OXYGEN

10 Jul
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Genesis 46:1-7.28-30

Israel left Canaan with his possessions, and reached Beersheba. There he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. God spoke to Israel in a vision at night, ‘Jacob, Jacob,’ he said. ‘I am here,’ he replied. ‘I am God, the God of your father,’ he continued. ‘Do not be afraid of going down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. I myself will go down to Egypt with you. I myself will bring you back again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.’ then Jacob left Beersheba. Israel’s sons conveyed their father Jacob, their little children and their wives in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to fetch him.

Taking their livestock and all that they had acquired in the land of Canaan, they went to Egypt, Jacob and his family with him: his sons and his grandsons, his daughters and his granddaughters, in a word, all his children he took with him to Egypt.

Israel sent Judah ahead of Joseph, so that the latter might present himself to him in Goshen. When they arrived in the land of Goshen, Joseph had his chariot made ready and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. As soon as he appeared he threw his arms round his neck and for a long time wept on his shoulder. Israel said to Joseph, ‘Now I can die, now that I have seen you again, and seen you still alive.’
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Matthew 10:16-23

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Remember, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.

‘Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governers and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.

‘Brother will betray brother to death, and father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved. If they persecute you on one town, take refuge in another. I tell you solemnly, you will not have gone the round of the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.’
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… [T]he Spirit of the Father will be speaking in you

Choirs play a vital role in our worship. Everyone would love to hear great music and vocals during Mass. We cannot always get what we want. There is a choir I know of which judging by musicality is not at all good. They often sing flat, out of tune and cannot reach the high notes well. For a long time I wondered why they continued singing even though they were clearly out of the league compared with other choirs. Then my mother remarked that they were doing it for God. Sure they would not be signing any recording deals any time soon but they were doing the greater work of ministering to Christ’s flock.

Today’s readings focus on the doubts and inadequacies that those called by God feel. They show how the Lord addresses them. Israel’s uncertainty over uprooting yet again were dispelled and proven to be small compared to the reunion with his lost son.

As for the disciples, most of them were not gifted with public speaking especially in such stressful conditions as Jesus presented. Yet as we know following the Ascension, they all would succeed in their ministry, becoming bold and confident in their proclamations. This is how the Lord moved, by providing the strength and talents they needed so that they may do His work. This is how the Lord continues to move today.

My sisters and brothers, there are two issues for us to reflect on today. Firstly, we do not like everyone we meet. Some of them we even disdain. Still, each of them is an instrument through which God. How is God speaking to us through those we do not like? Second, not everyone is a great writer, singer or orator. Sincerity though is more important when serving the Church. Are we holding ourselves back because we feel we are not up to par?

(Today’s OXYGEN by Aloysius Ting)
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Prayer: We pray that we may see and serve Christ in all things.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for choirs who practice long and hard in their ministry.

Upcoming Readings:
Sat, 11 Jul – Genesis 49:29-33;50:15-26; Matthew 10:24-38; Memorial for St. Benedict, Abbot
Sun, 12 Jul – Amos 7:12-15; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 7-13; Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time; Bible Sunday