[stephenkhoo]

THE COURAGE TO SPEAK THE TRUTH
SCRIPTURE READINGS: JER 28:1-17; mt 14:22-36
http://www.universalis.com/20140804/mass.htm

It is increasingly difficult to proclaim the truth in today’s world. At least in the past, whatever one said was only confined to those listeners around him or her. But today, with advancement in technology and mass communication, whatever is said is no longer confined to a particular group of people but inadvertently reaches out to the world. It is no longer possible to send a private message addressed to a select audience.

What is even more difficult is that we are living in a world plagued by secularism and relativism. There is no sense of the Sacred or the presence of God. There are no absolutes or any reference point where truth can be found. Instead of God who is the foundation of truth and love, man has replaced God and made himself the point of departure and judge of what is right or wrong. Objective truth is replaced by subjective truth. Consequently, whatever one claims to be the truth, or in possession of the truth, is being challenged.

It is not uncommon for focused groups or ideological groups to come together to attack views that hinder their interests and freedom. Those who hold different views are run down mercilessly, even unscrupulously, via threats, intimidation, humiliation and personal attacks. The minority voice speaks so loudly that it presents to the world as if it is the majority voice. Consequently, the fear of being attacked, discredited or humiliated has rendered many goodwill people and those who know the truth to stay silent. Such is the reality of life. We are all afraid of being attacked by our opponents who think differently from us.

This was the case of Jeremiah in the first reading. Against the false prophet, Hananiah, who spoke what the people wanted to hear, Jeremiah remained firm inwhat the Lord asked of him. He did not try to please his people by giving them a message that would win favour with them. Hananiah the false prophet was more concerned for his interests than that of the people. He misled the people about what was going to happen to their kingdom, giving them false hope. But Jeremiah was adamant. Twice, under fierce hostility and rejection, he spoke the truth about the imminent fall of the kingdom.

Today, we are called to be true prophets wherever we are, especially in our offices and the community we belong to. Are we true to our convictions or do we simply succumb to those who speak louder than us? Are we so fearful of speaking the truth that we allow falsehood to mislead us? If we are true prophets, then we must speak what the Lord has placed in our hearts without compromise and without being equivocal.

Of course, speaking the truth means taking risks. We might suffer martyrdom in the short term. Yet Jeremiah warns us that we might gain momentarily but we will suffer in the long term, just like the people during his time. By not being true to our beliefs and to what the Lord has revealed to us, we will not only destroy those under our charge but we will destroy ourselves too. “The prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, ‘Listen carefully Hananiah: the Lord has not sent you; and thanks to you this people are now relying on what is false. Hence – the Lord says this, “I am going to throw you off the face of the earth: you are going to die this year (since you have preached apostasy from the Lord).’ The prophet Hananiah died the same year, in the seventh month.”

How, then, can we find courage? Today the gospel gives us the direction. We are called to follow Jesus. In the gospel, we read about the fate of John the Baptist. For being a true and courageous prophet, he was put to death by King Herod under the instigation of Herodias who was incensed at the reprimand of John the Baptist for her adulterous affair. He was silenced by her. Apparently, Jesus was filled with sadness when He heard of the tragic end of His cousin. It was for this reason that He withdrew to a quiet place where He could be alone to mourn the death of His cousin. “When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he made the disciples get into the boat, and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away.” At the same time, He needed to take stock of His own ministry and reckon the possibility of Him suffering the same fate for choosing to confront the hypocrisy of the religious leaders.

To find courage and direction, we need to spend time in solitude and in prayer. That was what Jesus did. “After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray.” Jesus must have found strength and courage from His heavenly Father when He was at prayer. Alone in prayer, His Father must have strengthened and assured Him of His presence, support and grace. And this is true for all of us. If we fear the world and if we fear pain and death, we remain un-free even though we are not hurt. But our hearts and our conscience make us our own prisoners. More importantly, once assured of God’s grace and power, we will be able to overcome all the trials and difficulties ahead of us.

Indeed, this accounts for the dramatic miraculous act of Jesus after spending time in prayer to His Father. The gospel recounted that “when evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now out on the lake, was battling with a heavy seas, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him on the lake they were terrified.” It was as if Jesus deliberately walked on the waters even though it was choppy, cold, windy and treacherous. By walking on the troubled waters, Jesus showed us that He was able to surmount all the challenges and storms ahead of Him. He was not afraid for He knew that with the help of His Father, He would transcend His enemies and even death would not overcome Him. In other words, not only would He keep His head above the waters but His whole body too! This came about only after He spent time in prayer. Before that He was troubled by the execution of His cousin. But after prayer, bravely, He battled the storms in the seas.

And He is inviting us to do the same. He is now walking with us. He says to us “Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.” He is not a ghost. Rather, our fears are the real ghosts, figments of our own imagination. We need not be terrified like the disciples but have faith in Jesus. Will we have confidence in Him? Do we believe that Jesus will see us through? Or will we be like St Peter who hesitated for a while. Half way across the waters walking towards Jesus, “as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’” Indeed, man of little faith, we are! Why do we doubt the fidelity of the Lord in protecting and defending us? Just as the Father was faithful to Jesus and raised Him from the dead, the Father will also defend us in the day of battle. All we need to do is to welcome Jesus into our lives. Indeed, we read, “And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’” When Jesus enters our boat and when we enter with Him, all the storms in our hearts will cease. The storms outside us might still be howling but there is deep peace and joy in our hearts because we know that we have been true to ourselves and the will of God. With the psalmist we pray, “Keep me from the way of error and teach me your law. Do not take the word of truth from my mouth for I trust in your decrees. Let your faithful turn to me, those who know your will. Let my heart be blameless in your statutes lest I be ashamed. Though the wicked lie in wait to destroy me yet I ponder your will. I have not turned from your decrees; you yourself have taught me.” Amen.

Written by The Most Rev William Goh