explains why Catholics who have been touched by God enjoy worshipping Him, talking and sharing about Him, reading and contemplating on His Word. Nominal Catholics attending an hour-long Mass say it is too long, but they can attend concerts that last for 3 hours! Ultimately, it is a question of whether we have been re-ignited or not. Those who are, will shine! So re-ignite and shine!

Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.

WHEN THE DISCIPLE IS READY

20211204 WHEN THE DISCIPLE IS READY

First reading

Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26 ©

The Lord God will be gracious to you and hear your cry

Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

People of Zion, you will live in Jerusalem and weep no more. He will be gracious to you when he hears your cry; when he hears he will answer. When the Lord has given you the bread of suffering and the water of distress, he who is your teacher will hide no longer, and you will see your teacher with your own eyes. Whether you turn to right or left, your ears will hear these words behind you, ‘This is the way, follow it.’ He will send rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the bread that the ground provides will be rich and nourishing. Your cattle will graze, that day, in wide pastures. Oxen and donkeys that till the ground will eat a salted fodder, winnowed with shovel and fork. On every lofty mountain, on every high hill there will be streams and watercourses, on the day of the great slaughter when the strongholds fall. Then moonlight will be bright as sunlight and sunlight itself be seven times brighter – like the light of seven days in one – on the day the Lord dresses the wound of his people and heals the bruises his blows have left.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 146(147):1-6 ©

Happy are all who hope in the Lord.

or

Alleluia!

Praise the Lord for he is good;

sing to our God for he is loving:

to him our praise is due.

The Lord builds up Jerusalem

and brings back Israel’s exiles.

Happy are all who hope in the Lord.

or

Alleluia!

He heals the broken-hearted,

he binds up all their wounds.

He fixes the number of the stars;

he calls each one by its name.

Happy are all who hope in the Lord.

or

Alleluia!

Our Lord is great and almighty;

his wisdom can never be measured.

The Lord raises the lowly;

he humbles the wicked to the dust.

Happy are all who hope in the Lord.

or

Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation

Is55:6

Alleluia, alleluia!

Seek the Lord while he is still to be found,

call to him while he is still near.

Alleluia!

Or:

Is33:22

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Lord is our judge, the Lord our lawgiver,

the Lord our king and saviour.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 9:35-10:1,5,6-8 ©

The harvest is rich but the labourers are few

Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness.

And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’

He summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows: ‘Go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.’

WHEN THE DISCIPLE IS READY

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ISAIAH 30:19-21,23-26; PS 147:1-6; MT 9:35-10:1,5,6-8]

Advent is a season of waiting in hope. Christmas is coming. But many of us are still suffering because the Covid-19 pandemic is adding to the many woes in our lives. We are affected physically, financially, emotionally, psychologically, and even spiritually. Every aspect of our life is feeling the strain. And the worst is, it does not seem that this pandemic is going away soon. In spite of vaccination, cases are rising, affecting our economy, work life, relationship with God and our fellowmen.

If we think we are in a very difficult situation, the people of Judah were going through much more difficult times. The Assyrian Army had destroyed many of the towns in Judah. Jerusalem was left alone, almost isolated. They had suffered much under the constant threats and harassment of the Assyrians and the country was near collapse. And this was because both Israel and Judah were not faithful to God, neither their leaders nor the people. There was corruption, injustices, greed and failure to observe the laws of Moses. So what did the Lord do? He left them to face the consequences of their sins. The prophet said, “Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: People of Zion, you will live in Jerusalem and weep no more. He will be gracious to you when he hears your cry; when he hears he will answer. When the Lord has given you the bread of suffering and the water of distress, he who is your teacher will hide no longer, and you will see your teacher with your own eyes.”

