Scripture Reflection and Prayer : Journeying together

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

PRAYER AND FASTING STRENGTHEN COMMITMENT

20210225 PRAYER AND FASTING STRENGTHEN COMMITMENT

25 February, 2021, Thursday, 1st Week of Lent

First reading

Esther 4:17 ©

I am alone, Lord, and have no-one but you

Queen Esther took refuge with the Lord in the mortal peril which had overtaken her. She besought the Lord God of Israel in these words:

‘My Lord, our King, the only one,

come to my help, for I am alone

and have no helper but you

and am about to take my life in my hands.

‘I have been taught from my earliest years, in the bosom of my family,

that you, Lord, chose

Israel out of all the nations

and our ancestors out of all the people of old times

to be your heritage for ever;

and that you have treated them as you promised.

‘Remember, Lord; reveal yourself

in the time of our distress.

‘As for me, give me courage,

King of gods and master of all power.

Put persuasive words into my mouth

when I face the lion;

change his feeling into hatred for our enemy,

that the latter and all like him may be brought to their end.

‘As for ourselves, save us by your hand,

and come to my help, for I am alone

and have no one but you, Lord.’

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 137(138):1-3,7-8 ©

On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart:

you have heard the words of my mouth.

In the presence of the angels I will bless you.

I will adore before your holy temple.

On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

I thank you for your faithfulness and love,

which excel all we ever knew of you.

On the day I called, you answered;

you increased the strength of my soul.

On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

You stretch out your hand and save me,

your hand will do all things for me.

Your love, O Lord, is eternal,

discard not the work of your hands.

On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

Joel2:12-13

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

Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks –

come back to me with all your heart,

for I am all tenderness and compassion.

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

Or:

Ps50:12,14

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

A pure heart create for me, O God,

and give me again the joy of your help.

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

Gospel

Matthew 7:7-12 ©

Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. Is there a man among you who would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or would hand him a snake when he asked for a fish? If you, then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

‘So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.’

PRAYER AND FASTING STRENGTHEN COMMITMENT

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ Est 4:17; Ps 138:1-3,7-8; Mt 7:7-12]

What is the key to effective and efficacious prayer? For many believers, we are called simply to trust and believe in God who hears our prayers. There are apparently biblical justifications for this approach. We have read that Abraham’s faith in God was the answer to the promises God had made to him. Earlier on, Jesus told the disciples, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed, your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Mt 6:31f) He assured us, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” (Jn 14:13f)

Then there are those who believe that prayer complemented by fasting will bring down blessings from God. Fasting guarantees our prayers to be answered. But how does this work? Why does God want us to fast for our petitions to be answered? Must He see us suffer and be deprived first before His heart is softened and then give in to our hunger just like those who fast for political and social causes? Fasting in this case is to invoke sympathy and create social consciousness. It is to get attention from the public more than God because God does not need us to suffer before He grants our prayers.

But God is not like that. In the gospel, Jesus made it clear that the Heavenly Father will look after us more than we can imagine. As the Lord said, “Is there a man among you who would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or would hand him a snake when he asked for a fish? If you, then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” What kind of God will make fun of us when we are hungry, by giving us a stone that resembles bread, or an eel that resembles fish, as eel is a forbidden food for the Jews?

Whilst faith in God’s divine providence and His power to give us what we need is a pre-requisite, it would be irresponsible to think that we are not required to do anything but just to “let go and let God take over.” This would be too simplistic in the way we expect God to answer our prayers. This explains why Jesus asked us to pray and to fast. He said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him.”

The underlying principle of prayer and fasting is that it leads to a greater commitment to God, recognizing His sovereignty. When the Lord instructed us to ask, it is because asking calls for humility on our part, just like Esther in today’s first reading. Queen Esther took refuge with the Lord in the mortal peril which had overtaken her. She besought the Lord God of Israel in these words: ‘My Lord, our King, the only one, come to my help, for I am alone and have no helper but you and am about to take my life in my hands.” Her people were in danger of being exterminated by their enemies. And the one who ordered her people to be annihilated was the second most powerful man in the Kingdom, Haman. With the permission of the King, he ordered the massacre of the entire Jewish population. So in prayer, the first step is a sincere recognition of our nothingness. When we know our place in life, our fragility and we are humble to accept our limitations, only then God will show us His face. This is why the proud and arrogant will never be able to see God. We must be like little children before God our mighty and loving Father. God will only reveal Himself to little children who know they can only depend on God totally. (Mt 11:25)

