The theme of today is evangelization. It is very appropriate for the Year of Vocation. Of course, Fr. Kwan would not confine this vocation to priestly vocation. He would like all of us to understand that through baptism, we share the prophetic role of Jesus.
To be a prophet means to be a spokesman of God. God does not speak directly to men. He speaks through prophets. In the Old Testament, prophets were usually very unpopular because their messages were not pleasing to the hearing. Seldom were these messages good news. Take the case of Amos. Amaziah the priest of Bethel told Jeroboam, the king of Israel what Amos had prophesied. He advised the king to forbid Amos from speaking in the name of God any more.
For thus Amos has said, 'Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.' (Amos 7:11)
When Amaziah told Amos to go elsewhere, Amos made the following prophecy against him.
"Now therefore hear the word of the LORD. You say, 'Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not preach against the house of Isaac.'
Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Your wife shall be a harlot in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be parceled out by line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.'" (Amos 7:16-17)
Who could accept such bluntness? Therefore, most prophets in the Old Testament did not meet a good end.
To be a follower of Jesus is better. At least, the message we spread is called the gospel, the Good News. People are more receptive to good news than bad ones. But why should Christians spread the gospel? What doesn't Jesus spread it himself? St. Paul even had the following insight.
For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16)
We are not bishops, priests and nuns. Why is evangelization a necessity for us? Why is it a woe if we do not preach the gospel?
The same question is often asked why Peter did not write a gospel himself but asked Mark to do it. Some would suggest that Peter did not know Greek. He had to rely on John Mark to do it on his behalf. This is hardly a satisfactory reason. Rather it was for the good of Mark. In writing up the gospel, Mark had an opportunity to reflect on the importance of the gospel for his and our salvation.
Writing up the gospel is one of the many ways to evangelize. We have to practise the gospel in order to spread it. Jesus has this to say when he sent the 12 apostles out to preach the good news.
And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts;
but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.
And he said to them, "Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.
And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them." (Mark 6:7-11)
I often muse that Buddhism and Taoism can be a solitary faith. You visit the holy mountains and find a cave to settle down. Meditate and attain enlightenment. Then you are saved. In contrast, Christianity is a faith of community. You need at least one partner to practise the essence of Christianity --- charity. Of course, if you are the sole survivor of the Third World War, you should not give up because God would raise children of Abraham from stones. John the Baptist had this to say.
Bear fruit that befits repentance,
and do not presume to say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our father'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham (Matthew 3:8-9).
Therefore, Jesus sent the 12 apostles out to preach in pairs so as to bear witness to the essential teaching of Christianity --- charity.
But Jesus told them to bring nothing except a staff and a pair of sandals. Indeed, evangelists do not rely on food, money and extra provisions. Fr. Kwan made a perceptive point. Evangelists rely on God and God alone. Every baptised Christian partakes in the prophetic role of Jesus. We become spokesmen of God to bring His good news to men. It is for our own benefit because we learn to rely less on material provisions but the providence from God.
Dear Lord, I pray that our life can be a living witness to Your gospel. May we bring Your salvation to our neighbours. Amen.
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