OXYGEN

06 Mar
_____________________

Micah 7:14-15,18-20

With shepherd’s crook, O Lord, lead your people to pasture,
the flock that is your heritage,
living confined in a forest
with meadow land all around.
Let them pasture in Bashan and Gilead
as in the days of old.
As in the days when you came out of Egypt
grant us to see wonders.

What god can compare with you: taking fault away,
pardoning crime,
not cherishing anger for ever
but delighting in showing mercy?
Once more have pity on us,
tread down our faults,
to the bottom of the sea
throw all our sins.
Grant Jacob your faithfulness,
and Abraham your mercy,
as you swore to our fathers
from the days of long ago.
_____________________

Luke 15:1-3,11-32

The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:

He also said, ‘A man had two sons. The younger said to his father, “Father, let me have the share of the estate that would come to me.” So the father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.

‘When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch, so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks the pigs were eating but no one offered him anything. Then he came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they want, and here am I dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants.” So he left the place and went back to his father.

‘While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.” And they began to celebrate.

‘Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about. “Your brother has come” replied the servant “and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got him back safe and sound.” He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him; but he answered his father, “Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property – he and his women – you kill the calf we had been fattening.”

‘The father said, “My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.”’
_____________________

… delighting in showing mercy

The parable of the Prodigal Son is a story in which every character can be analysed and related back to us in our individual lives. We have been the younger son, the elder son, the father and the servants. I may try to give a short account of how each character is a reflection of my own. Perhaps, this reflection will help you to see how the Word has spoken to you today.

The servants: They are not talked about much, but I see a kind of obedience and simplicity in them. They do their jobs, they get rewarded accordingly, and received more food than they can eat. They join in the celebrations and follow instructions of the father. There are moments when I am being taught by a very good mentor, and with my willingness to learn and help, I actually receive more information than needed. What is usually amazing is a teacher-mentor relationship gradually becomes friendship and yet full of respect for the other.

Elder son: Another character of obedience but not understanding the generosity of the father, thus having jealousy and anger. This could be the competitive side of me, I get my work done and put in effort to meet expectations, however, sometimes it gets to me when someone junior gets recognised for a simple job done, which instead I should be happy for the other.

Younger son: The one who enjoyed everything he had, lost all that he had and pleaded for forgiveness. I have made wrong decisions and even hurt people with both actions and words. Truly, there is nothing more sincere than to be able to face up to it and ask for forgiveness. To actually realise our mistakes and be willing to amend is half the battle won.

Father: The generous and merciful one. I think I am very little of this character. To forgive others, yes but to be really generous, I think I have to work on that. I see our Lord filled with these characteristics; the generous, merciful and loving God that He is.

We have come to the end of the second week of Lent, and the various parishes begin to organise their penitential services. In the coming weeks, let us recollect ourselves and recall how we had behaved like the sons and daughters that we are, then ask from our merciful Father the forgiveness that we have no doubt He will give for He delights in showing us mercy and compassion.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Austin Leong)
_____________________

Prayer: Who do I reflect the most these past days? Do I harbour jealousy, anger, disobedience, temptations or a hardened heart? I pray for a change in my attitude and be a loving person like Your Son, Jesus.

Thanksgiving: There is nothing more I would like to give thanks for other than the mercy and generosity You have given and shown unto me.

Upcoming Readings:
Sun, 07 Mar – Exodus 3:1-8,13-15; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6,10-12; Luke 13:1-9; Third Sunday Sunday of Lent