SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS FOR
14 NOVEMBER, 2010, SUNDAY, 33RD ORDINARY WEEK, YEAR C
BY REV FR WILLIAM GOH, SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR, CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITY CENTRE (CSC)
Copyright © 2009 www.csctr.org
SCRIPTURE READINGS: MAL 3:19-20; 2 TH 3:7-12; LK 21:5-19
http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/111410.shtml
We are living in a critical age of history, one that is so ambiguous. On one hand, there is globalization, technological progress, democracy, freedom and the equality of sexes. On the other hand, we struggle with the moral degradation of the third millennium - secularism and godlessness, materialism and consumerism, relativism and pragmatism; all resulting in a society that is amoral.
Then there are the negative consequences of globalization. With growing urbanization, we are faced with the inevitable cultural uprooting. Social evils plaguing society include the trading and consumption of drugs; modern ideologies that reject the concept of the family based on marriage; the progressive divide between the rich and poor; violations of human rights; and the problems facing migrants. Most of all, what prevails today is the culture of death, which manifests itself in different ways, such as guerrilla warfare and international terrorism, human cloning, stem cell research involving human embryos and euthanasia.
Within the Church, there is an increasing loss of faith among our young with a corresponding loss of values. There is a general numbness to the reality of sin. There is also a growing irreverence for God and the sacred.
In the face of all these evils, the question raised is, what would be the consequences for humanity? In other words, is there is a future for humanity? Will humanity and the earth be destroyed like the beautiful Temple of Jerusalem when Jesus remarked, "All these things you are staring at now - the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another: everything will be destroyed." How can we keep our faith in the face of such stark reality?
Well, we can take heart in today's scripture readings when Prophet Malachi says that there will be judgment. The positive aspect of judgment is that there will be vindication and salvation for the just. The negative aspect of judgment is that there will be doom for all the arrogant and evildoers. For us Christians, we must look forward to the judgment not as a day of doom but with joy, waiting earnestly for the day of the Lord. Indeed, Malachi said, "The day is coming now, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and the evil-doers will be like stubble ... But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will shine out with healing in its rays."
Until then, we must accept that history is a constant struggle between the forces of good and evil. We have no reason to believe that things will get better and better or that Christ's kingdom will progress without hindrance. For Jesus reminds us, "when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened, for this is something that must happen but the end is not soon." Indeed, He continues, "Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines here and there; there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven."
The important question is that in the face of the vicissitudes of history, do we take flight or do we fight? We can take flight as what the Thessalonians did. In the hope of Christ's imminent Second Coming, they refused to work and wait in resignation instead. But St Paul makes it clear that we cannot afford to cop out of the world. St Paul reprimanded the Thessalonians and ordered them to carry on living because the world is going to be transformed and not destroyed. He said, "We gave you a rule when we were with you: not to let anyone have any food if he refused to do any work. Now we hear that there are some of you who are living in idleness, doing no work themselves but interfering with everyone else's. In the Lord Jesus Christ, we order and call on people of this kind to go on quietly working and earning the food that they eat."
So, we must be strong and fight against the insidious trends of the world. We cannot in this age of Anti-Christ, resign ourselves to the evil forces of the world, be it sexual immorality, the culture of death, materialism and the worship of men and things. As Jesus counseled us, we must be on the alert. "Take care not to be deceived,' He said, 'because many will come using my name and saying, "I am he … The time is near at hand." Jesus also said, "Refuse to join them." We must recognize the false messiahs of the world who are promising freedom under the guise of licentiousness, freedom without responsibility especially without communal responsibility; a life reduced to hedonism or pleasures; and eternal life seen in terms of an endless physical life which cloning seeks to do. But pleasure is not to be equated with happiness or eternal life with endless physical life.
By refusing to succumb to the seductions of the world, we will face persecutions. But should this be a surprise? Indeed, Jesus warns us, "You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost." It is ironical that our Holy Father loved by those who seek righteousness and truth is equally hated by many people in the world for being so outspoken on moral issues like abortion, euthanasia, same-sex union, homosexuality, contraception, injustices, and discriminations. That is why the Church is always under the spotlight. Satan is trying to destroy the Church by discrediting the church leaders particularly. Some priests are even misled and deceived by the world. Our faithful have been bought over by the propaganda of the world. Day in and day out, they listen to what the world is saying instead what God is saying through the Church.
Nevertheless as Jesus tells us, we need not fear under persecution but rather we must use it as an occasion for
witnessing. "But before all this happens, men will seize you and persecute you; they will hand you over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and bring you before kings and governors because of my name - and that will be your opportunity to bear witness." Yes, we must seek every opportunity to defend the faith of the Church and the values of the gospel through public forum on moral issues that affect the common good of society, e.g. gambling, stem cell research involving embryos and human cloning; economic and political issues especially those pertain to public order, morality and injustices. We must initiate debate and dialogue.
In spite of such insidious forces at work in the world today, we thank God that we have also many people who stood up for the gospel. Indeed, we must set good examples and dare to be different in the world like St Paul was. He went against the current mentality of his people when he told them, "You know how you are supposed to imitate us: now we were not idle when we were with you … no, we worked night and day, slaving and straining ... in order to make ourselves an example for you to follow." Yes, as Catholics, we must show ourselves to be different. We must be willing to put a price to what we stand for in life. We cannot afford to be wishy-washy and ambiguous in our values. We must be people who show the way and walk the way for the world to follow.
To be steadfast under persecution, we must rely on God's help and strength. Jesus reminds us, "Keep this carefully in mind: you are not to prepare your defense, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict." We cannot stand against the current tide of the world unless we stand with Jesus and with His Church. Only those of us who grow in personal knowledge of Jesus and a deeper understanding of the teaching of the Church on both doctrinal and moral issues can face the world confidently and exposed the falsehoods that are being promoted.
Will you stand up to this challenge and save this world, this humanity from destruction? God needs you to work with Him. If we do this, then Jesus assures us, ""You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives." Not only your lives but also that of your children and the future of humanity!
Of course, endurance is not a stoic pessimism but faith that victory lies with God. We can be confident that God will triumph in the end. Our faith is that God will judge the earth and as the responsorial psalm says, He will rule the earth. In spite of the ambiguity of history, the Christian knows for sure that God will eventually bring good out of evil; that the truth will triumph in the end. On that day, the ambiguity of history will be resolved and made clear.