The second step in prayer is searching. This implies commitment to self and others. Searching requires effort and co-responsibility. It is not enough to ask without cooperating with the grace of God. We are children before God, and even if we are handicapped in some ways, as we see in many physically and mentally challenged people, they still can make great achievements in their life. Some have become great architects, lawyers, scientists and sportsmen even! Having faith in God’s assistance does not mean that we leave everything to Him and we do nothing ourselves. God has given us intellect and will. He wants us to use them and whatever resources we have. Grace means efforts-plus or nature-plus. The super-natural assistance comes over and above the natural gifts the Lord has already graced us with in our humanity.

This we see clearly in the example of Queen Esther. She did not simply pray and fast. She took control of the situation. When she was told by her adopted Father, Mordecai the intention of Haman to destroy the Jews, she was initially reluctant because to approach the king for help without being called to see him would mean death for her. But morally pressured by Mordecai who said, “if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14) She decided to act by instructing Mordecai to gather all the Jews to fact on her behalf, “neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do.” (Esther 4:16)

Only then did she go and meet the King at the risk of breaking the law and the punishment of death. She said, “If I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16) This shows how prayer and fasting is manifested in her commitment to her fellowmen and such a commitment could cost her life. She was ready for martyrdom after her prayer and fasting. She would do what it takes to see the King and make the request. She was not sure of the outcome but she was ready for it, regardless. She could only surrender her life to the Lord saying, “As for ourselves, save us by your hand, and come to my help, for I am alone and have no one but you, Lord.”

The third step in prayer is perseverance. Jesus says, “knock, and the door will be opened to you.” We must keep on knocking and knocking until the door opens just like the Lord who keeps knocking on our door. “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” (Rev 3:20) Perseverance again is a sign of commitment. This is true even in human relationships, especially friendship, marriage and even work. Fair-weather friends are not friends. True friends are those who stick with each other, thick and thin, never giving up on each other, but ever ready to start again when there is a quarrel or misunderstanding. Those without perseverance are those who are not ready for any real commitment. Indeed, many so-called friends will abandon us when things get rough.

Perseverance requires courage. The Lord will give to us the fortitude to persevere. This was what Esther prayed to the Lord. “As for me, give me courage, King of Gods and master of all power. Put persuasive words into my mouth when I face the lion; change his feeling into hatred for our enemy that the latter and all like him may be brought to their end.” In the face of trials and difficulties, we need courage to continue persevering.

Indeed, when we pray and fast rightly, our commitment to the Lord will grow and become stronger because our faith in Him will increase. But most of all, we become more identified with our brothers and sisters who are suffering the same or similar struggles as us. This will strengthen our commitment to help them, to manifest our prayer and fasting in acts of charity and mercy. When we continue to pray and not give up hope, God will transform our hearts, strengthen our faith, and our desire. Such prayers will always be answered regardless, because we trust in His wisdom even if not according to our wishes.

THE UNCONVERTED CONVERTED

20210224 THE UNCONVERTED CONVERTED

24 February, 2021, Wednesday, 1st Week of Lent

First reading

Jonah 3:1-10 ©

The Ninevites repent, and God spares them

The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day’s journey. He preached in these words, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. The news reached the king of Nineveh, who rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes. A proclamation was then promulgated throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his ministers, as follows: ‘Men and beasts, herds and flocks, are to taste nothing; they must not eat, they must not drink water. All are to put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil behaviour and the wicked things he has done. Who knows if God will not change his mind and relent, if he will not renounce his burning wrath, so that we do not perish?’ God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 50(51):3-4,12-13,18-19 ©

A humbled, contrite heart, O God, you will not spurn.

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.

In your compassion blot out my offence.

O wash me more and more from my guilt

and cleanse me from my sin.

A humbled, contrite heart, O God, you will not spurn.

A pure heart create for me, O God,

put a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence,

nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

A humbled, contrite heart, O God, you will not spurn.

