Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv DD STL, Bishop of Parramatta
Homily for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A 2023.
Readings: Exodus 19:2-6; Psalm 99(100):2-3, 5; Romans 5:6-11; Matthew 9:36 – 10:8
18 June 2023
Discipleship as an embodiment of divine pathos
Dear sisters and brothers,
For many of Catholics today, the Church is like a vessel adrift on the turbulent waters of the post-Christian world. We seem to be floundering not only on account of an antagonistic environment but also the discordance from within. Instead of a symphony, the many voices that Pope Francis has encouraged us to speak on the synodal journey seem to produce a cacophony at times.
Like the Jews of old, we are fearful of the chaos and uncertain future ahead. We yearn for the certainty and security of the past. Yet the call of authentic discipleship is the call to enter into the deep rivers, to walk on the burning coals and to undergo the baptism of fire. This was what Mary MacKillop and her pioneer sisters undertook. In Penola and other peripheries of colonial Australia, they were on a mission to heal, restore and transform the lives of the poor and dispossessed. They rose to the occasion, let loose the spirit and embodied the Gospel of justice, love and mercy.
We are challenged by God’s Word that summons us to a discipleship of service and witness to the reign of God in the world. Enamoured by a hope-filled vision where God makes all things right for the poor and the disadvantaged, we endeavour to embody the divine pathos. We prioritiSe healing, reconciliation, restoration and social transformation over against the default operating system that is preoccupied with power, security and self-interest.
In the first reading today, Moses reminds the people of Israel how God has shown his tender love for them. Despite their hardness of the heart, he has carried them on eagle’s wings. At Rephidim, God gave them bread and drink in the wilderness after they had complained and asked to go back to Egypt. Through the miracle of manna and water from the rock, God showed them that Pharaoh’s system of greed, accumulation and monopoly had been dismantled.
The Exodus, therefore, is not just a physical escape but a journey of transformation. They are to become a kingdom of priests and a consecrated nation. In other words, they are no longer influenced by the grab-all-you-can mentality. The imperial way of dominance, superiority and zero-sum game has no more stranglehold on them. They are now called to form a new model society that witnesses to the God who goes out of his way to care for the downtrodden and the vulnerable.
In the Gospel, Jesus chooses his first disciples and sends them on a mission to heal, restore and transform the lives of the poor and sick and the broken-hearted. Just as He himself was sent to bring God’s justice, mercy and compassion to all, the disciples are given the same missionary mandate.
When we look at the group of people Jesus chose, we notice that they were ordinary people. In fact, they were like a motley crew of mismatched individuals. Most came from lowly background, and some had dubious careers such as a tax collector and a guerrilla fighter. Despite their idiosyncrasies, the disciples were transformed into a dynamic, unified and mission-driven community. They abandoned the default position of self-interest and embraced radical solidarity. They shared their possessions and made sure that no one was left behind. They formed an intentional community that replaced the ideology of self-interest, monopoly, hoarding and grab-what-you-can with the kingdom vision of solidarity, generosity and shared humanity.
Dear friends,
You are like those disciples being sent on a mission to make a difference in the world through the values of the kingdom. Jesus makes it clear that following Him has to do with an alternative mode of existence where the healing, restoration and transformation of the world are more important than our prosperity, security and self-interest. As we gather to listen deeply to the voice of the Spirit, we renew our commitment to be catalysts and agents of God’s reign of justice. We must be witnesses of hope, justice and sustainability against the ingrained culture of denial, fear and defense of the status quo.
This week, I give thanks to God and to you for the seven years of ministry in the Diocese of Parramatta. Together, we have accompanied one another on the paschal journey from death to new life. As I remarked on my first day, we might be smaller, poorer and humbler, but let us together rise to the Church of humility, simplicity, equality and servant-leadership. Let us reclaim the vision of the Servant Christ challenged the stereotyped attitudes, pushed the boundaries of love and stood with the outsiders.
“We are filled with the joyful trust in God,” says St Paul today. This conviction enables him to abandon his security system and accept the gratuity of God’s grace. As we move in the direction of the kingdom, let us also be joyful in hope. May the teaching and example of Jesus guide us as we endeavour to build relationships and communities that mirror the Reign of God. May our response to his daily invitation and the prompting of his Spirit be marked with generosity, trust and passion.
