OXYGEN

20 Jan – Tuesday in the Second Week in Ordinary Time; St Fabian, Pope and Martyr; St Sebastian, Martyr

Pope St. Fabian (d. 250) was a layman and a farmer. He came into Rome on a day when a new pope was to be elected. A dove flew in and settled on his head. The gathered clergy and laity took this as a sign that Fabian had been anointed, and he was chosen Pope by acclamation.

He sent St. Dionysius and other missionaries to Gaul, and condemned the heresies of Privatus. He was martyred for his faith in the persecutions of Decius.

St. Sebastian (d. 288) was the son of a wealthy Roman family. He was educated in Milan and became an officer of the Imperial Roman army, and captain of the guard. He was a favourite of Diocletian. During Diocletian’s persecution of the Christians, Sebastian visited them in prison, bringing supplies and comfort. He was reported to have healed the wife of a brother soldier by making the Sign of the Cross over her. He converted soldiers and a governor.

He was charged as a Christian, tied to a tree, shot with arrows, and was left for dead. he survived, recovered, and returned to preach to Diocletian. The emperor then had him beaten to death.

During the 14th century, the random nature of infection with the Black Death caused people to liken the plague to their villages being shot by an army of nature’s archers. In desperation, they prayed for the intercession of a saint associated with archers, and St. Sebastian became associated with the plague.

- Patron Saint Index

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Hebrews 6:10-20

God would not be so unjust as to forget all you have done, the love that you have for his name or the services you have done, and are still doing, for the saints. Our one desire is that every one of you should go on showing the same earnestness to the end, to the perfect fulfilment of our hopes, never growing careless, but imitating those who have the faith and the perseverance to inherit the promises.

When God made the promise to Abraham, he swore by his own self, since it was impossible for him to swear by anyone greater: I will shower blessings on you and give you many descendants. Because of that, Abraham persevered and saw the promise fulfilled. Men, of course, swear an oath by something greater than themselves, and between men, confirmation by an oath puts an end to all dispute. In the same way, when God wanted to make the heirs to the promise thoroughly realise that his purpose was unalterable, he conveyed this by an oath; so that there would be two unalterable things in which it was impossible for God to be lying, and so that we, now we have found safety, should have a strong encouragement to take a firm grip on the hope that is held out to us. Here we have an anchor for our soul, as sure as it is firm, and reaching right through beyond the veil where Jesus has entered before us and on our behalf, to become a high priest of the order of Melchizedek, and for ever.

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Mark 2:23-28

One sabbath day Jesus happened to be taking a walk through the cornfields, and his disciples began to pick ears of corn as they went along. And the Pharisees said to him, ‘Look, why are they doing something on the sabbath day that is forbidden?’ And he replied, ‘Did you never read what David did in his time of need when he and his followers were hungry – how he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the loaves of offering which only the priests are allowed to eat, and how he also gave some to the men with him?’

And he said to them, ‘The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; the Son of Man is master even of the sabbath.’
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The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath

I noticed that there will always be a page at the end of the programme booklets of any theatrical performance which conveys the thanks of the performers to their sponsors and benefactors. For those who have contributed to the construction of a building, their names will forever be engraved in a benefactors’ plaque for posterity’s sake. The readings of today also remind us that God will never forget the good that we have done for His kingdom.

One of the things that I noticed about myself is that I want to get recognition for the works that I have done for the people in Church and for God. However, I’ve come to realise that this is uncalled for and uncharitable. I think what God reminds us is to persevere in our efforts and not grow disheartened at the fact that others might not appreciate it. God will never forget our efforts and like what the first reading tells us, He will never lie to us.

Sometimes this means that we must bend some rules in order to ensure that others will be able to continue their life. I believe that the message that we can take back is the fundamental question that moral theologians always ask whenever they face a problem: What is the intention of the action? By the intentions we can judge the consequences.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
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Prayer: Lord, we pray for the strength to continue to do your work regardless of the obstacles that we face.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for all moral theologians who have to provide guidance to the Church in the modern world.

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Upcoming Readings:
Wed 21 Jan – Hebrews 7:1-3.15-17, Mark 3:1-6; St Agnes, Virgin & Martyr
Thu 22 Jan – Hebrews 7:25-8:6, Mark 3:7-12
Fri 23 Jan – Hebrews 8:6-13, Mark 3:13-19
Sat 24 Jan – Hebrews 9:2-3. 11-14, Mark 3:20-21; St Francis De Sales, Bishop & Doctor
Sun, 25 Jan - Jonah 3:1-5.10, Psalm 24, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20; Third Sunday in Ordinary Time