FREEDOM SHOULD NOT BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF-INDULGENCE

XIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gal 5:1,13-18

The cry for freedom

Wherever people feel oppressed, we can hear their cry for freedom. People cannot accept anymore being treated in an oppressive manner.  And it cannot be otherwise, because God has called us to freedom and we have been set free by Jesus Christ. We cannot go back to slavery.

However, we should listen attentively to Paul's warning. While proclaiming clearly the right to freedom given to us by God, Paul tells us that this freedom can "provide an opening to self-indulgence" (Gal 5:13). The danger is always there, and we can see the results of such misunderstanding. Freedom does not mean that we can do whatever our hearts desire, without any limitations or controls. That will make a mess of our lives and of other people's lives as well.

The dangers of a self-centred attitude

Nowadays, there is a great stress on human rights, and it should be so.

However, we need the same stress on our duties towards the others. Many people understand these human rights as referring only to my personal and individual rights, without consideration for the rights of the others. In fact, my rights end where the rights of the others begin. And rights go together with responsibility. Without responsibility, they become selfishness, where nobody can control me, but I give myself the right to control everybody else.

The craving of self-indulgence

This talk about human rights (the rights of the individual) goes together with the talk about satisfying our urges and our craving for personal enjoyment and self-indulgence. 

Based on such ideology, many governments recognise abortion as a human right. The little baby growing in the womb is seen only as an excrescence of the mother's body, which brings disruption to her life and is oppressing her. They consider the mother's right to good life, and ignore the rights of a growing human being to life.

Again, based on such ideology, many governments see homosexuality as a human right and are ready to accept such relationships as marriage, considering as natural and normal what is in fact not natural. 

Aware of the dangers of freedom without responsibility, Paul speaks of the commandment of love: Love your neighbour as yourself. We need to abandon our self-centred and individualistic attitude, in order to put ourselves at the service of others. Instead of asking what the others must do for me, never infringing on my rights, I should ask what I can do for the others; and out of that selfless attitude of service, I will get peace and joy in my heart.

                "Serve one another, rather, in works of love" (Gal 5:13)

NO MORE DISCRIMINATIONS, SINCE WE ARE ONE IN CHRIST

XII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gal 3:26-29

No discrimination

To speak about equality and fight against discrimination is taken for granted in this twenty first century. We would not have it otherwise. However, in spite of being an universally accepted truth with political and social implications, we still find plenty of cases of inequality and discrimination based on race, religion, gender or social status. 

We won’t be surprised by the words that Paul wrote to the Galatians: 

"There are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female" (Gal 3:28). 

In fact, some people accuse Paul of doing too little and of being too conformist with the prevalent values of his time. Such accusations are very much unfair to Paul, since he did not live in this time of ours, and we cannot judge him by the present day standards.

A revolutionary thinking

Paul's teaching was revolutionary not only for his time, but also for many centuries to come. We must remember that discrimination and slavery were prevalent in the Roman society, and that the wealth and glory of the Roman Empire were built to a great extent on slavery. To teach that there is no distinction between slaves and free people or between men and women was political and social madness and constituted very dangerous talk indeed. His teaching was so out of the accepted principles that it would take centuries to be seen as the standard practice that cannot be disputed. Paul proclaimed a radical equality between all human beings without any discrimination, be it based on religion, race, gender or social condition.

One in Christ

Paul bases his revolutionary thinking on the faith in Jesus Christ. All of us become children of God "through faith in Christ Jesus", and in baptism we were "clothed in Christ". So in Christ, all of us are one.

Human beings are a hard nut to crack. They may talk and philosophise about all kinds of issues and even attain the correct thinking, without changing their attitudes, in order to serve their interests. That's why we still find so much discrimination everywhere, even in Church. Today, Paul is calling us to examine ourselves and our society, and to make the necessary changes in our attitudes.

DAVID, THE KING WHO SINNED AND REPENTED FROM HIS SIN

XI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - 2 Samuel 12:7-10,13

The political greatness of David

Time and again, the Bible sings the praises of David, the great king, warrior, legislator, composer and poet, who left an enduring legacy to the people of Israel. He secured the future of the Kingdom of Israel by defeating the various enemies that surrounded them and that constantly threatened its very existence, specially the Philistines. As one of his greatest feats was the conquest of Jerusalem, which he established as a stronghold for the defence of the Kingdom. David was a great statesman, who dedicated his whole life to the service of the people.

He was accepted as a prophet by future generations, because his kingship was seen in itself as a prophecy of the kingship of the Messiah and because many of the Psalms, attributed to him, are considered as messianic.

