OXYGEN » Advent

Saturday, 24 December – The Greatest Gift

Aloysius Ting — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:00:22 +0000

24 Dec
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2 Samuel 7:1-5.8-12.14.16

Once David had settled into his house and the Lord had given him rest from all the enemies surrounding him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘Look, I am living in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwells in a tent.’ Nathan said to the king, ‘Go and do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.’

But that very night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:

‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in? I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel; I have been with you on all your expeditions; I have cut off all your enemies before you. I will give you fame as great as the fame of the greatest on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel; I will plant them there and they shall dwell in that place and never be disturbed again; nor shall the wicked continue to oppress them as they did, in the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel; I will give them rest from all their enemies. The Lord will make you great; the Lord will make you a House. And when your days are ended and you are laid to rest with your ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of your body after you and make his sovereignty secure. I will be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does evil, I will punish him with the rod such as men use, with strokes such as mankind gives. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’
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Luke 1:67-79

John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:

‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel
for he has visited his people, he has come to their rescue
and he has raised up for us a power for salvation
in the House of his servant David,
even as he proclaimed,
by the mouth of his holy prophets from ancient times,
that he would save us from our enemies
and from the hands of all who hate us.
Thus he shows mercy to our ancestors,
thus he remembers his holy covenant
the oath he swore
to our father Abraham
that he would grant us, free from fear,
to be delivered from the hands of our enemies,
to serve him in holiness and virtue
in his presence, all our days.
And you, little child,
you shall be called Prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare the way for him,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins;
this by the tender mercy of our God
who from on high will bring the rising Sun to visit us,
to give light to those who live
in darkness and the shadow of death
and to guide our feet
into the way of peace.’
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Ero cras: “Tomorrow, I will come.”

The season of advent come to an end today and the Church waits in joyful expectancy to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord. It is fitting that we reflect on what the birth of Jesus means in our daily life.

Christians celebate the joy that is associated with the birth of Christ but I believe that this birth must also take place in the interior of our souls and this can only occur if we have nurtured the right conditions for this to take place. Disposing our soul to the workings of the Holy Spirit and the use of charitable words and actions will allow others to realise that the birth of Christ goes beyond the exchange of presents but the change of heart towards one of charity and love towards all.

The greatest gift we can give is the gift of love that our heart possesses and this is done through the sharing of one’s life. It is in giving that we receive and in dying to our old selves would the love of God be made manifest to others.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
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Prayer: Lord make us ready to share the joy that you have provided to all in our midst.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to all the volunteers in church who have prepared for the Masses tonight.

Upcoming Readings:
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts of the Apostles 13:16-17.22-25; Matthew 1:1-25; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Vigil Mass)
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2: 1-14; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Midnight)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Dawn)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-8; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day)

Friday, 23 December – The Loudness Of Silence

Aloysius Ting — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:00:24 +0000

23 Dec – Memorial for St John Kanty, Presbyter

John (1390-1473) was a Polish country lad. A brilliant student at the University of Krakow, Poland, he became a priest and professor of theology at the University of Krakow, where he was falsely accused and ousted by university rivals.

At the age of 41, he was assigned as parish priest at Olkusz, Bohemia. He took his position seriously, and was terrified of responsibility, but did his best. For a long time that wasn’t enough for his parishioners, but in the end he won their hearts. After several years in his parish, he returned to Krakow and taught Scripture for the rest of his life.

John was a serious, humble man, generous to a fault with the poor, sleeping little, eating no meat and little of anything else. He was a pilgrim to Jerusalem, hoping to be martyred by Turks. He made four pilgrimages to Rome, carrying his luggage on his back. When warned to look after his health, he pointed out that the early desert fathers lived long lives in conditions that had nothing to recommend them but the presence of God.

At the time of his death, John was so well loved that his veneration began immediately. For years his doctoral gown was worn by graduates receiving advanced degrees at the University of Krakow. He was declared patron of Poland and Lithuania in 1737 by Pope Clement XII, 30 years before his final canonization.

- Patron Saint Index
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Malachi 3:1-4.23-24

The Lord God says this: Look, I am going to send my messenger to prepare a way before me. And the Lord you are seeking will suddenly enter his Temple; and the angel of the covenant whom you are longing for, yes, he is coming, says the Lord of Hosts. Who will be able to resist the day of his coming? Who will remain standing when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire and the fullers’ alkali. He will take his seat as refiner and purifier; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and then they will make the offering to the Lord as it should be made. The offering of Judah and Jerusalem will then be welcomed by the Lord as in former days, as in the years of old.

Know that I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before my day comes, that great and terrible day. He shall turn the hearts of fathers towards their children and the hearts of children towards their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a curse.
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Luke 1:57-66

The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son; and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had shown her so great a kindness, they shared her joy.

