FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
OUR THEME FOR 2020
(Part 53)
INSTRUCTED IN THE FAITH
May 24, 2020
Today’s readings:
Acts 1:1-11
Psalm 47:2-9
Ephesians 1:17-23
Matthew 28:16-20
After Jesus’ resurrection and before his ascension, “he presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3). During his public ministry Jesus had instructed his disciples. Now he was revisiting everything in light of his resurrection and giving them the proper perspective. Then before his ascension, he told them what they were to do. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, …. teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Mt 28:19a,20a).
Indeed, to be a disciple is to be taught and to observe Jesus’ commands. It is to listen to his words and act on them, so that one is built on Rock. Today, there is a dire need for formation, as many Catholics do not really know the faith. The disciples who were with Jesus and witnessed his resurrection were themselves challenged. How much more with us who are far removed from those glorious events?
What are some of these challenges, that stand in the way of proclaiming the gospel?
First, there are those who doubt. “When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.” (Mt 28:17).
There are those who doubt the rightful absolute dominion of God in the world. Here is the reality: “God is king over all the earth; …. God rules over the nations” (Ps 47:8a,9a). But those who doubt concede that other religions and faiths are just as valid as the Christian faith. So they will not push the Church to proselytize, so that others might be converted to Christianity. But Jesus clearly commanded it. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit.” (Mt 28:19). Our work is help bring people to faith in Jesus, so as to bring glory to him, who is “far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Eph 1:21).
There are those who doubt the absolute power of God, which can bring peoples to faith in Jesus. There are even those secular authorities, who are Catholics, who in today’s COVID-19 pandemic look only to human resourcefulness for the cure, rather than to the mercy of God. But Jesus already stated clearly, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Mt 28:18). If we want a miraculous cure for this pandemic, we must look to God.
There are those who doubt the assurance of Jesus’ presence until he returns once again. So, in the face of great difficulties in evangelization, they can become fearful or feel helpless or lack faith in the power of God to change lives. But Jesus had already assured us, “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28:20b). If Jesus the resurrected One is with us always, then we go forth in confidence every day of our lives. We must be assured that God “put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.” (Eph 1:22-23).
Second, there are those who do not know the real nature of Jesus’ mission. “When they had gathered together they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’” (Acts 1:6). They were still looking to Jesus as the Messiah who would be the political leader who would restore self-rule and glory to Israel.
Today there are those who miss out on the basic mission of our Church, which is the proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the salvation of souls. Ours is a missionary Church, but unfortunately she seems to have lost her sense of authentic mission. Now mission is defined in terms of social justice or ecological conversion or interreligious dialogue. Now there is political correctness, that does not want to offend people by confronting them with their sins.
There are those, including among the hierarchy, who play politics with the state powers-that-be. Worse, they become subservient to the state. One manifestation of this is how many bishops throughout the world, in this COVID-19 pandemic, have just accepted the lockdown of churches and the categorization of Masses and spiritual activities as non-essential (while the sale of alcohol and the murder of children in abortion are considered essential). But nations are to be under God, not the other way around. Christians are to animate the temporal order, not be ruled by it.
Third, there are those who look to Jesus but do not look to the urgency of his commission. Jesus had told his disciples that they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Then Jesus ascended into heaven. “While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?’” (Acts 1:10-11a).
There are those who are deeply spiritual people, who look to God and to the heavenly realm. However, their spirituality does not translate into decisive action for building the Kingdom. They may pray a lot and spend a lot of time in church, but they are not out in the field gathering the harvest for the Kingdom.
There are those who do engage in evangelistic activities, but do not have the urgency in doing so. In many parishes, evangelization is just one of the many different ministries (worship, youth, Bible appreciation, work with the poor, etc.). But evangelization must be the thread that cuts across all parish ministries. It must be the most basic focus.
So there is dire need for instruction, for teaching, for formation in the faith. This is part of our life and work, for ourselves as well as for many others out there. In this the Holy Spirit helps us. So we pray that “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.” (Eph 1:17).
We as God’s people are destined for greatness. We must not doubt, and we must not neglect the mission. “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might” (Eph 1:18-19).
