[stephenkhoo]

BECOMING CHRIST THROUGH FAITH BY ACQUIRING HIS SPIRIT IN THE EUCHARIST

SCRIPTURE READINGS: ACTS 4:23-31; JOHN 3:1-8

What is it that man fears most in life? It is death. For this reason, man seeks security in prolonging his life. Naturally, the most fundamental requirement for man to survive is food. Without physical sustenance, we will die. But can food really bring life? Can material satisfaction alone bring life? This is the question that Jesus is posing to us. The truth is that no matter how much wealth and material things we have, our life is never secure. Material wealth is false security.

This explains why Jesus says, “Do not work for food that cannot last, but work for food that endures to eternal life, the kind of food the Son of Man is offering you, for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.” These words were of course directed at the apostles who were still preoccupied with the food after the multiplication of loaves. They were unable to go beyond their earthly needs to see where true security lies. Of course, we are no better than them. We are more concerned with our needs and present enjoyment or happiness than about our eternal life.

Subsequently, the next question is “what must we do if we are to do what God wants?” In other words, what kind of work endures to eternal life? Jesus gave them this answer, “This is working for God: you must believe in the one he has sent.” It is strange that the work that is required for us is simply to believe in Jesus, whom the Father has sent. Jesus was playing with the word “work.” For the Jews, they believed that eternal life could be merited through works such as the observance of the laws and the rituals. But such kind of work only makes them proud and egoistic. Works therefore are not only false security but also destructive for our well-being. Our security therefore must lie in Christ alone who is sent by the Father. In truth, to believe in Jesus is a more difficult task than to work for it ourselves because we are not in control. We want to supplant the authority of God.

Why is it that only faith in Jesus as the One sent by Father can assure us of eternal life? The point is that one is saved not by accumulating more wealth, power or status or merit. One is saved by a relationship that recognizes the supremacy of God’s sovereignty. Eternal life is a life lived with God and in God. Such a life demands a relationship based on faith alone. Through faith, we share in the life of Christ and in sharing that life, produce good works, which are not works as such but the fruits of one’s relationship with Christ. Such good works when performed will never make us proud or arrogant because we know that they are possible only because of God’s grace and Christ’s love at work in us. Indeed, in yesterday’s gospel, St Peter was asked to follow Jesus only after he was affirmed in love. And in that strength, we know that St Peter, formerly a coward, was able to follow his master’s passion and death in a real way when he himself suffered martyrdom too.

How, then, can we find faith in Christ as the Son of the Father? Unlike the disciples, we must go beyond the signs provided by the Lord. We have the signs and affirmation of God’s love in our lives. We need only to count our blessings, the miracles happening in our lives.

The tragedy is that we are not sincere in our relationship with the Lord. We are more interested in what He gives us and whether He fulfills our personal gains, rather than whether we are growing in relationship with Him. Of course, there are others like the Jewish leaders in the first reading who were incensed enough to take revenge in the face of the signs performed by Stephen.

Today, we are exhorted to imitate the faith of St Stephen, who is an exemplar of one who has imitated Christ so faithfully, reproducing in himself the paschal mystery of Christ. He was truly the other Christ, for in his docility to the Spirit of the Risen Christ, and filled with His grace and power, he not only perpetuated the works of the Lord through his miracles and signs performed among the people, but he also testified with courage and tranquility before leaders and rulers about Jesus. Indeed, his accusers “found they could not get the better of him because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said.” It is even noted that when “the members of the Sanhedrin all looked intently at Stephen, and his face appeared to them like the face of an angel.” And like Jesus, in spite of false accusations, he bore no hatred or malice towards his enemies except compassion and forgiveness.

How, then, can we acquire the same Spirit of Jesus that St Stephen had? This week the gospel readings will focus on the discourse on the Bread of Life. If we are intent on having a portion of that Spirit of Jesus which St Stephen received, then we must deepen our faith and love for the Bread of Life. Jesus who is our Bread of Life, both in the Word of God and in the Eucharist, impart to us His Spirit. By imbibing in His words and receiving Him in the Eucharist, we too will be like St Stephen, filled with the Spirit of the Risen Lord. Sharing in His life, we will then be able to share in His death by following St Stephen and St Peter in giving our lives for others through a life of selfless sacrifice and humble service for God and our fellowmen.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh