Nineteenth Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: Who Else If Not Me? 捨我其誰？
Each of us is unique and thus our paths to salvation/justification/sanctification, whichever way you like to label it, are unique. Some attain sanctification through heroic martyrdom “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39b), while others lead a contemplative and uneventful life which the Lord also approves (Luke 10:42). However, there are many Martha-like people who would be proud of their own diligence and would complain about the lack of commitment of others. Similarly, our progresses on the sanctification paths would also be different. While some “forgetting what lies behind but strain[ing] forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13b), others tarry around to explore different possibilities. However, there are many people like those self-righteous Pharisees who would be proud of their own piety and would despise the “sinners” (Luke 18:11-12). That is why the Lord advises us to suspend our judgment on others, “Stop judging, that you may not be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Alas! How difficult it is not to judge!
The other day I had the opportunity to share with some parishioners my personal objections to the practice of environmentally friendly funerals in the form of scattering the ashes in the sea or designated memorial gardens. I was amazed that many of the parishioners do not know the Church prohibits such practices and the reasons behind. An instruction published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in August 2016 reads as follow. “In order that every appearance of pantheism, naturalism or nihilism be avoided, it is not permitted to scatter the ashes of the faithful departed in the air, on land, at sea or in some other way, nor may they be preserved in mementos, pieces of jewellery or other objects. These courses of action cannot be legitimised by an appeal to the sanitary, social or economic motives … When the deceased notoriously has requested cremation and the scattering of their ashes for reasons contrary to the Christian faith, a Christian funeral must be denied to that person …” (Ad resurgendumm cum Christo, #7-8).
So what Christian faith is offended so much so that even a Catholic would be denied the dignity of a Christian funeral? The Church always prefers burial because “burial is above all the most fitting way to express faith and hope in the resurrection of the body”. She insists on defending the continuous identity of the deceased. The document continues, “to show the great dignity of the human body as an integral part of the human person whose body forms part of their identity” and to fight against “erroneous ideas about death, such as considering death as the definitive annihilation of the person, or the moment of fusion with Mother Nature or the universe, or as a stage in the cycle of regeneration, or as the definitive liberation from the prison of the body”. (ARC #3)
I quote this in details because I believe many parishioners buy the idea of environmentally friendly funerals promoted by the government and are ignorant of the Church’s position. They have been misled by the candy coating of “environmental friendliness” and do not know the economic incentive behind such a policy. Forget about economy and theology, I think the government is silly in promoting such kind of funerals when at this crucial moment building up a sense of belonging to this city is of top priority! When ashes are scattered in the sea, how would the descendants of the deceased gather somewhere in this city together to remember their ancestors?
When I pass judgment on my fellow parishioners and non-believers, I have to remind myself that “pious Christians” would easily fall prey to a grandiose self-image: “I’m the only truly pious Christian before God” and with this, those “pious Christians” bring themselves into troubles, putting their faith in tests! The Bible readings today illustrate it well. In the first reading, we read of God appearing to Elijah on Mount Horeb. Let’ review the background of this story.
Elijah was over-confident. He thought himself the only surviving prophet in Israel under Queen Jezebel. “I have been most zealous for the Lord … I alone remain …” (1 Kings 18:22; 19:10, 14) though previously Obadiah informed him that he had kept safe one hundred prophets of the Lord (18:13). Three years before, he proclaimed to King Ahab “During these years there shall be no dew or rain except at my word” (17:1); and left for Zarephath and stayed there for three years. Then at the Lord’s command, he returned to Israel to challenge the false prophets of Baal to pray for the end of drought which he had brought about. He won, thus proving that Yahweh was the true God. Then he incited the Israelites and together they butchered more than 450 false prophets of Baal. This angered Queen Jezebel who swore to kill Elijah. “Elijah was afraid and fled for his life …” (19:3). His over-zeal landed him on troubles and he had to flee for his life! In this context, God appeared to Elijah in today’s reading, but in the most unexpected manner. God was not in the glamour of the violent and strong wind that rent mountains, not in earthquake nor in fire but in “a light silent sound” (19:11-12). God is not only powerful (wind, earthquake & fire) but is also merciful (a light silent sound). Yahweh shows His mercy when the evil Ahab repented of the death of Naboth. God spares Ahab and stayed the punishment after his death (21:29). It seemed that Elijah had not understood the mercy of God. Later, King Ahaziah, son of Ahab, sent fifty men to arrest Elijah. To prove that he was a man of God, Elijah called fire down from heaven to consume the company of fifty men and their captain (2 Kings 1:10). Elijah did it a second time (1:12)!
Probably it was a personality defect that Peter made similar mistakes in the gospel reading today. In fact, Peter didn’t have to go all the way out to meet Jesus on the waves. Jesus was walking towards them and they could simply wait! Perhaps he felt a need to prove himself worthy of being the leader of the Twelve! On his way walking on the waves towards Jesus, Peter became frightened; and began to sink (Matthew 14:30). Jesus extended His hand to save him. Another similar event happened later when after Jesus’ arrest Peter followed behind up to the courtyard of the High Priest (26:58) and ended up denying Jesus three times. Again, Peter didn’t have to put himself into such a treacherous situation but he literally walked right into the lion’s lair. I wonder what prompted him to risk his life and be humiliated among all the followers. Was Peter loyal or imprudent or in need of proving his worth? It doesn’t matter. The most crucial thing is the mercy of God. “The Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered ..He went out and began to weep bitterly” (Luke 22:61-62). Peter had fallen many times and with his frailty, “once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brother” (22:32).
Beloved brethren! Let us embrace our frailties as well as others’. Pray that we don’t desire to judge but to beg for the mercy of the Lord. Amen!
Picture credit: Curriculum Nacione
2020 Reflection
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