OXYGEN

06 Feb – Memorial for Ss Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

We have little reliable information about this martyr who has been honoured since ancient times, and whose name is included in the canon of the Mass. Young, beautiful and rich, Agatha (d.250) lived a life consecrated to God. When Decius announced the edicts against Christians, the magistrate Quinctianus tried to profit by Agatha’s sanctity; he planned to blackmail her into sex in exchange for not charging her. Handed over to a brothel, she refused to accept customers.

After rejecting Quinctianus’ advances, she was beaten, imprisoned, tortured, her breasts were crushed and cut off. She told the judge, “Cruel man, have you forgotten your mother and the breast that nourished you, that you dare to mutilate me this way?” One version has it that St. Peter healed her. She was then imprisoned again, then rolled on live coals; when she was near death, an earthquake struck. In the destruction that followed, a friend of the magistrate was crushed, and the magistrate fled. Agatha thanked God for an end to her pain, and died.

Legend says that carrying her veil, taken from her tomb in Catania, in procession has averted erupts of Mount Etna. Her intercession is reported to have saved Malta from Turkish invasion in 1551.

- Patron Saint Index
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1 Kings 3:4-13

King Solomon went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, since that was the greatest of the high places – he offered a thousand holocausts on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared in to Solomon during the night. God said, ‘Ask what you would like me to give you.’ Solomon replied, ‘You showed great kindness to your servant David, my father, when he lived his life before you in faithfulness and justice and integrity of heart; you have continued this great kindness to him by allowing a son of his to sit on his throne today. Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in succession to David my father. But I am a very young man, unskilled in leadership. Your servant finds himself in the midst of this people of yours that you have chosen, a people so many its number cannot be counted or reckoned. Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who could govern this people of yours that is so great?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon should have asked for this. ‘Since you have asked for this’ the Lord said ‘and not asked for long life for yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies, but have asked for a discerning judgement for yourself, here and now I do what you ask. I give you a heart wise and shrewd as none before you has had and none will have after you. What have not asked I shall give you too: such riches and glory as no other king ever had.
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Mark 6:30-34

The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd
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He took pity and them because they were like sheep without a shepherd

During secondary school we had annual fundraising fun fairs. Some of us prepared food (or had parents and maids help prepare it) while others manned game booths. While fellow students made their fair share of purchases, most of the proceeds came from teachers and staff who would often pay more than retail price. It was something that did to show their support for the students’ efforts. If sales were poor, students might be demoralised. This would not be good for impressionable young individuals just starting to forge their identities and social skills. Thinking of us first they would always give from their own pockets.

Today’s Gospel passage continues from where yesterday’s left off. The disciples’ mission was obviously a success. The people of Israel went after them for more than they could handle. Christ saw the crowd hungry for God and knew that He could not send them away empty-handed and disheartened. Putting them first, He gave up rest to teach them. This same care for others was demonstrated by Solomon. It would be natural and common sense to seek wealth and longevity, things that bring direct benefit to one’s self. However, Solomon chose wisdom instead, not so much for himself but for his countrymen. With wisdom he would be able to govern God’s people well.

We are familiar with acts of kindness and charity such as donations to or volunteer work for organisations. However, that is not the only way we can put others before ourselves. As the saying goes, charity begins at home. The colleague or friend sitting right next to us at work or in school or the family member at the dinner table may be having a rough day. When we see things like that, what is our response? We can just go about the rest of our day as if nothing happened and there would be no inconvenience to us. Or my brothers and sisters, we can respond as Solomon and Jesus did, going out of our way to bring motivation, comfort and love to those who need it in time of trial.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Aloysius Ting)
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Prayer: We pray for that we will always choose the straight and narrow, however hard it may be.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for every single person who cared enough for us to want to make a difference in our lives.

Upcoming Readings:
Sun, 07 Feb – Isaiah 6:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11; Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time