[stephenkhoo]

FORTITUDE MUST BE TEMPERED WITH PRUDENCE  
SCRIPTURE READINGS: MICAH 2:1-5; MT 12:14-21
http://www.universalis.com/20140719/mass.htm
Today, there are many who suffer the loss of their basic rights and dignity at the workplace, and even at home.  Many are manipulated by the rich and the powerful to do their bidding.  Often, money is used to tempt the poor to commit crimes.  Power is used to threaten the weak to corroborate with the evil doings of the influential, and quite often, the weak are caught in a bind, because of the fear of harm and suffering that may befall them or their loved ones if they do not cooperate.  For the sake of apparent security, we often lie and cheat to win favour with our superiors.
This was the situation of the Israelites during the time of the Prophet Micah.   As God’s spokesman, he exposed the rich for their oppression of the poor.  Without compromising the message of God, he decried and denounced the unjust social policies and systems of his nation.  As Christians, our prophetic office demands that we too must strive to ensure that we live justly and honestly, treating our workers, bosses and fellowmen, including our family members, with respect, fairness and dignity.  At the same time, we also have the obligation to defend the rights of the weak who are voiceless and deprived of their basic rights.
In the gospel, Jesus too championed the plight of the poor.  He was conscious that He was called to be in the line of the Prophetic Tradition of exposing the ills of society and the repressive social and religious customs and practices of His time.  On one hand, He went about alleviating the sufferings of His people by healing them of their illnesses.  But He also enlightened them through His teachings, and through His preaching, gave them faith and hope in God who, as the psalmist affirms, does not forget the predicament of the poor.  Truly, in Jesus, we know that God “behold(s)” our “misery and sorrow”, taking them in His hands.
Yet, in the process of serving the poor and the cause of justice, we create enemies and opposition, because we jeopardize the plans of the wicked.  This is where we need to be strong in the face of confrontation.  We need fortitude and courage to remain firm in our beliefs and in our mission.   This was the dilemma that the prophets faced.  Jesus too, as THE prophet, the Word of God in person, had to contend with the escalating resentment and prejudices against Him by the religious leaders.  Just before today’s episode, Jesus went against the slavish interpretation of the Sabbath law which was practiced in such a way that it oppressed the poor rather than liberate them.  He defended His disciples for plucking corn from the fields and the healing of the man with the shriveled hand at the synagogue on the Sabbath.  These two incidents incensed the Pharisees who, from that point onwards, “began to plot against Jesus, discussing how to destroy him.”
What is significant is the lesson we can take from Jesus in the way He dealt with the mounting opposition against Him.  He did not cower from their conspiracy to destroy Him, but remained determined and focused in wanting to carry out the Father’s will. It would be foolish for us to think that fidelity to God’s will and His Word requires us to be reckless and imprudent in dealing with our enemies.  On the contrary, the virtue of fortitude does not mean that we must be headstrong in opposing our enemies.  Sometimes, fortitude is misunderstood as being foolhardy in confronting our enemies. Jesus’ action in today’s gospel presents a person who wanted to avoid confrontation.  We read that when “Jesus knew this.… (He) withdrew from the district.”  Not only did He withdraw to avoid further conflict with them, but He chose to stay away from the trouble zone and the limelight.  The evangelist noted that “many followed him and he cured them all, but warned them not to make him known“.
Indeed, Jesus was not only courageous; He was prudent in dealing with the situation at that particular point of time. Where possible, He tried to give His opponents and critics time to think over and come to terms with themselves.  He was patient with them, just as He was patient with sinners.  As the evangelist rightly portrayed Jesus with the citation from the Suffering Servant of Isaiah, Jesus was not one who would “brawl or shout”, nor “break the crushed reed, nor put out the smoldering wick till he has led the truth to victory.”   Although He would never stop proclaiming “the true faith to the nations” so to give sinners, including His enemies, hope, He would do it in the gentlest of ways, which is the way of innocent suffering and of humility.  It was through the cross, by laying down His life for us, that Jesus brought us to victory, by His unconditional love and mercy.
Whilst fortitude enables us to do the right thing, prudence helps us to do the right thing in the best way.  Acting impulsively can destroy all the good intentions we have.  This is true in many situations in life.  Many Catholics I know have great hope, aspirations and enthusiasm in wanting to see the Church change for the better, be more proactive, relevant and missionary minded.  They have great ideas too, but due to the lack of prudence and tact, they antagonize those in authority or those who disagree with them and as a result, the truth of their message and the validity of their ideas are buried under the heat of emotional exchanges.
It is in this light that the Catholic Church has an institution called the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, which is responsible for training candidates for the Holy See in diplomatic service.  Diplomacy is as old as the Catholic Church.  The Church has always used diplomacy to engage the world so that the rights of all peoples are protected, including that of the lay faithful, especially in countries that lack religious freedom and respect for the moral values of Christians.  Through these diplomats, the Holy Father keeps abreast of the situations in the Particular Churches and in the world, and at the same time exercise his prophetic role by being the spokesman and moral defender of humanity in the name of Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Yes, we are reminded time and again to speak the truth, but the truth must always be spoken with charity.  Proclaiming the truth without love is itself a contradiction, and brings about just the reverse effect on our listeners.  Most people want to seek the truth, but because of their hidden fears and inbuilt defense mechanisms, they tend to oppose anything that challenges their comfort zone.  Given time, patience and compassion however, most people are ready to listen and to rethink their position.  Hence, we must seek the way of Jesus in winning over our detractors and those who are hardliners in their way of thinking.  Through compassion and understanding; patience and love; respect and encouragement, we will help them to be receptive to the grace of God, His truth and His love.
WRITTEN BY THE MOST REV WILLIAM GOH
ARCHBISHOP OF SINGAPORE
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