[stephenkhoo]

Scripture Reflections
Tuesday 24 July, 2012, 16th Week, Ordinary Time
THE UNBREAKABLE BOND OF FAITH
SCRIPTURE READINGS: MICAH 7:14-15; 18-20; MT 12:46-50

Today’s gospel reading is often read with a tinge of embarrassment, especially by Catholics because it seems that Jesus had no respect for Mary, His mother, and even disdained the importance of such a relationship. Nevertheless, that this incident was recorded means that it was an important lesson for the primitive Christian community. What then can we learn from this episode in the family life of Mary and Jesus? What spiritual truths and practical lessons can we draw from this awkward encounter?

Firstly, it reveals to us the importance of the spiritual bond between God and us, and its priority over familial bonds. Too often, we over emphasize the blood relationship among family members. Often we cite the saying, “blood is thicker than water.” Perhaps, there is some degree of truth in this saying. Yet although we might feel obliged to help our family members, we can be miles apart from each other in understanding, emotional ties and values. More often than not, with difficult family members, we just tolerate each other and assist only out of obligation rather than love. In fact, some of us feel resentful of the impositions society places on us, expecting us to help just because of blood ties, and disregarding the fact that there may not exist any real inter-personal relationship between us and the party in need of help. As it is often said, “we choose our friends but we cannot choose our family!”

The important truth underscored by Jesus when He declared that it is those who do the will of His Father in Heaven that qualifies them as His brother, sister and mother, should remove any misgivings we may have on the incomparable value and dignity of spiritual relationships over any physical bond.

If this is so, how much emphasis should we also place on the role of faith in our family life? As parents and family members, we are more concerned about the physical and material well being of each other. We come together for meals and celebrations which are practically always on the social level. But how many families gather together to pray, to share the Word of God or find occasions to inculcate spiritual values and share with each other our faith encounters with God?

What strengthens family life and the bond of unity among family members is not just the coming together for fellowship and recreation, although such activities are commendable, but the common faith and shared values our faith, such as forgiveness, love, compassion and most of all, a total surrender to God’s will, His divine providence and obedience to His laws. If we do not have a common faith and a growing faith in Christ, and a mature faith in understanding what we believe, it would be difficult to gel the family members together. In many instances, our selfishness and self-centeredness will take its toll on family life, bringing about misunderstandings, hurts and woundedness. Hence, we must consider seriously when choosing a partner in marriage, whether our future spouse shares in our faith and Christian values, otherwise we are bound to have lots of disagreements and bitter quarrels later on in married life. Parents too must conscientiously implant the seed of faith in their children as they grow up, otherwise when they become teenagers, they will subscribe to worldly and amoral values imbibed from society and their secular friends, classmates and colleagues.

Beyond the family circle, we must also consider the faith of Christians, the larger family of God. By virtue of our baptism, we share in the same Holy Spirit that dwells in us, making us theTemple ofGod and members of the Body of Christ. We are therefore united with each other in Christ who is the Head and the Vine of which we are His body and His branches. If we want our faith to grow, we cannot grow as individual Christians. We must belong to the community of faith and share in the life of the Christian community where we belong, so that through their faith, our faith can grow and be nurtured. Those Catholics who do not belong to any real and concrete community of faith will eventually lose their faith as they have no recourse to spiritual support.

Secondly, we can also learn from today’s gospel incident, the importance of mutual respect and dialogue. Mary and the relatives in seeking out Jesus during His ministry, were not motivated by condemnation or anger, but purely by concern and love for Him. Most likely they had heard rumours of what had been said about Jesus and His miracles. So they went to seek clarification from Him, and see for themselves whether He was really mad as they were told He was. Instead of jumping to conclusion, it was important that Mary and Jesus’ relatives find out for themselves personally what Jesus was really doing and teaching. Charity in judgment must be based on facts rather than hearsay and perceptions.

This principle must be applied especially in family relationships. Lots of division and misunderstandings take place because of misperception and miscommunication of events that have taken place among family members. Quite often, it is gossips, prejudices and inaccurate information that are the cause of tension and wrong judgment. Hence, instead of circulating sensitive matters involving a member of the family, it is charitable that we have a word with the person concerned to quickly put all rumours to rest.

What is true at home is equally true in the Christian community. Quite often in parishes and in Church organizations, we experience conflicts and division because of misunderstanding and gossip. As family members, we must be like Mary who was willing to seek dialogue and mutual understanding instead of passing rash judgment on another member of the community. Charity requires us to hold judgment until we know all the facts of the situation.

Finally, complementing today’s gospel, Micah provides us the third lesson on strengthening the bond of faith among believers. In today’s reading, he spoke of the forgiveness of God. Although he was living in a morally sick society, yet he never doubted the mercy and compassion of God. He has confidence that God will be a true shepherd to them: “What god can compare with you: taking fault away, pardoning crime, not cherishing anger for ever but delighting in showing mercy? Once more have pity on us, tread down our faults, to the bottom of the sea throw all our sins.”

Indeed, the great privilege of being members of a family is the security of being loved, cared for and accepted in spite of our weaknesses and failings. With friends, they can ditch us if we are not good to them. With family members, we are there for each other, with each other, forever. The bond of family ties cannot be broken. So too in our spiritual family, we must learn to accept each other, especially members who are weak. Because they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, we cannot give up on them since God never gives up on us. In our human weakness and struggle to grow in faith and love, let us always turn to God in prayer, like the psalmist, saying, “Lord, show us your mercy and love.” However, we must also learn to encourage each other when they seek to do good, be patient with each in failure, accept each other’s imperfections and most of all, be ever ready to render forgiveness, just as God always forgives us. So let us renew our faith in Christ and our spiritual bond with each other. Let us pray for a deeper incorporation into the faith community so that together we can grow into the fullness of Christ.

Written by Rev. Fr. William Goh