For in sacrifice you take no delight,

burnt offering from me you would refuse,

my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.

A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.

A humbled, contrite heart, O God, you will not spurn.

Gospel Acclamation

Ezk33:11

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

I take pleasure, not in the death of a wicked man

– it is the Lord who speaks –

but in the turning back of a wicked man

who changes his ways to win life.

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

Or:

Joel2:12-13

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks –

come back to me with all your heart,

for I am all tenderness and compassion.

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

Gospel

Luke 11:29-32 ©

As Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be a sign

The crowds got even bigger, and Jesus addressed them:

‘This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here.’

THE UNCONVERTED CONVERTED

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Jonah 3:1-10; Ps 51:3-4,12-13,18-19; Luke 11:29-32 ]

It is a fact that preaching to those Christians who are supposedly active in church and well informed of their faith is the most difficult. We become numb or blind to our sins. We do not see ourselves requiring any real conversion because we are already converted. Whilst we do not say it openly, most of us do not think we are real sinners. If anyone who needs conversion it is the others. We are quick to judge the sins of others but are blind to our own.

Hence, we can understand the rejection of Jesus by the Jews. Our Lord had performed many miracles. He had fed the 5000 with five loaves and two fishes. He had healed the sick and cast out demons from those who were possessed. After all that He had done, the religious leaders accused Him of corroborating with Beelzebul. (Lk 11:14-23) The Jews themselves in today’s gospel reading were too skeptical of our Lord. This made the Lord remark, “This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign.” What other signs do the Jews need to believe in Him? Jesus however refused to give them signs, presumably, spectacular signs that they wanted to see, before they would believe. For Jesus, He did not perform miracles to command attention or cower people into believe. Rather, the miracles were always performed out of mercy and compassion for those who were suffering. It was not the miracles that Jesus wanted to demonstrate but the love and mercy of God in the healing of the sick and the deliverance of the possessed.

Instead, the Lord gave two examples for them to draw their own conclusion. “The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.” The story of Jonah which we just read is a satire written by a Jew on the narrowmindedness of his fellow Jews. The exclusivity of the Jews with regard to their being the Chosen People of God excluded people of all races and nations. Only they were worthy to be saved whereas the infidels were all condemned to perdition. This explains why Jonah refused to be sent to the Ninevites to call them to conversion. Not only did he consider them to be undeserving of being saved but because the Assyrians were known for their evil and cruelty. They were the most hated enemy of the Jews. If we were Jonah, we too would not go and save our enemies. In fact, we would wish them destruction and annihilation from the face of the earth.

But today the scripture readings underscore that God wants all to be saved. St Paul in his letter to Timothy wrote, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim 2:1-4) Indeed, we cannot be so narrow-minded as to think that God wants to save only a particular race in the world. The goodness of God and His all-embracing love for humanity who are all His creatures is beyond what we human beings can imagine. His only criterion is that we repent of our evil deeds and believe in Him.

However, Jonah, like the Jews who marginalized the Gentiles, did not want to save the Ninevites. Jonah reluctantly went to preach to them as commanded by the Lord. He ran away from this mission the first time. As a result, he was thrown into the sea to calm the storm so that those on board the ship could be rescued. However, God rescued him by allowing him to take refuge in the belly of the whale for three days and nights. God gave him a second chance. Unfortunately, Jonah, like the Jews, failed to see how merciful God had been towards them. In spite of their constant infidelity, the Lord continued to rescue them from their enemies. God gave them more than a second chance. God always forgave them when they repented.

