Fr. John Baptist Kwan celebrated his last Sunday Mass in Tuen Mun this morning at elevent. The Diocesan Chancery sent him to St. Margaret Parish in the Happy Valley after he had served the parish in Tuen Mun for 11 years.
In his homily, he firstly thanked all who had worked with him in the parish for their support. Parish life had been very lively and amiable. He continued to thank the congregation for their generosity so that the parish was able to be self-sufficient. Even in times of global financial crisis, the parish was able to sustain and survive without asking a penny from the Diocese. Lastly, he begged all of us to forgive him for whatever he had done to wrong them. He knew that he was an impatient man and must have offended a lot of us who needed a priest to listen to their grievances.
After mass, the Parish Council organized a farewell tea-party for him. Many parishioners took pictures with him.
In his homily, he firstly thanked all who had worked with him in the parish for their support. Parish life had been very lively and amiable. He continued to thank the congregation for their generosity so that the parish was able to be self-sufficient. Even in times of global financial crisis, the parish was able to sustain and survive without asking a penny from the Diocese. Lastly, he begged all of us to forgive him for whatever he had done to wrong them. He knew that he was an impatient man and must have offended a lot of us who needed a priest to listen to their grievances.
After mass, the Parish Council organized a farewell tea-party for him. Many parishioners took pictures with him.
In the first reading today, we read of the story of Joshua being jealous for Moses.
Moses was overloaded with settling disputes among the Israelites. Moreover, the people were complaining about not having meat in their daily diet. Therefore, God told Moses to choose seventy elders from the people. He would give them some of the spirit which He had given Moses so that these 70 elders might share the burden of Moses to handle the cases of the people. Moreover, God would also feed the people with quails for one whole month.
Two of the elders remained in the camp while the rest were stationed around the tent outside. The spirit descended onto all of them so that they were able to prophesize. A young man found the two elders inside the camp prophesizing and told Joshua. Joshua was loyal to Moses and asked Moses to forbid these two elders from prophesizing.
And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, "My lord Moses, forbid them."
But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!"(Numbers 11:28-29)
Moses had a large heart. He wished that all the Lord's people were prophets! A similar case happened in the gospel. John also stopped a man from using Jesus' name for exorcism. But Jesus told John not to forbid him.
But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me.
For he that is not against us is for us (Mark 9:39-40).
We Christians have no right to monopolize salvation. We are, but one of the many channels through which God saves the world. We do not have exclusive monopoly, nor can we dictate how God should save a particular person.
Moses was overloaded with settling disputes among the Israelites. Moreover, the people were complaining about not having meat in their daily diet. Therefore, God told Moses to choose seventy elders from the people. He would give them some of the spirit which He had given Moses so that these 70 elders might share the burden of Moses to handle the cases of the people. Moreover, God would also feed the people with quails for one whole month.
Two of the elders remained in the camp while the rest were stationed around the tent outside. The spirit descended onto all of them so that they were able to prophesize. A young man found the two elders inside the camp prophesizing and told Joshua. Joshua was loyal to Moses and asked Moses to forbid these two elders from prophesizing.
And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, "My lord Moses, forbid them."
But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!"(Numbers 11:28-29)
Moses had a large heart. He wished that all the Lord's people were prophets! A similar case happened in the gospel. John also stopped a man from using Jesus' name for exorcism. But Jesus told John not to forbid him.
But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me.
For he that is not against us is for us (Mark 9:39-40).
We Christians have no right to monopolize salvation. We are, but one of the many channels through which God saves the world. We do not have exclusive monopoly, nor can we dictate how God should save a particular person.
However, I am more interested in finding out the purpose of sandwiching the story of 70 elders between the quails story.
The Israelites were facing many difficulties in the wilderness. They needed a leader to bring them through the desert. But being a leader is not a fun job. He is caught between God and the people. The following verse is a vivid description of the situation of leaders like Moses.
Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased (Numbers 11:10).
Since Moses and God has established a long term working relationship. He was able to intercede for the Israelites. He was even able to complain God to, who else but God Himself! He laid the problem in front of God and reasoned with Him. Moses had to deal with two related problems.
Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, 'Give us meat, that we may eat.'
I am not able to carry all this people alone, the burden is too heavy for me (Numbers 11:13-14).
Moses needed better food and more helping hands. God had already given the Israelites manna for food. But the manna was not tasty enough and the people were fed up with it. They wanted better food. They even wept for meat.
It is human nature to raise their expectations continually. After filling up the stomach, they want better food. After finding a shelter, they want better housing. After ascending to the throne, they want to become God. Some theologians suggest that God makes us long for Him. Otherwise, man is unable to obtain salvation. Therefore, who can blame us for aiming higher, for wanting more?
Only God can satisfy our unlimited wants. Moses could not. Therefore, Moses needed more helping hands to share his burden, to provide better service. In response to Moses request, God gave 70 elders some of the spirit of Moses, but with a difference.
Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was upon him and put it upon the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did so no more (Numbers 11:25).
The 70 elders were able to prophesized once and did so no more. They were administrators and not innovators. Moses was a charismatic leader who brought about changes in response to crises. These 70 elders shared his job to effect the changes Moses initiated. Moses remained the sole leader having direct access to God.
However, appointing administrators might not be able to solve the food crisis. They were not able to placate God's wrath. The Israelites collected the quails in frenzy for two days.
While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague (Numbers 11:33).
We, at least the Israelites, need more prophets, charismatic leaders who have better connections with God, but not more administrators.
The Israelites were facing many difficulties in the wilderness. They needed a leader to bring them through the desert. But being a leader is not a fun job. He is caught between God and the people. The following verse is a vivid description of the situation of leaders like Moses.
Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased (Numbers 11:10).
Since Moses and God has established a long term working relationship. He was able to intercede for the Israelites. He was even able to complain God to, who else but God Himself! He laid the problem in front of God and reasoned with Him. Moses had to deal with two related problems.
Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, 'Give us meat, that we may eat.'
I am not able to carry all this people alone, the burden is too heavy for me (Numbers 11:13-14).
Moses needed better food and more helping hands. God had already given the Israelites manna for food. But the manna was not tasty enough and the people were fed up with it. They wanted better food. They even wept for meat.
It is human nature to raise their expectations continually. After filling up the stomach, they want better food. After finding a shelter, they want better housing. After ascending to the throne, they want to become God. Some theologians suggest that God makes us long for Him. Otherwise, man is unable to obtain salvation. Therefore, who can blame us for aiming higher, for wanting more?
Only God can satisfy our unlimited wants. Moses could not. Therefore, Moses needed more helping hands to share his burden, to provide better service. In response to Moses request, God gave 70 elders some of the spirit of Moses, but with a difference.
Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was upon him and put it upon the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did so no more (Numbers 11:25).
The 70 elders were able to prophesized once and did so no more. They were administrators and not innovators. Moses was a charismatic leader who brought about changes in response to crises. These 70 elders shared his job to effect the changes Moses initiated. Moses remained the sole leader having direct access to God.
However, appointing administrators might not be able to solve the food crisis. They were not able to placate God's wrath. The Israelites collected the quails in frenzy for two days.
While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague (Numbers 11:33).
We, at least the Israelites, need more prophets, charismatic leaders who have better connections with God, but not more administrators.
Dear Lord, make us better prophets, better channels of Your grace to our neighbours. Amen.
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