Now on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother spoke up. ‘No,’ she said ‘he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘But no one in your family has that name’, and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called. The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they were all astonished. At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God. All their neighbours were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hill country of Judaea. All those who heard of it treasured it in their hearts. ‘What will this child turn out to be?’ they wondered. And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.
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O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God

I find it very scary and sometimes intimidating whenever I close my eyes in the subway and hear the noise that is being generated from the conversations of others to the music from the earphones of another commuter. It seems that there is a great fear of silence in today’s world and indeed the readings of today do speak about silence and how it relates to our relationship with God.

Zechariah was made dumb because he doubted God’s message. He had mis-used the gift of speech that he had and instead of glorifying God, he had questioned God’s power. The silence was to ensure that he reflected on his actions and through that process come to acknowledge the power of God within him. We need to enter into our own silence and discover that God is the centre and ruler of our lives. It is incorrect to believe that God can be put at the sidelines and that our egos are the master of our destiny. Acknowledging the love of God in our midst is the first step towards enabling us to speak words of love and charity towards others.

Our speech glorifies the name of the Lord and it is hence our duty to continue to speak words that proclaim God’s love to all around instead of speaking words of harm. The season of Christmas is a season of joy and happiness and we can continue to spread the cheer by extending a warm smile and genuine word of concern to all whom we encounter.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
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Prayer: Lord may we always use our tongue to glorify your name

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to all who have taken the vow of silence.

Upcoming Readings:
Sat 24 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5.8-12; Luke 1:67-69
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts of the Apostles 13:16-17.22-25; Matthew 1:1-25; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Vigil Mass)
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2: 1-14; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Midnight)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Dawn)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-8; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day)

Thursday, 22 December – With A Grateful Heart

Aloysius Ting — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:00:50 +0000

22 Dec
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1 Samuel 1:24-28

When Hannah had weaned the infant Samuel, she took him up with her together with a three-year old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the temple of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was with them. They slaughtered the bull and the child’s mother came to Eli. She said, ‘If you please, my lord. As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. This is the child I prayed for, and the Lord granted me what I asked him. Now I make him over to the Lord for the whole of his life. He is made over to the Lord.’
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Luke 1:46-56

Mary said:

‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit exults in God my saviour;
because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.
Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name,
and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.
He has shown the power of his arm,
he has routed the proud of heart.
He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.
He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy
– according to the promise he made to our ancestors –
of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.
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O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.

Someone once mentioned to me that Man is an ungrateful lot as the amount of “thank you” mentioned is often lesser than the number of requests that are made. The readings of today remind us of the need to give thanks to the Lord for whatever that has been given to us even for things that we take for granted.

Hannah is grateful for having been able to give birth to Samuel and she in turn offered him to the service of the Lord. It is human nature for us to be possessive and desire to keep within our control the various objects that we have. Perhaps this is the reason why Hannah mentions in her prayer of thanksgiving that those that are mighty and well-off have to work harder than those that are poor. The poor may have learnt an important lesson that the others may not have acquired: namely that to rely on the Lord is all that a Christian is asked to do.

If we remember that we were fashioned out of dust and that unto dust we shall return then maybe we will realise the futility of unbridled pursuit of wealth and knowledge. True wealth and knowledge comes from a love of God and this is what we must do in order to be called true Christians. As we prepare to celebrate the Incarnation, may we remain grateful for the love that God has generously poured out upon us.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
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Prayer: Lord, we pray that we remain humble before your presence.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to all religious who have taken the vow of poverty.

Upcoming Readings:
Fri 23 Dec – Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66; Memorial for St John Kanty, Presbyter
Sat 24 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5.8-12; Luke 1:67-69
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts of the Apostles 13:16-17.22-25; Matthew 1:1-25; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Vigil Mass)
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2: 1-14; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Midnight)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Dawn)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-8; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day)

Wednesday, 21 Dec – The Fruits Of Your Actions

Aloysius Ting — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:00:46 +0000

21 Dec – Memorial for St. Peter Canisius, priest, Doctor of the Church

Peter (1521–1597) was the son of Jacob Canisius, a wealthy burgomeister, and Ægidia van Houweningen, who died shortly after Peter’s birth. He was educated in Cologne, Germany, where he studied art, civil law, and theology. He received a master’s degree by age 19. His closest friends at university were monks and clerics.

He joined the Jesuits on May 8, 1543 after attending a retreat conducted by Bl. Peter Faber. He taught at the University of Cologne, and helped found the first Jesuit house in the city. He was ordained in 1546. He was theologian of Cardinal Otto Truchsess von Waldburg, Bishop of Augsburg in 1547.

He travelled and worked with St. Ignatius of Loyola who was his spiritual director in Rome, Italy. He taught rhetoric in Messina, Sicily in 1548, preaching in Italian and Latin. He was doctor of theology in 1549. He began teaching theology and preaching at Ingolstadt, Germany in 1549, and was rector of the university the following year.

In 1552 he began teaching theology, and preaching in the Cathedral of St. Stephen in Vienna, Austria. He was the royal court confessor even as he continued to work in hospitals and prisons. During Lent in 1553 he travelled to preach in abandoned parishes in Lower Austria.