God wanted to extend the same grace to the Ninevites as well, just as in the New Testament, Jesus and St Paul reached out to the Gentiles. His grace is not for some exclusive race only. So God sent Jonah to preach to his enemies, hoping that they would be converted. Unlike the Jews who remained arrogant and refused to recognize our Lord when He preached the gospel, the Ninevites repented immediately. Their repentance was manifested not just in putting on sackcloth and ashes, but they stopped doing evil. The King decreed, “All are to put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil behaviour and the wicked things he has done.” So it was more than just an external repentance, unlike the scribes and pharisees Jesus condemned in the gospel. They performed pious actions just to impress people but their hearts were unconverted. Indeed, the king did what Isaiah expected of his people when he called them to repentance. “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” (cf Isa 58:5-7)

What was even more dramatic was not just the way they manifested their sorrow for their sins, but everyone was involved in the fasting and repentance. “From the greatest to the least.” When “the news reached the king of Nineveh” he “rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes.” Few kings would publicly demonstrate their humility before the almighty. Among the Israelite kings, many of the prophets who prophesied and called for repentance were condemned, put in prison and suffered persecution. Instead of repenting, they resented the call of the prophets. But not for this Ninevite King who led the people in repentance through fasting and wearing of sackcloth. Interestingly, even the animals were made to repent with the people. “Men and beasts, herds and flocks, are to taste nothing; they must not eat, they must not drink water.” They put on sackcloth, ashes and fasted as well. Such was the heartfelt response of the people to the Word of God that was preached by Jonah.

The Israelites and the Jews on the contrary were indifferent and ignored the Word of God when it was preached to them. They refused to repent, simply because they did not feel that they needed repentance. They were too blind and superstitiously clung to their chosen status. Not for the Ninevites. They were more receptive to the truth than God’s own people. Although they might not have had faith in the God of Israel, they had faith in God. They believed in God and in the message of the prophet. Hence, they repented sincerely and immediately. They believed and trusted in God’s mercy even though they were not guaranteed that their fasting would stop the punishment of God. They said, “Who knows if God will not change his mind and relent, if he will not renounce his burning wrath, so that we do not perish?”

Finally, their humility and response to God contrasts greatly with the way Jonah responded to God’s call to preach the message of repentance to the Ninevites. Jonah acted as if he knew the mind of God towards the Ninevites. This, too, was the arrogance of the Jewish people when it came to knowing God and observing the laws. Christian leaders sometimes also give the impression that they always know the mind of God on specific matters. The truth is that we come to know His mind whilst walking with Him along the way. Only in walking with God each day, can we discover Him and His will in our lives.

This is why the Lord condemned His people for unbelief and the humility to recognize their sins. He said, “On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here.” Jesus is greater than Jonah and wiser than Solomon. He is the Word of God in person. He is the Wisdom of God. Alas, they did not recognize Him and rejected His word. Jesus eventually even gave them the ultimate sign of Jonah when He was put to death and rose on the third day. Still, the Jews did not accept Him. It was the Gentiles that were converted through the mission of St Paul.

Monday, 22 February 2021

PRE-REQUISITES OF THE DISCIPLE’S PRAYER

20210223 PRE-REQUISITES OF THE DISCIPLE’S PRAYER

23 February, 2021, Tuesday, 1st Week of Lent

First reading

Isaiah 55:10-11 ©

The word that goes out from my mouth does not return to me empty

Thus says the Lord: ‘As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.’

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 33(34):4-7,16-19 ©

The Lord rescues the just in all their distress.

Glorify the Lord with me.

Together let us praise his name.

I sought the Lord and he answered me;

from all my terrors he set me free.

The Lord rescues the just in all their distress.

Look towards him and be radiant;

let your faces not be abashed.

This poor man called, the Lord heard him

and rescued him from all his distress.

The Lord rescues the just in all their distress.

The Lord turns his face against the wicked

to destroy their remembrance from the earth.

The Lord turns his eyes to the just

and his ears to their appeal.

The Lord rescues the just in all their distress.

They call and the Lord hears

and rescues them in all their distress.

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;

those whose spirit is crushed he will save.

The Lord rescues the just in all their distress.

Gospel Acclamation

Mt4:4

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

Man does not live on bread alone,

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

Gospel

Matthew 6:7-15 ©

How to pray

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this:

‘Our Father in heaven,

may your name be held holy,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.

And do not put us to the test,

but save us from the evil one.

‘Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.’

