Gaudete Sunday, Year A
Theme: Are You Happy With Your Joy? 你對你的喜樂滿意嗎？
Upon routine rapid test on December 14, I found myself COVID positive. The symptoms were mild but it might indicate that my resistance mechanisms were weak. For charity’s sake, I should retire myself from works to focus on the combat with this new strain of virus. Meanwhile, I can put away my routines and spend more quality time with the merciful Lord. Since I’m not able to assist mass physically, I attended mass online and listened to the homily of Cardinal John Tong whom I usually assist. It was good. Perhaps assisting masses is no substitute for attending masses.
This Sunday is named Gaudete Sunday after the Entrance Antiphon taken from “Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete. Dominus enim prope est” (Philippians 4:4-5). The time has come for us to be joyful because the Lord is near. Christmas is just around the corner. Are we well-prepared to celebrate the birth of the Saviour of the World?
The Cardinal continues to illustrate the role of John the Baptist. Like the moon which is not itself a source of light but a mirror of the sun, John the Baptist “is not the light, but came to testify to the light” (1:8). The merciful Lord respects our autonomy and does not want to force us to believe in Him and to love Him. Jesus Christ did not continue staying on earth after resurrection. After forty days, He ascended into heavens and left the evangelization work to the Church. We were baptized into this Church, this community of the redeemed. Therefore, to a certain extent, all Christians are Baptist’s to testify to the merciful Christ! There are many people who do not know the Saviour and are in need of our passing on of this good news. No mirror is perfect, not the moon and not even John the Baptist. All of us are flawed but the light source we testify to is so powerful that our imperfections are neglibile in reflecting His glory. Do we find joy in testifying to the merciful Lord?
As a community of the redeemed, the People of God on earth, the Church sees herself in different images in different ages. Nowadays, the Church has come out of her superiority complex and sees herself at the service of the world. She identifies herself with the poor, the socially marginalized and stand by them. Unlike previous ages in which the Church was able to command respect and resources, she herself is also being marginalized by the powerful and wealthy of the world nowadays. Many world leaders are ignoring her presence while social media are eager to expose her scandals. It is truly challenging to believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church in the twenty-first century! In order to stand firm, we need to go deeper into the root. In other words, we need a deeper communication with our Lord.
Like any social institution, the history of the Catholic Church is checkered. While she claims to be the embryonic Kingdom of Heavens, a kingdom of justice and love on earth, a lot of atrocities and brutalities were committed in her name! While she claims to be the Perfect Society on earth, her clergy was not exempted from abuses and corruptions to fatten themselves. Yet, no matter how ugly at times the Church has been in human history, Jesus Christ her Spouse has not divorced her. Saints popped up in different ages to restore and revigorate her. In time, the Catholic Church has built up a great treasure trove of graces: writings of Church Doctors, sacraments and different schools of spiritualities to meet the different needs of all peoples. It is true that laziness is a human nature. Men are intelligent. Sooner of latter they will be able to develop procedures to run tasks more efficiently, saving their energies. Some may be satisfied and stay put. Luckily, some won’t be satisfied easily and crave for more!
2020 Reflection
Picture Credit: thehill.com
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