The truth is that we do not really learn our lesson until we pay a price for it. The costlier the price, the greater the lesson learnt. Indeed, we are like little children who did not do their homework and in desperation turned to their friends and parents to help them. But very soon they forget and never learnt to be more conscientious and diligent in their studies. This is equally true for us adults as well. We cheat and commit crimes which land us in prison. Often, through the suffering in prison, we come to our senses. So, too, for those who are greedy. They gamble in stocks and shares, in casinos until they go bankrupt or even end up borrowing, cheating and committing breach of trust. Then there are those who are very successful in life, whether in their career or business. They think so highly of themselves until their business collapses, or their health fail, or they are out of job. This is what Mary warned us in the Magnificat, “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” (Lk 1:51-53)

Indeed, we must not think that the Lord has abandoned us when we are going through hard times. At such times, the Lord is patiently waiting for us, more so than we await Him! He is waiting for us to turn back to Him. The truth is that we do not return to Him sincerely unless we are desperate and can no longer rely on our strength. “Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.” (Hos 14:3) In other words, the teacher will appear when we are ready to welcome Him. Otherwise, God, who is our hidden teacher, will make us realize that we are not so great after all through our suffering. The day we come to realize our nothingness before Him, we will come back to Him with all our heart.

Only then will we begin to search for Him. And He will appear and come to lead us. Once again, we will recognize that the Lord is our teacher. We need more than just food and rich harvest from our crops, we also need direction in life, to be formed in our conscience. “Whether you turn to right or left, your ears will hear these words behind you, ‘This is the way, follow it.’ He will send rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the bread that the ground provides will be rich and nourishing. Your cattle will graze, that day, in wide pastures. Oxen and donkeys that till the ground will eat a salted fodder, winnowed with shovel and fork.” Indeed, the cause of so much suffering in the world, whether it is the fragmentation of marriage and family life, the manipulation and cheating in business, the unfair competition in the world of trade, civil and international wars, is because man has forgotten about God and what true worship of God entails, namely, living a life of integrity, honesty, charity and compassion.

In the gospel, Jesus comes to show us the way. He is the Good Shepherd. “Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness.” Jesus sought to proclaim the Father’s love and mercy through His works of compassion and healing. Through His teaching on the Father’s love and mercy both in His words and deeds, Jesus brought healing and reconciliation to humanity. He gave the people hope for liberation and peace. This is because the Lord feels with us. Truly, “when he saw the crowd he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus as the Good Shepherd was motivated to give Himself entirely to the people because they were in distress. He was moved to compassion for them.

This is why we must also place our hope in Him. Even in this difficult time, we must turn to our Lord to lead us and to guide us out of this period of purification. We can be sure that the Lord has a message for us through the pandemic and the effects of climate change, seen in flooding, typhoons, drought and forest fires and depletion of wild life and marine life. Unfortunately, humanity is not paying attention to the importance of ecology, not just for the climate but for life itself. When humanity is no longer respected, when marriage and family life is destroyed, when conscience is dead, when God is no longer our reference point, when we only look to ourselves for solutions, even with all the advancements in science and technology, we will eventually be under the control of robots.

This is why we cannot sit back and do nothing. Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.” Indeed, for those of us who are better off, blessed with greater opportunities, resources and means, we should join the Lord of the harvest to work for the greater good of our fellowmen. We have been empowered to do what Jesus did. Jesus gave His apostles “authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of disease and sickness.” We need to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to open the hearts of our people to respond more generously to the call of the Church to reach out to those who are seeking for meaning and purpose in life. This is what the Lord said to His Twelve apostles, “Go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.”

We must begin the work of renewal among our own peoples first. This is what Pope Francis is doing in calling for a Synodal Process. This is truly a courageous move because it can be a double-edged sword if not managed properly as we lift the lid off a can of worms. Yet, we must be courageous to face the challenges bravely and non-defensively. This is the work of the Holy Spirit because the Church needs to find the right pastoral approaches in responding to the confusion among our peoples in the face of scandals, confusion brought about by the changing values, lifestyles, a secular and relativistic, individualistic, materialistic and consumeristic world. Hence, this process begins with the need to hear and feel with the struggles of the People of God. We need a compassionate heart so that we can appreciate the pain, loneliness, struggles and challenges of our people who are seeking to live the gospel life authentically. Hopefully, this sharing of pain, frustrations and aspirations will help the Church leaders to rethink how to move the Church forward. The Synodal Process gives hope to the Church to reshape herself to meet the challenges of modern times more creatively, compassionately, so that we can remain true to the gospel and yet pastorally effective.

Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.