PRE-REQUISITES OF THE DISCIPLE’S PRAYER

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ ISA 55:10-11; PS 34:4-7,16-19; MT 6:7-15]

Becoming a true disciple of Christ is what Lent seeks to achieve so that we can truly renew our baptismal vows with confidence at Easter. To help us to be a true disciple of Christ, like the disciples, we must ask the Lord to teach us how to pray correctly, with simplicity and confidence. In the gospel, Jesus made it clear, “In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this …”

The Lord’s Prayer is in truth not the Lord’s Prayer. It is the prayer of His disciples. He did not use it Himself but taught the disciples to pray it. He addressed His Father in the most intimate way, a relationship with His Father that is unique and irreplaceable. Of course, the Lord’s Prayer in many ways sum up His attitude towards His Father, life and relationships. It is the model prayer of a true disciple of Christ because it is not simply just a list of petitions to God but it expresses our desires to become what we pray. Furthermore, the petitions are to be seen in the context of the Kingdom message. It is a prayer of the disciple who wishes to live in the kingdom already on this earth.

Indeed, when we consider the Lord’s Prayer, it is Jesus’ invitation to share in the prayer life of our Lord Himself. Jesus provided guidelines and the principles of a true prayer. It does not mean that we should just recite it the way it was formulated but all other prayers must be modelled on some aspects of the Lord’s Prayer. It is therefore presented as a template to formulate our own prayers. All prayers must be directed to the praise and honour of God our Father, seeking to do all things for the glory of His name by doing His will and asking Him to reign in our lives. Only then do we ask for our temporal and spiritual needs, especially the Bread of Life, the Word of God so that we can find strength to forgive our enemies and withstand the onslaughts of the Evil One. All the psalms in the Bible reflect some of these dimensions.

The Lord’s Prayer, which is called the “Our Father”, suggests a relationship of intimacy with the Father. Jesus related with His Father like a child to his daddy. Calling God, Abba, Father is an invitation to share in Christ’s intimacy with the Father. St Paul understood this well when He wrote, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” (Rom 8:14-16) St John also wrote about this invitation to experience God as our Father when he wrote, “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.” (1 Jn 3:1)

In calling God our Father, not my Father, Jesus wants us to understand that we must come to God not alone but as a family. We come together as members of the family of God. Every prayer, even if it is an individual prayer, is also a corporate prayer. God does not want us to pray alone and only for ourselves. He wants us to pray with and for each other. We are all brothers and sisters of the family of God. This has social implications for us as Christians. We can no longer think of ourselves and exclude others. There is no such thing as we first, and all others are second if at all. In the eyes of God we are all equal. Christianity seeks to treat all as equal and important before God. Indeed, it is ironical that even within and among Christians, we treat Christians of other races or language or culture as if they are second class. This discrimination is against the spirit of the Lord’s Prayer.

As children of the same Father, our task as disciples of Christ is to reflect our sonship just as Christ showed Himself to be the Son of the Father. This is what is meant in the next phrase of the Lord’s Prayer, “Hallowed Be Your Name.” In other words, we are saying, may our lives be reflective of the holiness of Your name so that those who meet us will know that God is our Father because of the way we live out our sonship. Every Christian therefore is called to reflect the glory of God in him or her just as Christ reflected the glory of God in His life. At the end of His life, Jesus said, “I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.” (Jn 17:4f) St John reminded the Christians, “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” (1 Jn 3:2f)

Of course, praying that His name be kept holy is also a reminder that intimacy with the Father does not preclude respect and honor for Him. Today, the emphasis on intimacy with our Lord can be practiced in such a way that it becomes a familiarity that breeds contempt. It is true in many areas of life. Even for us priests who deal with sacred things so often, we can become irreverent in the way we handle such items or even celebrate the liturgy. We must never forget that although God is our Father, He is also almighty. We need to regard Him with the highest respect, hold Him in reverence and honor. Whilst it is true that God is everywhere, we must have some sacred space where we acknowledge His presence.