During Mass one day, he received a vision of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and ever after offered his work to the Sacred Heart. He led the Counter-Reformation in Germany, Austria, Bohemia, and Switzerland, and his work led to the return of Catholicism to Germany. His catechism went through 200 editions during his lifetime, and was translated into 12 languages. In some places catechisms were referred to as “Canisi”.

He attended the Diets of Augsburg (1555), Ratisbon (1556, 1557), and founded Jesuit colleges in Ingolstadt, Prague, Dilingen, and Fribourg. Everywhere he worked he became a noted preacher, and often worked with children, teaching them and hearing their confessions.

He represented Pope Paul IV at the imperial Diet of Pieternow. He addressed the Council of Trent on the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. He recommended St. Stanislaus Kostka for reception as a Jesuit. He was court preacher to Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria.

While in Fribourg, Switzerland, he received a message from the city’s patron saint, Nicholas of Myra, that he should stop travelling. Canisius spent the rest of his life there. He taught, preached, edited books, and worked to support the Catholic press and printers in many cities. His advice was sought by St. Francis de Sales, and by his friend St. Charles Borromeo. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1925 by Pope Pius XI.

- Patron Saint Index
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Song of Songs 2:8-14

I hear my Beloved.
See how he comes
leaping on the mountains,
bounding over the hills.
My Beloved is like a gazelle,
like a young stag.

See where he stands
behind our wall.
He looks in at the window,
he peers through the lattice.

My Beloved lifts up his voice,
he says to me,
‘Come then, my love,
my lovely one, come.
For see, winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth.
The season of glad songs has come,
the cooing of the turtledove is heard
in our land.
The fig tree is forming its first figs
and the blossoming vines give out their fragrance.
Come then, my love,
my lovely one, come.
My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock,
in the coverts of the cliff,
show me your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet
and your face is beautiful.’
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Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’
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O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death

The ability of light to penetrate the darkest places and show forth the things hiding in those places is used in many literary works to show the triumph of good overpowering evil. As we approach Christmas it may be opportunte for all of us to take some time to reflect on whether we have brought good or evil to those of this world.

The joy that John the Baptist as a foetus experienced in knowing that Jesus was present is the same type of joy that we should experience in Christmas. Both John and Jesus were destined to bring fulfilment to God’s great plan of salvation and they were looking forward to playing that role. We as Christians must also carry that same type of heightened expectancy and look forward to the joy that Jesus brings in our life.

We need to discover the importance of dispelling the light and darkness that prevents Christ from entering our hearts. To do so, we can reflect on the works that we have done and the actions we have engaged and see whether these have caused much grief or joy to those around us. Our actions are the fruits of the state of our soul. Let us take time to acknowledge our own failings and ask God to forgive us when we have failed to bring such joy to others,

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
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Prayer: We pray for those that continue to bring joy and peace to those around us.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for all who bring a smile to the faces of others.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu 22 Dec – 1 Samuel 1:24-28; Luke 1:46-56
Fri 23 Dec – Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66; Memorial for St John Kanty, Presbyter
Sat 24 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5.8-12; Luke 1:67-69
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts of the Apostles 13:16-17.22-25; Matthew 1:1-25; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Vigil Mass)
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2: 1-14; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Midnight)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Dawn)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-8; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day)

21 Dec – Memorial for St. Peter Canisius, priest, Doctor of the Church

- Patron Saint Index
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Song of Songs 2:8-14

I hear my Beloved.
See how he comes
leaping on the mountains,
bounding over the hills.
My Beloved is like a gazelle,
like a young stag.

See where he stands
behind our wall.
He looks in at the window,
he peers through the lattice.

My Beloved lifts up his voice,
he says to me,
‘Come then, my love,
my lovely one, come.
For see, winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth.
The season of glad songs has come,
the cooing of the turtledove is heard
in our land.
The fig tree is forming its first figs
and the blossoming vines give out their fragrance.
Come then, my love,
my lovely one, come.
My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock,
in the coverts of the cliff,
show me your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet
and your face is beautiful.’
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Luke 1:39-45

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
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Prayer: We pray for those that continue to bring joy and peace to those around us.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for all who bring a smile to the faces of others.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu 22 Dec – 1 Samuel 1:24-28; Luke 1:46-56
Fri 23 Dec – Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66; Memorial for St John Kanty, Presbyter
Sat 24 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5.8-12; Luke 1:67-69
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts of the Apostles 13:16-17.22-25; Matthew 1:1-25; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Vigil Mass)
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2: 1-14; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Midnight)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Dawn)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-8; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day)

Tuesday, 20 December – Say Yes To God

Aloysius Ting — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:00:33 +0000

20 Dec
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Isaiah 7:10-14

The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’

Then Isaiah said:

‘Listen now, House of David:
are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men
without trying the patience of my God, too?
The Lord himself, therefore,
will give you a sign.
It is this: the maiden is with child
and will soon give birth to a son
whom she will call Immanuel,
a name which means “God-is-with-us.”’
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Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.
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Key of David, who open the gate of the eternal kingdom, come to liberate from prison the captive who lives in darkness

I am always fascinated with the many keys that a shop providing key duplication service has in its possession. It seems that there is a key to open almost every possible lock in the entire neighbourhood. Yet I believe that nothing is as good as the key to open one’s heart that is locked by fear and sin. The Key of David is the answer to this fear.