Friday, 3 December 2021

DUTY OR PRIVILEGE

20211203 DUTY OR PRIVILEGE

03 December, 2021, Friday, St Francis Xavier

First reading

1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23 ©

I should be punished if I did not preach the Gospel

I do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me; I should be punished if I did not preach it! If I had chosen this work myself, I might have been paid for it, but as I have not, it is a responsibility which has been put into my hands. Do you know what my reward is? It is this: in my preaching, to be able to offer the Good News free, and not insist on the rights which the gospel gives me.

So though I am not a slave of any man I have made myself the slave of everyone so as to win as many as I could. For the weak I made myself weak: I made myself all things to all men in order to save some at any cost; and I still do this, for the sake of the gospel, to have a share in its blessings.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 116(117):1-2 ©

Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.

or

Alleluia!

O praise the Lord, all you nations,

acclaim him all you peoples!

Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.

or

Alleluia!

Strong is his love for us;

he is faithful for ever.

Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.

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!

Gospel

Mark 16:15-20 ©

Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News

Jesus showed himself to the Eleven and said to them:

‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.’

And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven: there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.

DUTY OR PRIVILEGE

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23; Ps 117: 1-2; Mk 16:15-20]

Today, we celebrate the Feast of St Francis Xavier, the patron of missions. He came to the Far East, namely, India, Malacca, China and Japan to bring the gospel to those who did not know Christ. He was tireless in undertaking these missionary journeys, assimilating the cultures of the people, learning their language and teaching them the gospel. This explains the context of today’s selected scripture texts, to remember him and his missionary endeavours so that we too can be inspired to share his zeal for the spread of the gospel. What is the secret to his zeal and courage to leave everything to bring the gospel to all, especially to the poor, spiritually or materially?

For most of us, we are diffident or even indifferent when it comes to the proclamation of the gospel. We lack the courage or even conviction to share our faith with others. We see faith as a private matter and therefore we would be intruding into people’s privacy if we share our faith with them. The fact is that we fail to realize that many in the world are seeking for truth and the meaning of life, for hope, joy and love. As St Paul wrote to the Romans, “But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'” (Rom 10:14f)

For others, they think that the proclamation of the gospel is a privilege reserved for some. There is some truth in this thinking in that unless we have been called by the Lord, we cannot share in His mission. St Paul certainly was a privileged person, and a unique apostle as well, because unlike the other Twelve apostles he was called specially by the Lord on his way to Damascus to arrest the Christian Jews. Encountering the Risen Lord and blinded by the bright light, he heard the Lord speaking to him and received the call to be an apostle to the Gentiles. It was a radical encounter with the Lord. It changed his entire life and direction. For us too, we cannot say that we do not have a share in this privilege of encountering the Lord. By virtue of our baptism, we are indeed privileged. Of course, some of us come into the faith because we were born into a Catholic family. Others met good Catholic friends or colleagues and were introduced to the faith. For others, they studied in Catholic schools or were helped by Catholic humanitarian organizations. Finally, there are those who came to the faith because they were inspired by God to look for Him in the Catholic Church as they were searching for something more.

But the greater the privilege, the greater the duty. St Paul, because of his special and unique encounter with the Risen Lord, was chosen by Christ. The Lord told Ananias, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:15f) This was true also for the Twelve apostles and the disciples who travelled with our Lord in His ministry, witnessed His cruel death and experienced the indescribable joy of seeing the Risen Lord. Perhaps for us who are less privileged in encountering the Lord deeply, we feel less responsible for the proclamation of the Good News. The truth remains as St John wrote, “We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life – this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us – we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” (1 Jn 1-4) Unless we have seen, we cannot witness.

For this reason, St Paul spoke of the proclamation of the gospel as a duty. “I do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me; I should be punished if I did not preach it! If I had chosen this work myself, I might have been paid for it, but as I have not, it is a responsibility which has been put into my hands.” It is a duty that comes from the privilege. That is the truth of life. This is what the Lord has taught 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)

This is why each one of us must search ourselves with regard to the blessings that God has given to us. As St Paul wrote, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” (1 Cor 12:27-31)

What is this greater and more excellent way? It is the gift of love. (1 Cor 13) It does not matter whether we are apostles or prophets, but we are all called to witness to Christ through the blessings and gifts He has given to us for the service of love, which is ultimately the proclamation of the Good News, whether in words or in deeds. This explains why St Paul considered the proclamation of the Good News as a duty imposed on him since the Lord gave him the command to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and hence he was happy to offer the gospel for free. His greatest joy was to bring people to encounter the Lord and find faith in Him. He said, “Do you know what my reward is? It is this: in my preaching, to be able to offer the Good News free, and not insist on the rights which the gospel gives me.”