A disciple of Christ who lives in the Kingdom of His Father must therefore welcome His rule and His will in his life. In this petition, the disciple asks that his life be under the rule of God’s love and wisdom. “Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done.” We ask that His rule be extended over the world, especially in our lives. This would require us to work for it as well, by aligning ourselves with the Kingdom values preached by our Lord. Jesus is the Kingdom of God in person because He lived for the Father and always sought to do His will. As He told the disciples, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work.” (Jn 4:34) When He was a little boy and stayed behind in the Temple, He told His parents, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Lk 2:49) Jesus’ entire life was to live out His Sonship by being obedient to His Father’s will. “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” (Heb 5:7-9)

Only when we have the right spirit and attitudes, can we then ask for our temporal and spiritual favors. The next three petitions are focused on the needs of the individual, their sustenance, relationships and spiritual warfare. In other words, as the first reading from Isaiah reminds us, God’s word would be effective in us in our lives only when we abide in His Word. This Word is spelt out in the general principles that our Lord had set out in the first three petitions of the Lord’s Prayer. Without getting the perspective right, the petitions that we pray for ourselves will not be truly good for us. Jesus did say, “strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Mt 6:33) All our needs must be seen in the context of His kingdom, His will and honouring His holy name. All our needs must be asked with the confidence of a child before His Father so that we would not be too worried about our daily needs for we know the Lord will supply them. What we need more is the strength to do His will by living a life in communion with our brothers and sisters, and finding the strength to resist the temptations of the Evil One. So the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.” Indeed, in praying the Lord’s Prayer in the spirit that our Lord has taught us, we truly live out our sonship and our discipleship in Christ.

Sunday, 21 February 2021

AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE, GUARD AND FEED THE FLOCK OF CHRIST

20210222 AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE, GUARD AND FEED THE FLOCK OF CHRIST

22 February, 2021, Monday, Chair of St Peter, The Apostle

First reading

Watch over the flock, not simply as a duty but gladly

Now I have something to tell your elders: I am an elder myself, and a witness to the sufferings of Christ, and with you I have a share in the glory that is to be revealed. Be the shepherds of the flock of God that is entrusted to you: watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, because God wants it; not for sordid money, but because you are eager to do it. Never be a dictator over any group that is put in your charge, but be an example that the whole flock can follow. When the chief shepherd appears, you will be given the crown of unfading glory.

Responsorial Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

where he gives me repose.

Near restful waters he leads me,

to revive my drooping spirit.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

He guides me along the right path;

he is true to his name.

If I should walk in the valley of darkness

no evil would I fear.

You are there with your crook and your staff;

with these you give me comfort.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

You have prepared a banquet for me

in the sight of my foes.

My head you have anointed with oil;

my cup is overflowing.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me

all the days of my life.

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell

for ever and ever.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

Gospel Acclamation

Mt16:18

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

You are Peter,

and on this rock I will build my Church.

And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

Gospel

You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’

AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE, GUARD AND FEED THE FLOCK OF CHRIST

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [1 Peter 5:1-4; Psalm 23:1-6; Matthew 16:13-19 ]

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of Peter. This is an ancient feast celebrated in Rome towards the end of the fourth century. This feast is celebrated as a thanksgiving to God for the mission entrusted to the Apostle Peter and his successors. The word “chair” is a symbol of authority, which is also the same word used in secular, educational and corporate organizations. Chair refers to one who presides with authority. The Chair of Peter therefore refers to the authority entrusted to Peter and his successors to oversee the Church of Christ, to guard and feed the flock of Christ. From the word “chair” is derived the world “Cathedra” which means the seat of the bishop. Hence, the Cathedral is considered as the mother church of the diocese. It is here that the bishop exercises his authority in teaching and feeding the flock of Christ. He sits on the cathedra where he exercises his office as teacher and shepherd, leading the flock of Christ to grow in faith, hope and charity. In celebrating the Chair of Peter, we want to give thanks to God for the gift of the Holy Father and his successors in guiding her in the journey of faith. They are a sign of His providential love of His Church.

But today, the word “authority” is often met with suspicion. People do not wish to be told what to do. Everyone has his own mind. Gone are the days when authorities, whether secular, corporate or religious, can expect submission from those under their charge. Those in authority today have to explain their position, defend their policies and teachings. And at the end of the day, the flock decides whether to believe, to listen and to follow. This is because of relativism, individualism and a distrust not just in corporate, secular, political authority but especially in religious authority because of the abuses and scandals and bad examples of religious leaders. As such, there is a much higher expectation from people today when someone is a religious leader. Respect today is to be earned, not simply given because of the office.

