OXYGEN

01 Jul
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Genesis 21:5.6-20

Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham gave a great banquet on the day Isaac was weaned. Now Sarah watched the son that Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. ‘Drive away that slave-girl and her son,’ she said to Abraham; ‘this slave-girl’s son is not to share the inheritance with my son Isaac.’ This greatly distressed Abraham because of his son, but God said to him, ‘Do not distress yourself on account of the boy and your slave-girl. Grant Sarah all she asks of you, for it is through Isaac that your name will be carried on. But the slave-girl’s son I will also make into a nation, for he is your child too.’ Rising early next morning Abraham took some bread and a skin of water and, giving them to Hagar, he put the child on her shoulder and sent her away.

She wandered off into the wilderness of Beersheba. When the skin of water was finished she abandoned the child under a bush. Then she went and sat down a distance, about a bowshot away, saying to herself, ‘I cannot see the child die.’ So she sat at a distance; and the child wailed and wept.

But God heard the boy wailing, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven. ‘What is wrong, Hagar?’ he asked, ‘Do not be afraid, for God has heard the boy’s cry where he lies. Come, pick up the boy and hold him safe, for I will make him into a great nation.’ Then God opened Hagar’s eyes and she saw a well, so she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

God was with the boy. He grew up and made his home in the wilderness, and he became a bowman.
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Matthew 8:28-34

When Jesus reached the country of the Gadarenes on the other side of the lake, two demoniacs came towards him out of the tombs – creatures so fierce that no one could pass that way. They stood there shouting, ‘What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the time?’ Now some distance away there was a large herd of pigs feeding, and the devils pleaded with Jesus, ‘If you cast us out, send us into the herd of pigs.’ And he said to them, ‘Go then,’ and they came out and made for the pigs; and at that the whole herd charged down the cliff into the lake and perished in the water. The swineherds ran off and made for the town, where they told the whole story, including what had happened to the demoniacs. At this the whole town set out to meet Jesus; and as soon as they saw him they implored him to leave the neighbourhood.
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If you cast us out, send us into the herd of pigs

The other day I was just thinking that the devils are always out there trying to battle for our soul. Each day, we face so many trials and temptations from the devils. This made me feel rather disheartened. After all, if they keep trying, wouldn’t they one day succeed in taking my soul? With the countless temptations and taunting to abandon my cross (avoid the pains of the cross), wouldn’t I eventually cave in?

Sometimes, I think to myself that if I didn’t try to follow God, maybe the devils would leave me alone and not tempt me. This would, in turn, mean that I don’t have to struggle so hard. However, I am also aware that this would imply that I have accepted defeat and, since I chose to give up on God during my life, I probably would have lost any hope of being with God at the end of my life.

The verse above from today’s Gospel reading really strikes me. It shows how powerful Jesus is such that without even saying anything, the devils were already pleading to Him. Jesus’ response was a simple “Go then”, and the devils immediately obeyed.

Hence, if like me, you are feeling worried that one day the devil might win the battle for your soul, I hope you will find encouragement in today’s Gospel. Let us never give up on our daily crosses, for just as temptation is real, Jesus’ redeeming power and graces are also real. If we must surrender, let us choose to surrender not to the devil, but to God.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Jean Cheng)
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Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me for my little faith and cowardly heart. Help me to grow in my faith and to believe in Your power to save me from any struggles that I face.

Thanksgiving: Lord Jesus Christ, I love You and thank You for never giving up on me, even though I am so small and cowardly.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu, 02 Jul – Genesis 22:1-19; Matthew 9:1-8
Fri, 03 Jul – Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:24-29; Feast of St Thomas, Apostle
Sat, 04 Jul – Genesis 27:1-5.15-29; Matthew 9:14-17; Memorial for St Elizabeth of Portugal
Sun, 05 Jul – Ezekiel 2:2-5; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6; Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time