And not only that, the proclamation of the gospel for St Paul was not a matter of proselytization or conversion; rather, it was simply to share the Good News according to the situation but always in a loving and sensitive manner. He wrote, “To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law.” (1 Cor 9:20f) Being intimately immersed in the culture, aspirations and values of those whom he proclaimed the gospel was a fundamental principle in proclaiming the gospel. He did not adopt the cultures of the people wholesale, but what was good, he retained and what was inadequate, he completed. The Jews believed that obedience to the Laws could save them and as a consequence went to the extreme of insisting that everyone followed the Law, even if without love. On the other hand, the Greeks did not believe in the laws, they advocated freedom, the license to do anything. So Paul completed the Jews by telling them that it is not the Law that can save them but love. On the other hand, to the Greeks, he did not advocate free love without law because freedom is exercised in the context of the law of love.

So it is the law of love that should rule us in our response to the blessings or privileges we have received from the Lord. Whatever privileges we have are given because of a task the Lord has appointed us to do, whether for our family, society, country or faith community. Let us show our gratitude as St Paul did for the privileges he received by using his entire life for the proclamation of the Good News. The command to “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation” remains the obligation of all. How? It depends on the gifts we have received. “While they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.”

Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.

Wednesday, 1 December 2021

CHRIST OUR EVERLASTING ROCK

20211202 CHRIST OUR EVERLASTING ROCK

02 December, 2021, Thursday, 1st Week of Advent

First reading

Isaiah 26:1-6 ©

Open the gates; let the upright nation come in

That day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

We have a strong city;

to guard us he has set

wall and rampart about us.

Open the gates! Let the upright nation come in,

she, the faithful one

whose mind is steadfast, who keeps the peace,

because she trusts in you.

Trust in the Lord for ever,

for the Lord is the everlasting Rock;

he has brought low those who lived high up

in the steep citadel;

he brings it down, brings it down to the ground,

flings it down in the dust:

the feet of the lowly, the footsteps of the poor

trample on it.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 117(118):1,8-9,19-21,25-27 ©

Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes.

or

Alleluia.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,

for his love has no end.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in men;

it is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in princes.

Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes.

or

Alleluia.

Open to me the gates of holiness:

I will enter and give thanks.

This is the Lord’s own gate

where the just may enter.

I will thank you for you have answered

and you are my saviour.

Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes.

or

Alleluia.

O Lord, grant us salvation;

O Lord, grant success.

Blessed in the name of the Lord

is he who comes.

We bless you from the house of the Lord;

the Lord God is our light.

Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes.

or

Alleluia.

Gospel Acclamation

Is40:9-10

Alleluia, alleluia!

Shout with a loud voice, joyful messenger to Jerusalem.

Here is the Lord God coming with power.

Alleluia!

Or:

Is55:6

Alleluia, alleluia!

Seek the Lord while he is still to be found,

call to him while he is still near.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 7:21,24-27 ©

The wise man built his house on a rock

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’

CHRIST OUR EVERLASTING ROCK

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [IS 26:1-6; PS 118:1,8-9,19-21,25-27; MT 7:21,24-27]

Today’s gospel is the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. After hearing Jesus’ blueprint on how one can enter the Kingdom of God through the observance of the beatitudes summed up in the Lord’s Prayer, what remains for us is to carry out His teaching. Entry into the Kingdom of God is not just by knowing about Jesus but obedience to the will of God. Indeed, the Lord said, “It is not those who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.” This is the way the Lord shows us how to live the life of the Kingdom. His entire life was lived in obedience to the Father’s will, even to the extent of accepting the passion at the Garden of Gethsemane. What the Lord taught His disciples, He Himself showed the way.

This is the same message from the Prophet Isaiah. Only the righteous can enter Jerusalem. “Open the gates! Let the upright nation come in, she, the faithful one whose mind is steadfast, who keeps the peace, because she trusts in you.” We need to show that we are friends of the city before the gates will open for us to enter. This is true in everyday life. We open our hearts to those whom we love and trust. If we wish to enter the city of peace, which is Jerusalem, then we must be at peace with God and with our fellowmen. Faith in God is the way to find lasting peace. Our confidence must be placed in the Lord. The psalmist says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. The Lord is God, and he has given us light.”

For this reason, we are called to take the teaching of the Lord seriously, and most of all to act on them. The Lord sums up His Sermon by exhorting us, “‘Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!” To withstand the storms of life, it all depends on how much faith we have in the Lord.

Indeed, Christ is our rock on which we should build our lives. The Prophet said, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is the everlasting Rock; he has brought low those who lived high up in the steep citadel; brings it down, brings it down to the ground, flings it down in the dust: the feet of the lowly, the footsteps of the poor trample on it.” After Peter confessed in Jesus, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 16:16-19) This rock, whilst referring to Peter, also refers to his confession of faith in Christ.

We must take seriously all that Jesus has taught us only because He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. St Peter urges us, “Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: ‘See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.'” (1 Pt 2:4-6) Indeed, for us who are serious about growing in our spiritual life, we must come to Jesus and be fed by Him, to find inspiration and direction. Jesus must be the foundation of life. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

How do we come to the Rock, the living Word of God? St Peter wrote, “Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. Like new-born infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation – if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Pt 2:1-3) It is important that we make time to deepen our understanding of the Word of God and make it the primary book we use for our prayer life. We must read the Word of God daily and interiorize what we read so that we can find strength, inspiration and encouragement. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Ps 119:105) It is in the Word of God that we find light in darkness and direction for our life. What better way in Advent than to wait for the coming of the Lord by quietly spending more time in silent prayer and meditation on the Word of God.

To come to the rock is also to receive the living water, for when Moses struck the rock, the water flowed. (Num 20:11) Jesus has come to give us living water when He spoke to the Samaritan woman. “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” (Jn 4:13f) And we are told that when our Lord was pierced at the side by a soldier’s lance, at once blood and water came out. (Jn 19:34) Blood and water signify the bestowal of the Holy Spirit at baptism and the sacrament of the Eucharist as the Bread of Life for the new people of God. This is why Catholics must not reduce the Word of God to just reading the scriptures but they must receive the Bread of life at the Eucharistic celebration so that Jesus can be in us and we in Him. “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.” (Jn 6:54-57)

Finally, we are called to live a life of holiness. The psalmist says, “Open to me the gates of holiness: I will enter and give thanks. This is the Lord’s own gate where the just may enter. I will thank you for you have answered and you are my saviour.” Holiness means living a righteous life, a life in union with our Lord, living out the beatitudes as much as we can, and living a life of charity, especially towards the lowly, the poor and those who are oppressed and marginalized. This was the case of Mary who responded to God’s call to serve Him in her life, regardless of the challenges ahead of her. She knew life ahead would be full of sorrows as the prophet Simeon already warned her, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Lk 2:34f)

Acting on the Word of God requires courage, perseverance and faith. It presumes that we believe that God is faithful to His word, that He is the everlasting Rock. In the final analysis, it all depends on our personal relationship with the Lord. If we know Him as a person, we will be faithful to Him. Faith grows in and through intimacy. The final test of faith will be seen in the trials we face and how we continue to remain faithful to Him. It is not about words, not about knowledge of doctrines, not about how many years we have been a Catholic, but it is about the readiness to suffer with Him, to carry the cross and follow after Him.

Just as the Lord asked the Twelve apostles, “Do you also wish to go away?”, because He had taught them some hard teachings and many were leaving Him. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6:67f) And yet when the time came, they all abandoned Him when He was arrested. But with the resurrection and the bestowal of the Holy Spirit, they were emboldened in proclaiming the gospel in the face of threats and death. When the Sanhedrin, “saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) Let us too walk with Jesus so that we will always be strong enough to face the challenges of life and remain faithful to Him. He is our everlasting Rock!

Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.

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