The Gospel passage of the Annunciation narrates to us the fear that Mary encountered when the angel Gabriel appeared. She had every right to be fearful but she decided to say Yes to God and the mystery of the Incarnation was set to begin. Mary’s confident reply could only come about because of the tremendous amount of time that she has spent in prayer. We know from tradition that she was brought up in a prayerful environment and that she was devout in the practice of her religion. When God makes a request of her, she was properly formed to say Yes. Indeed, it could be said that there was no “lock” in her heart because she was open to the promptings of the Spirit and God’s grace moved freely within her.

Jesus is the Key to unlock the fears and trepidations that we may have in our hearts. We have to unblock the keyhole to allow Him to free us from these concerns. Our first step of saying Yes must mirror that of Mary; free, open and without prejudice so that God can come and take over as the main actor in our lives.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
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Prayer: We pray for the strength to say Yes to God

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to all who have accepted the love of God in their lives.

Upcoming Readings:
Wed 21 Dec – Song of Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18; Luke 1:39-45; Memorial for St Peter Canisius, Presbyter
Thu 22 Dec – 1 Samuel 1:24-28; Luke 1:46-56
Fri 23 Dec – Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66; Memorial for St John Kanty, Presbyter
Sat 24 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5.8-12; Luke 1:67-69
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts of the Apostles 13:16-17.22-25; Matthew 1:1-25; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Vigil Mass)
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2: 1-14; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Midnight)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Dawn)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-8; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day)

Monday, 19 December – The Richness of God’s Love

Aloysius Ting — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 17:00:42 +0000

19 Dec
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Judges 13:2-7.24-25

There was a man of Zorah of the tribe of Dan, called Manoah. His wife was barren, she had borne no children. The angel of the Lord appeared to this woman and said to her, ‘You are barren and have had no child. But from now on take great care. Take no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For you will conceive and bear a son. No razor is to touch his head, for the boy shall be God’s nazirite from his mother’s womb. It is he who will begin to rescue Israel from the power of the Philistines.’ Then the woman went and told her husband, ‘A man of God has just come to me; his presence was like the presence of the angel of God, he was so majestic. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not reveal his name to me. But he said to me, “You will conceive and bear a son. From now on, take no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For the boy shall be God’s nazirite from his mother’s womb to his dying day.”’

The woman gave birth to a son and called him Samson. The child grew, and the Lord blessed him; and the spirit of the Lord began to move him.
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Luke 1:5-25

In the days of King Herod of Judaea there lived a priest called Zechariah who belonged to the Abijah section of the priesthood, and he had a wife, Elizabeth by name, who was a descendant of Aaron. Both were worthy in the sight of God, and scrupulously observed all the commandments and observances of the Lord. But they were childless: Elizabeth was barren and they were both getting on in years.

Now it was the turn of Zechariah’s section to serve, and he was exercising his priestly office before God when it fell to him by lot, as the ritual custom was, to enter the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense there. And at the hour of incense the whole congregation was outside, praying.

Then there appeared to him the angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense. The sight disturbed Zechariah and he was overcome with fear. But the angel said to him, ‘Zechariah, do not be afraid, your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth is to bear you a son and you must name him John. He will be your joy and delight and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he must drink no wine, no strong drink. Even from his mother’s womb he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and he will bring back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah, he will go before him to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children and the disobedient back to the wisdom that the virtuous have, preparing for the Lord a people fit for him.’

Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is getting on in years.’ The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel who stand in God’s presence, and I have been sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. Listen! Since you have not believed my words, which will come true at their appointed time, you will be silenced and have no power of speech until this has happened.’ Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were surprised that he stayed in the sanctuary so long. When he came out he could not speak to them, and they realised that he had received a vision in the sanctuary. But he could only make signs to them, and remained dumb.

When his time of service came to an end he returned home. Some time later his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept to herself. ‘The Lord has done this for me’ she said ‘now that it has pleased him to take away the humiliation I suffered among men.’
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Root of Jesse, set up as a sign to the peoples, come to save us and delay no more

Many of us have learned in our science classes of younger days that a plant is divided into 3 components, namely the root, the stem and the leaves. Each of them have an important role to play for the total functioning of the plant and the absence of one will result in the plant not developing totally. The readings of today remind us of the need to have our roots of faith planted in fertile soil of the richness of the Church’s teachings and Sacraments.

The readings of today instruct the parents of both Samson and John that their child must not touch any strong drink and cannot eat food that is ritually unclean. I interpret this to mean that for us to receive Christ in our hearts we need to prepare our hearts to be ready to receive him. This is done by ensuring that the sins that prevent us from growing closer to Him be confessed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There are many excuses that we can put forth for delaying the reception of this great Sacrament but I ask that we consider the joy that we get to experience on Christmas Day when we receive Christ in Holy Communion.

We can best experience the warmth, love, joy and peace of Christmas if our hearts, like a root, is planted in an environment that allows it to flourish. God’s grace will flow through our hearts freely if we make ready to receive Him.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
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Prayer: We pray for the grace to acknowledge our sins and admit them before God

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to priests who are offering their time for the salvation of souls

Upcoming Readings:
Tue 20 Dec – Isaiah 7:10-14; Luke 1:26-38
Wed 21 Dec – Song of Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18; Luke 1:39-45; Memorial for St Peter Canisius, Presbyter
Thu 22 Dec – 1 Samuel 1:24-28; Luke 1:46-56
Fri 23 Dec – Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66; Memorial for St John Kanty, Presbyter
Sat 24 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5.8-12; Luke 1:67-69
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts of the Apostles 13:16-17.22-25; Matthew 1:1-25; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Vigil Mass)
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2: 1-14; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Midnight)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Dawn)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-8; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day)

Sunday, 18 Dec – Thy Will Be Done

Aloysius Ting — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:00:43 +0000

18 Dec – Fourth Sunday of Advent

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

A blessed Advent to you! It is an OXYGEN tradition that the Christmas Masses reflections are done by you, the readers. Volunteer reflections in the past have been truly insightful and we look forward to your contributions this year.

There are four Masses in total, each with three readings as listed below.

1. Vigil Mass (Sat 24 Dec) – Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts of the Apostles 13:16-17.22-25; Matthew 1:1-25
2. Midnight Mass (Sat 24 Dec) – Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2: 1-14
3. Mass at Dawn (Sun 25 Dec) – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20
4. Mass during the Day (Sun 25 Dec) – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-8

It is not necessary to base your sharing on all three readings. Just one reading through which the Spirit speaks to you will be sufficient.

If you have felt the call to let others know how Christ has worked in your life this year, you may:
A. Leave a comment (for website readers) or
B. Send a reply (for email subscribers).

Please indicate which reading(s) you wish to reflect on.

God bless!
The OXYGEN Team

Mary, The Ark Of God’s Covenant

Today’s Mass is a great song to the everlasting love of God revealed in his covenant (love-pact) with his people. We praise the mystery of his love kept secret for endless age, but now revealed through a new ark of the covenant, Mary of Nazareth.

- The Sunday Missal
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2 Samuel 7:1-5.8-11.16

But that very night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:

‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in? I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel; I have been with you on all your expeditions; I have cut off all your enemies before you. I will give you fame as great as the fame of the greatest on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel; I will plant them there and they shall dwell in that place and never be disturbed again; nor shall the wicked continue to oppress them as they did, in the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel; I will give them rest from all their enemies. The Lord will make you great; the Lord will make you a House. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’
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Romans 16:25-27

Glory to him who is able to give you the strength to live according to the Good News I preach, and in which I proclaim Jesus Christ, the revelation of a mystery kept secret for endless ages, but now so clear that it must be broadcast to pagans everywhere to bring them to the obedience of faith. This is only what scripture has predicted, and it is all part of the way the eternal God wants things to be. He alone is wisdom; give glory therefore to him through Jesus Christ for ever and ever. Amen.
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Luke 1:26-38

Let what you have said be done to me

The purpose of a microphone is to convey the audio signal from the speaker to the sound system so that others can hear the message clearly. In the same way, the readings of today remind us of the importance of being messengers of Christ.

A messenger must contain a certain element of the person sending the message either in the form of an emblem or official pass so as to allow the recipient to know that the messenger is bearing genuine news. As Christians who continually receive the love of God in our lives and Jesus directly in Holy Communion, we also bear marks of Christ from our Baptism and Confirmation. We are obliged to carry out the commission of God to love our brothers and to bring the message of Christ love to others. The best gift that a Christian can bring in the season of Christmas is the message of God’s love made manifest in the Child Jesus in the mystery of the Incarnation.

We can turn to our Mother Mary as our role model for having borne Christ in her womb, she shows us that the way to bring Christ to others is through deed and action. By her example and guidance, the early Christian community was unified together as one of love and peace. May we remember to share the love of God as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s Incarnation next Sunday.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
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Prayer: We pray for the grace to continually show God’s love through our actions

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to all who show us what it means to love.

Upcoming Readings:
Mon 19 Dec – Judges 13:2-7.24-25; Luke 1:5-25
Tue 20 Dec – Isaiah 7:10-14; Luke 1:26-38
Wed 21 Dec – Song of Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18; Luke 1:39-45; Memorial for St Peter Canisius, Presbyter
Thu 22 Dec – 1 Samuel 1:24-28; Luke 1:46-56
Fri 23 Dec – Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66; Memorial for St John Kanty, Presbyter
Sat 24 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5.8-12; Luke 1:67-69
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts of the Apostles 13:16-17.22-25; Matthew 1:1-25; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Vigil Mass)
Sat 24 Dec – Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2: 1-14; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Midnight)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Dawn)
Sun 25 Dec – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-8; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day)

Saturday, 17 Dec – What Are We Pursuing?

Aloysius Ting — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:00:48 +0000

17 Dec
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Genesis 49:2.8-10

Jacob called his sons and said:

‘Gather round, sons of Jacob, and listen;
listen to Israel your father.
Judah, your brothers shall praise you:
you grip your enemies by the neck,
your father’s sons shall do you homage,
Judah is a lion cub,
you climb back, my son, from your kill;
like a lion he crouches and lies down,
or a lioness: who dare rouse him?
The sceptre shall not pass from Judah,
nor the mace from between his feet,
until he come to whom it belongs,
to whom the peoples shall render obedience.’
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Matthew 1:1-17

A genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham:

Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah, Tamar being their mother,
Perez was the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram was the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon was the father of Boaz, Rahab being his mother,
Boaz was the father of Obed, Ruth being his mother,
Obed was the father of Jesse;
and Jesse was the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
Solomon was the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,
Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Azariah,
Azariah was the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah;
and Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers.
Then the deportation to Babylon took place.
After the deportation to Babylon:
Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud,
Abiud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor was the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Achim,
Achim the father of Eliud,
Eliud was the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob;
and Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary;
of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.

The sum of generations is therefore: fourteen from Abraham to David; fourteen from David to the Babylonian deportation; and fourteen from the Babylonian deportation to Christ.
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O Wisdom of the Most High, ordering all things with strength and gentleness, come and teach us the way of truth

The pursuit of knowledge in today’s economy is the thing that many people consider to be critical to the development of new ideas. The coming up with innovative and creative ideas actually is the culmination of many years of knowledge. However, the source of present day knowledge can only arise if we are aware of the historical background that provides the context of the modern day society.

The readings of today remind us of the importance of understanding the history behind the birth of Jesus and in particular the Jewish lineage of Christ. It may seem like total boredom to the uninitiated but we as Christians need to look and listen with the eyes and ears of faith. For us as Christians, knowledge is useless unless we possess the wisdom to make use of this knowledge. Faith will enable the cardinal virtue of wisdom to become more alive and more intuned with the message of God. The genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel reminds us of the importance of understanding why God had to sent his only Son to save us. The characters mentioned in the Gospel passage all played an important role in the history of the kingdom of Israel and eventually the divided kingdom of Judah and Israel.

Unlike knowledge which can be acquired through reading and thought, I believe that wisdom needs to be cultivated in an atmosphere of prayer and spiritual reading. The experience that one has in our daily interaction is just as important for it teaches us the ability to evaluate the situations that life puts forth and respond in a Christian manner. As we begin the last seven days of this Advent season, may we take time to ask God to guide us in our journey to grow in wisdom.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
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Prayer: Dear Lord, please purify the pursuits that we are engaging in this present world and allow us to offer them up to you.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to all who teach the Catholic faith.

Upcoming Readings:
Sun 18 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

Thursday, 15 Dec – Covenant Peace

Aloysius Ting — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:00:20 +0000

13 Dec
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Isaiah 54:1-10

Shout for joy, you barren women who bore no children!
Break into cries of joy and gladness, you who were never in labour!
For the sons of the forsaken one are more in number
than the sons of the wedded wife, says the Lord.

Widen the space of your tent,
stretch out your hangings freely,
lengthen your ropes, make your pegs firm;
for you will burst out to right and to left.
Your race will take possession of the nations,
and people the abandoned cities.

Do not be afraid, you will not be put to shame,
do not be dismayed, you will not be disgraced;
for you will forget the shame of your youth
and no longer remember the curse of your widowhood.
For now your creator will be your husband,
his name, the Lord of Hosts;
your redeemer will be the Holy One of Israel,
he is called the God of the whole earth.

Yes, like a forsaken wife, distressed in spirit,
the Lord calls you back.
Does a man cast off the wife of his youth?
says your God.

I did forsake you for a brief moment,
but with great love will I take you back.
In excess of anger, for a moment
I hid my face from you.
But with everlasting love I have taken pity on you,
says the Lord, your redeemer.

I am now as I was in the days of Noah
when I swore that Noah’s waters
should never flood the world again.
So now I swear concerning my anger with you
and the threats I made against you;

for the mountains may depart,
the hills be shaken,
but my love for you will never leave you
and my covenant of peace with you will never be shaken,
says the Lord who takes pity on you.
_____________________

Luke 7:24-30

When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to talk to the people about John, ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the breeze? No? Then what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Oh no, those who go in for fine clothes and live luxuriously are to be found at court! Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet:

he is the one of whom scripture says:
See, I am going to send my messenger before you;
he will prepare the way before you.

‘I tell you, of all the children born of women, there is no one greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he is. All the people who heard him, and the tax collectors too, acknowledged God’s plan by accepting baptism from John; but by refusing baptism from him the Pharisees and the lawyers had thwarted what God had in mind for them.’
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My covenant of peace will never be shaken

When I read the above verse, I couldn’t help but smile. It reminded me of a long debate that I had with a good friend recently over the difference between a covenant and a contract. According to my friend, a covenant was just a “glorified” term for a contract. It didn’t have any difference from a contract. Both had responsibilities that parties had to carry out and liabilities when those obligations were breached.

Although I could understand logically where my friend was coming from, internally, something just didn’t sit right. Somehow, a covenant seemed more onerous to me than a simple paper contract entered into by men. Dissatisfied, I went home and did a google search. Interestingly, I came across an article from a monastery that spoke about the difference.

According to the article, a contract is an agreement made in suspicion. As there is a lack of trust between two parties, they enter into a binding contract in order to ensure their rights and limit their obligations. A covenant however is entirely different. The foundation upon which it is entered into is one of mutual trust. Parties love each other and they do not limit their responsibilities. Hence, marriage is not a contract but a covenant. Our relationship with God is also not a contract but a covenant founded on God’s love for man and our responding trust in his love and providence in our lives.

Unfortunately, I find it easy sometimes to think about my relationship with God like a contract. For instance, when something bad happens, I fall easily into the trap of thinking that God might be punishing me because of something that I’ve done. I think it may be because I’ve sinned against him (hence broken a law or a contractual obligation) and it’s time for me to face the consequence.

I’m reminded however by today’s reading that God sees things differently from me.

Despite the countless times that Israel had broken their covenant with God, God still endeavoured to draw them into an eternal covenant with him. The people of Israel had sinned against God by worshipping other idols. They had turned their backs on him and their hearts away from him. Hence, he rightfully likens Israel to an unfaithful wife. Instead of choosing to divorce himself from Israel however, God chose instead to enter into a new covenant with her.

Part of the new covenant involves helping Israel to forget her wrongdoing against him. He reassures that SHE will forget her unfaithfulness to him and further states in verse 6 “[Y]ou are like a young wife, deserted by her husband and deeply distressed. But the Lord calls you back to him and says: For one brief moment I left you; [but] with deep love I will take you back. I turned away angry for only a moment, but I will show you my love for ever.”

I was struck by this. Why would God reassure Israel that SHE would forget her own wrongdoing? Shouldn’t he reassure her that he would forget her wrongdoing instead?

Then it dawned on me. By choosing to enter into a new covenant with Israel, God had already made the decision to forget all her wrongdoing. Her past sins were no longer a concern to Him. Rather, he was more concerned that Israel’s remembrance of her sin would keep her away from Him.

Similarly, God is concerned with our remembrance of our own sins. The truth is, we find it difficult to forgive ourselves sometimes. Hence, we find it difficult to believe that God has already forgiven us for what we have done. Subconsciously, we end up drawing ourselves away from our Father’s love.

My brothers and sisters, the assurance that we have from God is this: If there is something in our conscience that has been plaguing us and weighs heavily on our mind – let’s bring them to Christ Jesus. Let us make our peace with God, who has promised never to call our sins to mind again. And neither should we.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Cassandra Cheong)
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Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to rest securely in our relationship with you. Embrace us with your love and help us to be at peace with ourselves and with you.

Thanksgiving: Thank you Lord for the people you have sent into our lives to be your instruments of peace.

Upcoming Readings:
Fri 16 Dec – Isaiah 56:1-3. 6-8; John 5:33-36
Sat 17 Dec – Genesis 49:2, 8-10; Matthew 1:1-17; Weekdays of Advent
Sun 18 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

Tuesday, 13 Dec – Trusting God’s Love

Daniel Tay — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:18:37 +0000

13 Dec - Memorial for St. Lucy, virgin, martyr

Lucy (c. 283) was a rich, young Christian of Greek ancestry. She was raised in a pious family, and vowed her life to Christ. Her Roman father died when she was young. Her mother, Eutychia, arranged a marriage for her. For three years, she managed to keep the marriage on hold. To change the mother’s mind about the girl’s new faith, Lucy prayed at the tomb of St. Agatha, and her mother’s long haemorrhagic illness was cured. Her mother agreed with Lucy’s desire to live for God, and Lucy became known as a patron of those with maladies like her mother’s.

Her rejected pagan bridegroom, Paschasius, denounced Lucy as a Christian to the governor of Sicily, who sentenced her to forced prostitution. But when the guards went to fetch her, they could not move her even when they hitched her to a team of oxen. The governor ordered her killed instead. After torture that included having her eyes torn out, she was surrounded by bundles of wood which were set afire; they went out. She prophesied against her persecutors, and was executed by being stabbed to death with a dagger. Her name is listed in the prayer “Nobis quoque peccatoribus” in the Canon of the Mass.

Legend says that her eyesight was restored before her death. This and the meaning of her name led to her connection with eyes, the blind, eye trouble, etc.

- Patron Saint Index
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Zephaniah 3:1-2. 9-13

Trouble is coming to the rebellious, the defiled,
the tyrannical city!
She would never listen to the call,
would never learn the lesson;
she has never trusted in the Lord,
never drawn near to her God.
Yes, I will then give the peoples
lips that are clean,
so that all may invoke the name of the Lord
and serve him under the same yoke.
From beyond the banks of the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants
will bring me offerings.
When that day comes
you need feel no shame for all the misdeeds
you have committed against me,
for I will remove your proud boasters
from your midst;
and you will cease to strut
on my holy mountain.
In your midst I will leave
a humble and lowly people,
and those who are left in Israel will seek refuge in the name of the Lord.
They will do no wrong,
will tell no lies;
and the perjured tongue will no longer
be found in their mouths.
But they will be able to graze and rest
with no one to disturb them.
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Matthew 21:28-32

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He went and said to the first, ‘My boy, you go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not go’, but afterwards thought better of it and went. The man went and said the same thing to the second who answered, ‘Certainly, sir’, but did not go. Which of the two did the father’s will?” “The first,” they said. Jesus said to them, “I tell you solemnly, tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness, but you did not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him.”
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The Lord ransoms the souls of his servants. Those who hide in him shall not be condemned

Growing up, I always had this impression that we were saved only once. The moment we were baptised and fully initiated into the Christian faith, it was our responsibility thereafter to maintain a “good” relationship with God. “Good” meaning ensuring a good track record so that we wouldn’t fall out of grace with God.

I always had this impression that the moment I sinned, I would be cut off from God’s grace. And the only way of getting back in was to ensure that I went for confession or “suffered” a repentance – i.e. internal scourging of my conscience.

Subconsciously, I had bought into a theory that after coming into the knowledge of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, we were now held to a higher standard of living, simply because of our knowledge of God’s mercy. This meant that I was constantly trying to earn back God’s favour everytime I sinned.

However, I was subconciously living in a lie.

The ransom that God had paid for us was an extremely costly one. By sacrificing his son on the cross, God has forgiven us once and for all of all our sins. Hence, there is no longer any condemnation for anyone who has been saved by Christ.

Rather than condemning ourselves, let us focus instead on the mercy of Christ and on his grace to help us overcome. For, by living in condemnation, we are subconsciously proclaiming to ourselves that the price Christ had paid was ineffective and an inferior one.

The truth is this – even when we sin God doesn’t desert us. He can’t because Christ has already paid the price for us. Right living comes when we realised how loved we are by God – it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance, and never the other way round.

The ability to overcome sin comes when we start to focus more on God and his ability to change us, rather than on ourselves and our inabilities to overcome sin. More than anything, God wants us to come to Him especially when we sin because he did not send his son Jesus to call the upright, but sinners. It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick.

Repentance does not come by beating ourselves with a stick, but by realising how blessed and loved with are in spite of our sinful ways.

Let’s open our eyes to God’s love and mercy in our life today.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Cassandra Cheong)
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Prayer: Empower us Lord to set our eyes on you, and grant us the courage to seek you especially when we fall.

Thanksgiving: Thank you for your unmerited favour and mercy in our lives.

Upcoming Readings:
Wed 14 Dec – Isaiah 45:6-8. 18. 21-25; Luke 7:19-23; Memorial for St. John of the Cross, priest
Thu 15 Dec – Isaiah 54:1-10; Luke 7:24-30
Fri 16 Dec – Isaiah 56:1-3. 6-8; John 5:33-36
Sat 17 Dec – Genesis 49:2, 8-10; Matthew 1:1-17; Weekdays of Advent
Sun 18 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

Monday, 12 Dec – Jesus, Our Light in the Dark

Daniel Tay — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:00:11 +0000

12 Dec - Memorial for Our Lady of Guadalupe

Guadalupe is, strictly speaking, the name of a picture, but the name was extended to the church containing the picture and to the town which grew up around the church. It makes the shrine, it occasions the devotion, it illustrates Our Lady. It is taken as representing the Immaculate Conception, being the lone figure of a woman with the sun, moon, and star accompaniments of the great apocalyptic sign with a supporting angel under the crescent. The word is Spanish Arabic, but inMexicoit may represent certain Aztec sounds.

Its tradition is long-standing and constant, and in sources both oral and written, Indian and Spanish, the account is unwavering. The Blessed Virgin appeared on Saturday, 9 December 1531 to a 55-year-old neophyte named Juan Diego, who was hurrying down Tepeyac Hill to hear Mass inMexico City. She sent him to Bishop Zumarraga to have a temple built where she stood. She was at the same place that evening and Sunday evening to get the bishop’s answer.

The bishop did not immediately believe the messenger, had him cross-examined and watched, and he finally told him to ask the lady who said she was the mother of the true God for a sign. The neophyte agreed readily to ask for the sign desired, and the bishop released him.

Juan was occupied all Monday with Bernardino, an uncle who was dying of fever. Indian medicine had failed and Bernardino seemed at death’s door. At daybreak on Tuesday 12 December 1531, Juan ran to nearby St. James’ convent to ask for a priest. To avoid the apparition and the untimely message to the bishop, he slipped round where the well chapel now stands. But the Blessed Virgin crossed down to meet him and said, “What road is this thou takest son?”

A tender dialogue ensued. She reassured Juan about his uncle, to whom she also briefly appeared and instantly cured. