Scripture Reflection 29 November 2014, Saturday, 34th Week in Ordinary Time REALIZING THE VISION BY KEEPING THE VISION ALIVE SCRIPTURE READINGS: APC 22:1-7; LK 21:34-36 universalis/20141129/mass.htm Today is the last day of the liturgical year. Rightly so, the scripture readings are taken from the last book, namely the Book of Revelation and the last public discourse of Jesus before He entered into Jerusalem, the place of His passion and glory. Both scripture texts complement each other. In the first reading, we have the text taken from the Book of Revelation that gives us a preview of the outcome of the end . The vision portrayed by St John gives us a paradisiacal picture of a wonderful end. He gives us a vision of eternal life in heaven with God where the themes of light and life are brought out. Heaven is a state of bliss, where there is abundant life symbolized by the “river of life rising from the throne of God and of the Lamb and flowing crystal-clear down the middle of the city street.” Wherever the life of God flows, it bears fruits and healing for all. Most of all, there will no longer be darkness for “it will never be night again and they will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will be shining on them.” Furthermore, “they will see him face to face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. They will reign for ever and ever.” It is therefore a life of perfect fulfillment in God. Now that we have been given a preview of the end, it behooves us to work towards this vision presented to us . To speak of the end implies that we have arrived at our vision so that what started out as a vision is now a reality. Otherwise, one cannot truly say that one has arrived at the end. We must therefore translate a vision and a dream to reality. It is true that God will realize His kingdom. The outcome is certain as the angel says, “All that you have written is sure and will come true: the Lord God who gives the spirit to the prophets has sent his angel to reveal to his servants what is soon to take place. “ Although the outcome is certain, how it will come about is still left to the interaction between grace and human cooperation. Without a doubt, this vision will not come just by itself without our cooperation. Hence, this definite outcome of the life that is to come as prophesied in the Book of Revelation is complemented by the gospel which gives a somber note that arriving at the end would not be easy because the journey is long and arduous. Along the way many would get distracted and give up. We can lose focus because of distractions from the world and the anxieties of our hearts. Jesus warns us, who are often tempted by sin especially of the flesh, that our “hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life.” Yes, there is always the temptation to give up in the face of trials along this journey to eternal life. One can grow weary and tired and lose one’s passion and enthusiasm. Even the vision can be lost in the midst of our daily life struggles and mundane preoccupations. Isn’t this the case of many organizations? If you were to study the vision and mission statements of many organizations, we cannot but be impressed by the high ideals and dreams they espouse for their members and for those whom they are called to serve. But quite often, after spending so much time deliberating on their mission and vision, they end up just as statements without serious systematic implementation of what they started. Sometimes, the reality is so far from the vision that members and outsiders become skeptical. As no one seriously owns the vision, it becomes a hypocritical and ludicrous aspiration. Worse still, when the leader himself or herself, who is supposed to be the guardian of the vision and mission of the organization, is equally distracted and lost in the many other responsibilities or demands that are made on him or her. As a consequence, the leader loses his or her sense of direction. Yes, it is so easy even for leaders to lose their focus and the dream that inspired them to lead an organization when they get caught in the trappings of glory, power, materialism and ambition. If the leader himself is no longer enthusiastic and passionate about the vision of the organization, the energy of the members would dissipate as well for they too will follow the leader in expending their energy on everything that comes their way, but not able to synthesize and integrate all their activities as means to realize the vision of the organization. This could also be applicable to individuals of good will as well. Many of us as individuals join an organization, a ministry or even respond to the call for priestly and religious vocations. We have great hopes of bringing the gospel of Christ to all, spreading the Word of God, reaching out to the poor, the sick, the lonely and the troubled. We are so passionate and enthusiastic in wanting to give our life, time and energy to transmit the gospel of Christ. Yet, many of us have become jaded along the way. We have lost that passion, that ideal and hope. Instead, some of us either have become indifferent or even cynical, yet not willing to opt out as we do not know where else to go. For this reason, it is important that we must go back to our vision once again . It is said, “Where there is no vision, the people perish!” Without a clear understanding and conviction of our vision, we cannot speak of mission, of the reason for our existence or the existence of an organization. Every organization is formed to realize a vision that it sets out to do and to achieve. Vision therefore is the spirit of any organization and the energizing principle that motivates everyone to action so that the ultimate state is realized. To rediscover our vision, we must go back to prayer. It is in prayer that the Lord will ignite that vision in us. Only in prayer can we find clarity as to what the Lord wills of us once again, and not what we will for Him. It is easy to mask our insecurity with endless projects and by so doing fall into the hands of the Evil One who comes under the guise of light to distract us from our primary mission in life. It is therefore vital that we pay heed to the exhortation of Jesus to stay awake, “praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.” More often than not, the vision is lost because of too much activities and the lack of relationship with the Lord. When Jesus is taken out of our mission, we will also lose the vision. In prayer too, we will also discover our sinful nature, our selfishness, our impure motives in serving the Lord. Unless we purify our sinful inclinations, we cannot see clearly what His vision holds for us. Unless we purify our hearts, we cannot serve Him with passion and conviction. So to stay awake is to guard our hearts from the temptations of the world that distracts us from our mission. Yes, have you lost your vision and your passion for the Kingdom? Have you lost your ultimate calling in life, which is to share in the life of God? Have you been so caught up by the transient pursuits of this life that you have forgotten the higher ideals of life which money and pleasure cannot bring, namely, love and relationship? If you are living a mediocre life right now or just drifting through in your organization or just sitting in your office and waiting to hand over your duties, then not only are you destroying yourself but everyone who is dependent on your leadership! So let us wake up, keep watch and start praying so that we can be alert to what the Lord is calling us to do and how the devil is working against our efforts. Finally, the assurance of the Lord is that He is with us. He will reign in us. He will provide us the light. He will shine in us. He will lead the way for us. That is what the angel said, “Very soon now, I shall be with you again.” We do not work alone but the Lord works in and through us so long as we are willing to allow Him to be part of our lives. So unceasingly, like the early Christians, whilst we await the realization of the vision of eternal life to be fulfilled; even as we work to realize the dream of God, we must also pray earnestly as well, crying out “Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus!” WRITTEN BY THE MOST REV WILLIAM GOH ARCHBISHOP OF SINGAPORE © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 05:30:26 +0000
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