OXYGEN

26 Aug
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1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

Let me remind you, brothers, how hard we used to work, slaving night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you while we were proclaiming God’s Good News to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, that our treatment of you, since you became believers, has been impeccably right and fair. You can remember how we treated every one of you as a father treats his children, teaching you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom.

Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it.
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Matthew 23:27-32

Jesus said, ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who are like whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of corruption. In the same way you appear to people from the outside like good honest men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hyprocrites! You who build the sepulchres of the prophets and decorate the tombs of holy men, saying, “We would never have joined in shedding the blood of the prophets, had we lived in our father’s day.” So! Your own evidence tells against you! You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets! Very well then, finish off the work that your fathers began.’
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…[W]e constantly thank God…

I sometimes feel how very fortunate I am, to be born into a Catholic family, surrounded with great friends, provided with good education; with little to worry of what to wear or what to eat. I think back of the street-kids of poorer countries sometimes, and it reminds me not to take what has been given to me for granted. I have been given all these from God. It is not difficult for me to understand how generous God is as to those who are struggling to feed themselves. And yet, I easily forget that He has given me so much, and all I had to do as His child is to say, “Thank you, Father.”

In today’s Gospel, St. Paul speaks of how he prays for the Thessalonians. They were able to listen to the Good News preached by Paul and believe, having the wisdom to listen for God’s message and not cluttered by the noise of human thinking. When we come to know God and have been baptised to be a firm believer of God, we see that it is God’s work within us and the generosity of our Father that He has given to us only good things.

Do we constantly give thanks to our Father for His generosity to us? The wealth is not measured by the amount of money, but by how peaceful and loving we have been graced upon. Have you given thanks today? Say thank you to God, to your parents, to your spouse, to your friends, constantly say thank you.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Austin Leong)
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Prayer: O Lord, I am blinded with much human thoughts and selfishness, allow my heart to see the generosity of You.

Thanksgiving: Thank You my God and Father, I sincerely thank You for life and my faith in You.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu, 27 Aug – 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13; Matthew 23:42-51; Memorial for St Monica, Married Woman
Fri, 28 Aug – 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Matthew 25:1-3; Memorial for St Augustine, Bishop, Doctor of the Church
Sat, 29 Aug – Jeremiah 1:17-19; Mark 6:17-29; Memorial of the Beheading of St John the Baptist
Sun, 30 Aug – Deuteronomy 4:1-2.6-8; James 1.17-18.21-22.27; Matthew 7:1-8.14-15.21-23; Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time