OXYGEN

20 Nov

Today’s quotes are on the theme of hope:

“If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes.” – Clement of Alexandria

“What can be hoped for which is not believed?” – St. Augustine of Hippo

“No man is able of himself to grasp the supreme good of eternal life; he needs divine help. Hence there is here a two-fold object, the eternal life we hope for, and the divine help we hope by.” – St. Thomas Aquinas

“As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is a mere flattery or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength at all. Like all the Christian virtues, it is as unreasonable as it is indispensable.” – G. K. Chesterton

“We promise according to our hopes, and perform according to our fears.” – La Rochefoucauld

“He who wants to enjoy the glory of the sunrise must live through the night.” – Anon

Hope is the struggle of the soul, breaking loose from what is perishable, and attesting her eternity.” – Herman Melvilk

“Hope is the only good that is common to all men; those who have nothing else possess hope still.” – Thales

“The word which God has written on the brow of every man is Hope.” – Victor Hugo

- Taken from “Quotes and Anecdotes – An Anthology for Preachers & Teachers” by Anthony P. Castle
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Revelation 5:1-10

I, John, saw that in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne there was a scroll that had writing on back and front and was sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a powerful angel who called with a loud voice, “Is there anyone worthy to open the scroll and break the seals of it?” But there was no one, in heaven or on the earth or under the earth, who was able to open the scroll and read it. I wept bitterly because there was nobody fit to open the scroll and read it, but one of the elders said to me, “There is no need to cry: the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed, and he will open the scroll and the seven seals of it.”

Then I saw, standing between the throne with its four animals and the circle of the elders, a Lamb that seemed to have been sacrificed; it had seven horns, and it had seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits God has sent out all over the world. The Lamb came forward to take the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne, and when he took it, the four animals prostrated themselves before him and with them the twenty-four elders; each one of them was holding a harp and had a golden bowl full of incense made of the prayers of the saints. They sang a new hymn:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
and break the seals of it,
because you were sacrificed, and with your blood
you bought men for God
of every race, language, people and nation
and made them a line of kings and priests
to serve our God and to rule the world.”
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Luke 19:41-44

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem and came in sight of the city he shed tears over it and said, “If you in your turn had only understood on this day the message of peace! But, alas, it is hidden from your eyes! Yes, a time is coming when your enemies will raise fortifications all round you, when they will encircle you and hem you in on every side; they will dash you and the children inside your walls to the ground; they will leave not one stone standing on another within you – and all because you did not recognise your opportunity when God offered it!”
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Worthy are you to receive the scroll…

Are there times in your life where you have lost hope and reason to do what is good for you? Are there times in your life where the thoughts of heaven bring absolutely no joy and comfort? I had a friend who was going through such a time. She had lost hope that God had a wonderful man for her and was tired of being single. Hence, although she knew that it was wrong to settle for less, she wanted to enter a relationship with a man who she knew was wrong for her. The loneliness was eating her and ahead of her lay two choices: she could either give up on God and settle for a man who would temporarily relieve her of her loneliness, or she could hold on to God and painfully await the day that God might bring someone into her life.

Losing hope is a very scary thing. Without hope, it is very easy to succumb to temptations and to fall into sin. Without hope, it becomes easy to settle for less and to become less than what we were made to be. However, with hope, we find the additional strength we need to keep us on the right track towards holiness and goodness. Where then, can we find hope in times of darkness and emptiness?

Today’s first reading is one place where we can find hope. In it, we witness Jesus being glorified in Heaven. The glory Jesus receives is an absolute contrast to the sufferings He endured while on earth. Taken together, this demonstrates that God always keeps His promises: He promised that Jesus will be glorified once He endured the crucifixion and, as we see in today’s readings, God kept His promise.

There may be times in our lives where we may not feel like doing what is good for us and may want to seek comfort in the temporary pleasures of this world.  In such moments, let us learn from Jesus who obeyed even when He was afraid. Let us look to Jesus’ example and hold on to the hope that our endurance and sufferings will be rewarded – if not in this life, then at the end of our lives.

P.S. In case you were wondering, through the grace of God, the friend I mentioned above is still holding on.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Jean Cheng)
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Prayer: Lord, help me to hold on to the hope that my sufferings are meaningful.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the saints who have endured the hardships in their lives and, in doing so, have shown us the fruits and rewards of being faithful.

Upcoming Readings:
Fri 21 Nov – Zechariah 2:14-17; Matthew 12:46-50; Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sat 22 Nov – Revelation 11:4-14; Luke 20:27-40; Memorial for St. Cecilia, virgin, martyr
Sun 23 Nov – Ezekiel 14:11-12. 15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26. 28; Matthew 25:31-46; Solemnity of Christ The King