This is why, bishops and all priests and religious leaders included, must avoid scandalizing the flock of Christ. Religious leaders, as Pope Francis often warns us, should be careful not to fall into spiritual worldliness. What temptations religious leaders can fall into are the same as those that plague the world. These are the same temptations Satan sought to distract Jesus from His ministry, by tempting Him to take the easy way out by His power to satisfy His material and physical hunger, or to show forth His power and authority, putting fear into the hearts of people to submit to Him, or to choose fame and glory. Today, priests are also tempted to abuse their power to satisfy their worldly needs. This is why St Peter cautioned the elders, “watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, because God wants it; not for sordid money, but because you are eager to do it.” The office of bishops as overseers must be assumed freely and always as an act of service and not because of greed for money or other worldly things. Otherwise, we end up serving ourselves and bringing discredit to the faith and destroying the People of God and those who are searching for Christ.

Within this context, it is important for us to understand better the exercise of authority of the Holy Father and that of the apostolic college of bishops. Indeed, the office of the Holy Father, and by derivation, the bishops, are overseers of the Catholic community, which is what the word, bishop really means. Bishops are deputized by our Lord to provide guidance and care for His flock. This is why bishops carry the crozier, the staff of a shepherd to signify their role to protect, defend and guard the flock under their care, more so than as a symbol of their authority. Of course, the Holy Father and the bishops are exercising this role on behalf of Christ. He is the Chief Shepherd and all bishops are called to be shepherds after His own heart. The Pope, as the Bishop of Rome, has a preeminent position to be the visible vicar of Christ as the head of the universal Church.

As shepherds of the flock of Christ, bishops are called to imitate Christ the Good and Chief shepherd of the flock. The shepherd leads not by driving his flock like cattle but as a shepherd walking ahead and among them, both in his words, deeds and examples. This is what St Peter wrote to the elders. “Be an example that the whole flock can follow.” This is why the exercise of this office requires humility in service. Authority is not to be abused or to dominate the lives of people. Authority is always exercised for the common good of all, especially in the proclamation of truth, in doctrines and morals. St Peter reminds the elders, “Never be a dictator over any group that is put in your charge.”

The authority of the Holy Father and all bishops working in communion with him, seeks to safeguard the deposit of faith entrusted to them and to keep the Church of God united in love, charity and in truth. St Paul reminds the elders in Ephesus, “Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them.” (Acts 20:28-30) This is why today, the Papacy is better referred to as the Petrine ministry, a service on behalf of the universal church rather than the emphasis on authority.

Unity and communion are important for the Church of Christ. Division in the Church causes weakness. This was why our Lord prayed in His last testament for unity in the Church. “As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. That they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (Jn 17:21-23) He also told the disciples, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn 13:34f)

The bishops together with the Holy Father are called to be the exemplar of communion. This is why bishops never act alone but always in communion with the head of the Church, the Holy Father. When the pope acts alone on doctrines and morals, he too always acts in communion with the apostolic college as its head. This is why there are limits on the exercise of papal infallibility as he cannot teach contrary to the deposit of faith. The word “college” means the exercise of authority requires consultation and dialogue. It is not an arbitrary exercise of authority like a dictator. This was what St Peter warned the elders.

Indeed, as shepherds of Christ, our Chief Shepherd, the Pope and the bishops do not represent themselves. This too should also be for our priests exercising their delegated role as teachers of the faith. We do not teach our opinions. Theological studies and insights are important but they do not have the last word. The gospel makes it clear that whatever science can offer, there are limits to what human reason can unveil. As the Lord said to Peter, “Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.” Divine revelation is necessary as well. The authority to teach definitively and authoritatively is given to the Holy Father, teaching in communion as the head of the apostolic college. This is why the teaching of the Church must be under the Word of God. The Church is not above the scriptures but the Church is at the service of the Word of God, not as her master but a servant in the correct interpretation of the text.

Hence, we must always pray for our Holy Father and His bishops, that they be protected from error so that “the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.” We must keep our Church leaders in prayer so that they can resist temptations as individuals, or be misled in the truth. All the more today, when Church leaders are tempted to compromise Church doctrines to suit the world rather than proclaim the truth of the gospel. When that happens, we fall into syncretism, accommodating the values of the world and denying the uniqueness of Christ.