Humility & Holiness

31ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

[ Matthew 23: 1-12 ]

Synod 2021-2024: Communion, Participation, Mission.

   Synod: what is that?

At the call of Pope Francis, the Universal Church has embarked on a synodal journey (2021-2024) of listening, discernment, participation and mission. Since the time of the Apostles [cf. Acts 15], there have been synods and councils, when bishops and priests would gather – always in the name of Christ – to pray, discuss and make decisions about matters of faith, doctrine, and administration.

A synod is ALWAYS a Church discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit, NOT a decision-making body. A synod's recommendation will always be presented to the Pope, who has the final authority to make decisions on behalf of and for the Universal Church. It is important to note that the Holy Spirit is ALWAYS in congruent and in unison with the unerring word of God and the Apostolic Tradition of the Catholic Church – for God DOES NOT contradict Himself.

   Synod: listening, discernment, participation and mission.

The key characteristics of a synod are always listening, discernment, participation and mission:

   1) listening to God and each other,

In the Second Reading [Th 2: 7-9, 13], St Paul was overjoyed and thanked God because the Thessalonians had listened and received the word of God, and the word of God had become a living power among them. And, St Paul was attentive to the needs of the Thessalonians ‘like a mother feeding and looking after her own children’.

Likewise, in the life of the Church, we need to recover the joy of listening to God and to each other. We need to listen with love and walk humbly with the last, the lost, the least and the little. In essence, listening is to understand the person, not just the information; to care for the person, not just solving the problem.

   2) discernment of the voice of the Holy Spirit,

Yes, listening we must. But our listening must be coupled with spiritual discernment. While listening, we must discern what the Holy Spirit is telling us, thereby discern what spirit is moving in the conversation or dialogue – the good spirit (the Holy Spirit), the human spirit (the human emotions), or the bad spirit (the evil spirit). Again, it must be stressed that the Holy Spirit is ALWAYS in congruent and in unison with the unerring word of God and the Apostolic Tradition of the Catholic Church –God DOES NOT contradict Himself.

   3) participation in the life of the Church,

By the grace of our Baptism, we are ONE BODY IN CHRIST [cf. 1 Co 12]: we, though many, are one SINGLE Body. No Christian must live as an island; no Christian must live in isolation. St Mother Teresa of Calcutta has this to say, “We are called to be the Body of Christ in the world, and we cannot do that if we are living alone. We need each other to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.” The Church is the Family of God: everyone is important, and everyone is necessary.

   4) mission to build the Kingdom of God here and now.

God, in the First Reading [Mal 1: 14 – 2: 2, 8-10], rebuked the priests of Israel for their unfaithfulness to the Covenant: they had neglected their duties and had become corrupt. 

Jesus, in the Gospel Reading [Mt 23: 1-12], condemned the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. Today, Jesus is warning us against following their example. He is telling us that true greatness comes from serving others with humility, not from seeking power and recognition.

Perhaps, as the liturgical year of the Church comes to an end, that is where our mission should start:

   1) Come back to God, be faithful to Him, and obey His Commandments. 

   2) Live a life consistent with the Teaching of Christ and the Teaching of His Apostolic Church.

   3) Avoid hypocrisy and devilish pride. Serve with humility, not seeking power and recognition.

   The way of Christ and the way to Christ: humility and holiness.

Humility and holiness is the way of Christ and the way to Christ. Humility is the recognition of our own weaknesses, sinfulness and brokenness, and our total dependence on God. Holiness is the striving to pattern our lives after Christ.

When we are humble, we acknowledge our weaknesses, sinfulness and brokenness, and thereby are open to God's love and forgiveness. We are also more likely to be compassionate and understanding towards others.

There can be no genuine holiness without humility. Humility is the necessary pathway to holiness – to be Christ-like. When we are holy, we become the living witnesses to the Gospel of Christ.

The Holy Spirit: the Spirit of Truth.

A synod is a communal journey of discernment rooted in the Holy Spirit. As we journey together more closely in the Synod on Synodality, let us strive for humility and holiness in our life.

Let our fervent prayer be:

   “Lord Jesus Christ, let me be Your humble disciple, and help me pattern my life after You!”

Let us also pray that God’s justice, peace, truth and love may prevail in Malaysia, Israel-Palestine, Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Nicaragua.