[stephenkhoo]

FAITH IN THE RISEN LORD AS THE BASIS FOR NOT COMPROMISING ON THE TRUTH OF THE WORD
SCRIPTURE READINGS: ACTS 7:51 – 8:1; JN 6:30-35
http://www.universalis.com/20140506/mass.htm

In the first reading, we read of St Stephen reprimanding the members of the Sanhedrin, apparently using words that were rather harsh and blunt. Without compromising his words, he said, “’You stubborn people, with your pagan hearts and pagan ears. You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Can you name a single prophet your ancestors never persecuted?”


Thus, we should not be surprised that the Sanhedrin was infuriated with him. Surely anyone of us in the shoes of the high priests would be angered too at someone who could be so arrogant in passing judgment on us. To rub salt into injury, Stephen could even claim that he “saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand.” Hence, they took him out of the city and stoned him. We can empathize with the Sanhedrin for the extreme intolerance they showed against Stephen’s indictment of them and his claim.


The point is not whether he could have been more diplomatic in dealing with recalcitrant unbelievers. As far as Stephen was concerned, truth cannot be compromised. He said what needed to be said since truth comes from God. At any rate, he was consistent in his allegiance to his convictions, for when he was stoned he imitated Jesus by interceding for his enemies and asking God to forgive them. Truly, Stephen was sincere with himself from beginning to end.


In the gospel, too, Jesus did not compromise the truth. When the people queried Him about his identity, He told them in no uncertain terms that “it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven, it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven.” He was not simply claiming to be greater than Moses but that He was the Son of the Father. He considered Himself to be that “true bread; for the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Of course, in the discourse on the Eucharist later on, He would call Himself the Bread of Life.


Unlike Jesus and Stephen, we tend to compromise the truth, whether with respect to doctrines or morality. Many Catholics in the name of ecumenism compromise their beliefs in Catholic doctrines e.g. the real presence of our Lord in the Eucharist. But in denying such a central tenet of our faith, catholic doctrines being so intrinsically linked, the denial of one truth will soon lead to the denial of others. As in this case, it led to the denial of the resurrection and then the incarnation as has happened among liberal Christians. The real presence presupposes faith in the resurrection and resurrection is the basis for the incarnation. Rejection of the resurrection and incarnation will lead to a denial of the divinity of Christ and that of the Trinity as well, the central doctrine of Christian faith.


This is equally applicable when it comes to morality as well. Sometimes because of human weakness, we find it so difficult to accept the teachings of the church on marriage, sexuality, bioethics and justice. Again, when one compromises on the question of abortion, it leads eventually to the admittance of euthanasia.


Even if we do not compromise the truth, the failure to speak out for the truth itself is a sin of omission. It is significant that in the killing of St Stephen, St Luke noted that “Saul entirely approved of the killing.” We are in many ways like Saul. We ourselves might not have done anything wrong or unjust but due to cowardice or for fear of rejection, we remain silent and therefore have become accomplices to the crime. This is particularly true when it comes to questionable ethical issues that are being promoted by society for the sake of convenience and pragmatism. Otherwise, we do not come to the defense of the Church when she or her leaders are being attacked and ridiculed for our beliefs and convictions.


How then can we find the courage to resist compromising our beliefs? Where do we find the strength to live out such difficult teachings of the gospel and those taught by the Church? We must not resist the Holy Spirit as the Jewish leaders did. We must have the humility and the courage to face whatever criticisms others level at us. In all sincerity and truth, let us open our hearts to what they say and if they come from the Holy Spirit, we must be ready to change, and if they are from the false spirit, we must be ready to enlighten and correct the falsehood and defend the truth.


To do this, we must have faith in Jesus as the risen Lord. We must believe that Jesus is the Bread that comes down from Heaven, the bread which is the New Manna, the Word of God given to us so that believing we might find life and direction. Without this faith in the resurrection of the Lord, we cannot believe in Jesus as the Word of life. If we have faith in Jesus as the Risen Lord, then we know that He is the Word of Life, the Word of God. On that basis, we can give our total commitment to His Word without compromise and also be assured that He will supply us the grace to live out His Word as well. Only with His grace which comes from the Holy Spirit, can we come to believe and act accordingly.

Written by The Most Rev Msgr William Goh
Archbishop of Singapore