David’s shortcomings

However, in spite of his greatness, his personal and family life were a mess. He committed adultery and murder in order to hide his adultery. As a father and a king, he is not able to control and then to punish his firstborn son, when he raped his half-sister. That inability to keep his house in order brought about the revolt of his son Absalom, who forced David to abandon Jerusalem and to retreat to Mahanaim, beyond the Jordan.

David repented from his sin

What is interesting is that the Bible speaks openly about David's shortcomings and his sin. In the end, David's greatness resides not in is political achievements, but in his readiness to accept his sin and to ask for forgiveness.

When challenged by the prophet Nathan, he said: "I have sinned against the Lord." (2 Sam 12:13). David is the sinner who repented, and took responsibility for his actions. With David, we can learn as well that there is no ruler who is beyond reproach; and they must be challenged and denounced when they themselves break the law. They are not above the law; and they must be made to realise that their evil deeds bring misfortune to the whole community to which they preside.

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IS NOT A HUMAN MESSAGE

X SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - GAL 1:11-19

Here and there, in his letters, Paul speaks about his experience of the Risen Lord and of his conversion, which meant a radical change in his life.

Paul was single minded in his pursuit of faithfulness

He was a Pharisee (Phil 3:5), "educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law…, being zealous for God" (Act 22:3). In his zeal, Paul was single minded to the point of persecuting the Church "up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them into prison" (Act 22:4). He had no doubts about himself and about his beliefs; in fact, he was totally convinced of the righteousness of his attitude. For him, the ones in the wrong were guilty of unfaithfulness and betrayal, and therefore they had no right to freedom. He was fighting the good cause; indeed, he was fighting for God, as if God needed someone to fight for him, using violence and bringing great suffering to many innocent people.

In the Gospels, we find a similar attitude, when James and John wanted to call fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans who refused to welcome Jesus in their village. However, Jesus rebuked them (Lk 9:54-55).

From an exclusive nationalist, Paul becomes a preacher of universality

In the middle of his way to Damascus, full of courage and fervour, with authority to arrest the Christians and force them into submission, Paul underwent a deep experience of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ; and his life was transformed. In a moment, he realised the foolishness of his attitude: instead of fighting for God, he was fighting God himself. With the same determination, he changed course, becoming a follower of Jesus Christ. From that moment onwards, he would become a witness of Jesus Christ, tirelessly proclaiming the Gospel of salvation, to which all people are called. He abandoned his narrow mindedness and exclusivist nationalism to become a messenger of the universal love of God revealed in Jesus Christ that offers salvation to all..

Paul claims that he did not learn the Gospel from any human being, but "through a revelation of Jesus Christ". And so he did not hesitate, and "did not confer with any human being" (Gal 1:16), in order to become a believer in Jesus Christ. He had been called and appointed to proclaim Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. And he carried out that mission with the same single mindedness, that he had shown before; a single mindedness in which total commitment took the place of violence. He had learned from Jesus Christ selfless love and the zeal of total dedication that led him through the daily struggle of becoming like Jesus.

"I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him" (Phil 3:8-9). 

DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

FEAST OF THE EUCHARIST: 1 Co 11:23-26

Do this in remembrance of me! And that's what we do.

First of all, we remember Jesus himself, knowing that he is among us and with us. We are not remembering him as some historical figure of the past, as we do with all the important people who lived long go, but we are with him, because he is in our midst, as we gather together in his name and do what he ordered us to do. This remembrance is a celebration and an affirmation of faith, as we hear his call to follow him up to the cross and then to the resurrection, and it is at the same time a renewed commitment to be true disciples.

As we do what he ordered us to do, we become one with him, receiving life and salvation from him. Remembering Jesus, we proclaim him as the Son of the living God, the Christ and Redeemer, who offered himself in sacrifice, so that we may be reconciled. As we remember Jesus, his life and his teaching become our points of reference, and we accept to be guided by the values that oriented his life and for which he died.

Paul is very clear in teaching that whenever we share the bread and wine, that are the body and blood of Jesus Christ, we proclaim his death, celebrate his resurrection and live in eager expectancy of his coming to complete the work of salvation: "Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death." (1 Co 11:26).

FEAST OF THE THE HOLY TRINITY

As we celebrate the feast of the Holy Trinity, it is good to remember that we belong to a great family, whose love comes from the Holy Trinity. As we walk along, we should remember the the teaching of some of our ancestors in faith.

St. Athanasius (293-373 ad), who became Bishop of Alexandria in 328 was a great defender of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, which was defined in the Council of Nicaea.

Light, radiance and grace are in the Trinity and from the Trinity 

It will not be out of place to consider the ancient tradition, teaching and faith of the Catholic Church, which was revealed by the Lord, proclaimed by the apostles and guarded by the fathers. For upon this faith the Church is built, and if anyone were to lapse from it, he would no longer be a Christian either in fact or in name.

  We acknowledge the Trinity, holy and perfect, to consist of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In this Trinity there is no intrusion of any alien element or of anything from outside, nor is the Trinity a blend of creative and created being. It is a wholly creative and energising reality, self-consistent and undivided in its active power, for the Father makes all things through the Word and in the Holy Spirit, and in this way the unity of the holy Trinity is preserved. Accordingly, in the Church, one God is preached, one God who is above all things and through all things and in all things. God is above all things as Father, for he is principle and source; he is through all things through the Word; and he is in all things in the Holy Spirit.

  Writing to the Corinthians about spiritual matters, Paul traces all reality back to one God, the Father, saying: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in everyone.

  Even the gifts that the Spirit dispenses to individuals are given by the Father through the Word. For all that belongs to the Father belongs also to the Son, and so the graces given by the Son in the Spirit are true gifts of the Father. Similarly, when the Spirit dwells in us, the Word who bestows the Spirit is in us too, and the Father is present in the Word. This is the meaning of the text: My Father and I will come to him and make our home with him. For where the light is, there also is the radiance; and where the radiance is, there too are its power and its resplendent grace.

  This is also Paul’s teaching in his second letter to the Corinthians: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. For grace and the gift of the Trinity are given by the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. Just as grace is given from the Father through the Son, so there could be no communication of the gift to us except in the Holy Spirit. But when we share in the Spirit, we possess the love of the Father, the grace of the Son and the fellowship of the Spirit himself.

YOU DID NOT RECEIVE A SPIRIT OF SLAVERY

THE FEAST OF PENTECOST: Ro 8:8-17

Judging the past by the standards of the present

In this society in which we live today, it is a commonly accepted attitude to judge and condemn the past by the values and the philosophies of the present; and that is done with a spirit of pride and self-righteousness. Then, if there is a possibility of getting some money and gaining some profit, a crusade is started, which becomes the centre of attention of all the media. Many times, people who have nothing to show in service to their fellow human beings are the ones who mostly speak out, demanding justice and compensation. If one is or was in a position of leadership, then he is crucified, and nothing will be accepted as a possible justification. Whoever stands in front of people must be a perfect and blameless hero, if such a person can be found. The basic truth that all of us are weak and sinners is forgotten.

However, if these so outspoken people were there, they would have submitted with total subservience, and would be lost in the crowd, without making any impact which would be worthy taking notice of.

Paul seen and judged by today’s culture

This comes to mind, as I think of Paul, the great Apostle, who became great in spite of or because of his weakness and sin, being human like all of us. Nowadays, we find people who accuse Paul of all kinds of things, mainly of bigotry and male chauvinism, even misogyny. They would like Paul to be a twenty first century philosopher or politician promoting all the latest ideas of this new age. However, to see the relevance of Paul for today, we must look at him in the Jewish and Roman societies in which he lived at the beginning of the first century ad.

Paul’s experience of the Holy Spirit

As we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, we can see Paul as a great product of the Holy Spirit, and we should listen to his very profound teaching about and his deep experience of the Holy Spirit.

Echoing the words of Christ, Paul wrote to the Romans that "the Spirit of God has made his home in you (Ro 8:9). That fact transforms us, making of us children of God:

"Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God." (Ro 8:14-16).

Baptised in one Spirit, we have the dignity of children of God

We are children, so we are not slaves, meaning that we cannot be oppressed and trampled upon. Our dignity must be respected. Paul is very clear on that. This thinking was a totally radical thinking, in the Greco-roman culture, with a society built upon discrimination and slavery. Paul was not a politician and he was not in power to create fair political and social structures; he was just a wandering preach, moved by his deep love to Jesus Christ, and he offered only what he could offer: Jesus Christ, as Saviour and Redeemer.

According to Paul, we are all made into one, without discrimination, based on tribe, nation, race, language, culture or even sex: 

"For in the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Co 12:13) And "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (Gal 3:28).

A deep experience of the Holy Spirit will lead us to recognise Jesus' face in all the people around us, opening our hearts to them and seeing in them the common dignity of children of God. 

The experience of Pentecost teaches us that, in spite of different languages, races and cultures, we are all called to be one and to rejoice together as we proclaim God's praises and sing his glories.