OXYGEN

Clem and Orville were hunting buddies in a small Iowa town. One fall, Clem was invited by some relatives in Canada to hunt on their farm. There he met an India guide who had a remarkable dog. Every time Clem or the Indian shot a duck, the Indian grunted, "Fetch!" and his dog walked – yes, walked – out over the water, brought back the duck and laid it at his master's feet. Three times he did this. Each time Clem's eyes grew wider with astonishment. Oh, how he wanted that dog! After much haggling, the Indian sold him the dog for a pretty price.

Clem could hardly wait to show off his dog to Orville. First chance, they were out by the lack. Clem shot a dog and his dog walked over the water and brought it back. Orville brought down a duck and the dog did the same. This happened several times and Orville said nothing. Finally Clem asked him, "Don't you notice anything unusual about my new dog?"

"Yup," drawled Orville, "he can't swim."

If a stubborn heart prevents one from believing in a man that can walk on water, how will it ever enable us to believe that a man can rise from the dead?
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"Christ is risen!" "Death shall have no power over him!" Such good news fills believers with awe and gratitude. Yet there are actually people who would refuse to consider this as good news. Instead, they are eager to debunk the resurrection.

Yes, the secular world is eager to cash in on Easter precisely by attempting to shake the faith of Christians. They offer the Gospel of Judas, the Da Vinci Code, the Passover plot, the last temptation of Christ, etc. to cast doubts on the resurrection. They accuse Christians of saying the most ludicrous things and being foolish and gullible. They intend to make Christians feel somehow guilty to be Christians. (here's a link dealing with some of their objections (http://www.leaderu.com/focus/easter2006.html) 

We Christians have a (good) habit for examining our consciences for the slightest faults which may well be the cause of unbelief in the world. While this practice is right and proper, today's reading serves as a shocking reminder that there are people who would not believe even when confronted with the truth of Our Lord. Instead, they would rather pay others to keep up a lie.

Are we to be cowed that the world does not believe and demand that we fit into their agendas? No! There must come a point where we must truly recognise that the world will reject the message of Christ precisely because of its goodness. Not recognising that and thinking that it is always our fault paralyses our faith and prevents us from being salt and light to the world.

Our arrogance, our violence, our injustices
all press down upon the body of Christ.
They weigh upon him … and he falls a second time,
to show us the unbearable burden
of our sins.
But what is it that today, in particular,
strikes at Christ’s holy body?
Surely God is deeply pained
by the attack on the family.
Today we seem to be witnessing
a kind of anti-Genesis,
a counter-plan, a diabolical pride
aimed at eliminating the family.
There is a move to reinvent mankind,
to modify the very grammar of life
as planned and willed by God.
But, to take God’s place, without being God,
is insane arrogance,
a risky and dangerous venture.
May Christ’s fall open our eyes
to see once more the beautiful face,
the true face, the holy face of the family.
The face of the family
which all of us need

- Seventh Station – Jesus falls a Second Time.
Archbishop Angelo Comasti – Way of the Cross, Good Friday 2006.

(Today's OXYGEN by Nick Chui)
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Prayer intention: For those who do not believe