OXYGEN

03 Jan- Weekday before Epiphany; Holy Name of Jesus

Today’s feast day is a remembrance and celebration of the conferral of the Holy Name of Jesus. A separate votive Mass under this title is found in the revised Roman Missal, and may be used for an annual celebration (e.g. titular of a Church), or as an expression of devotion which is part of the tradition and spirituality of a religious order. It was formerly listed as the Sunday between 1 and 6 January, if one occurs. It was instituted in the 15th century by the bishops of Germany, Scotland, England, and Belgium. It was extended to the universal Church in 1721. There is a commemoration in the Mass of the Octave of St. Stephen if the feast is kept on the second, of St. John on the third, and of the Holy Innocents on the fourth of January.

- Patron Saint Index

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1 John 2:29 – 3:6

You know that God is righteous –
then you must recognise that everyone whose life is righteous
has been begotten by him.

Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,
by letting us be called God’s children;
and that is what we are.
Because the world refused to acknowledge him,
therefore it does not acknowledge us.
My dear people, we are already the children of God
but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed;
all we know is, that when it is revealed
we shall be like him
because we shall see him as he really is.

Surely everyone who entertains this hope
must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ.
Anyone who sins at all
breaks the law,
because to sin is to break the law.
Now you know that he appeared in order to abolish sin,
and that in him there is no sin;
anyone who lives in God does not sin,
and anyone who sins
has never seen him or known him.

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John 1:29-34

Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I spoke of when I said: A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me. I did not know him myself, and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water.’ John also declared, ‘I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove and resting on him. I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptise with water had said to me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit.” Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God.’

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Surely everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ.

It is easy for me to feel pure whenever I feel close to God or am praying. However, during challenging situations when I am tempted, I become greatly aware of how impure my heart is, and how far away I am from becoming pure like Jesus. Many times, I feel disheartened. And purity in heart to me seems to be something that is impossible and unattainable. However, because God says that it is possible, I continue to turn to Him for forgiveness and seek His help and grace to grow in purity.

The first reading today is extremely encouraging to me, as I hope it is to you. It reminds us that our time on earth is a continually purification process. Even the words chosen demonstrate that we are undergoing a process. As seen in the statement above, it says that anyone who has this hope in becoming pure, must purify himself. The usage of the word “purify” reiterates to us that as long as we are alive on this earth, we have to continually do the things that will help us to grow in purity. At present, only God is pure, and no longer has to purify Himself. We, on the other hand, have to continually strive towards becoming pure until the time comes when we see Jesus and will be completely pure.

My brothers and sisters, when confronted with impure thoughts or desires, let us not despair. Instead, let us turn to our God, retain our hope in His promises to make us pure, and continually strive towards purifying ourselves. While it can be tiring, let us hold on to God’s promise and hope that the day will come when we will become completely like Jesus.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Jean Cheng)
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Prayer: Lord, I feel discouraged by my impure heart, thoughts, desires, and actions. Please forgive me and help me to hold on to the hope that I will one day become completely pure like you. Give me the strength and hope to continually make myself pure each day.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to Jesus for continually helping us to become completely like Him.

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Upcoming Readings:
Sun, 04 Jan – Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72, Ephesians 3:2-3a. 5-6, Matthew 2:1-12, Epiphany of the the Lord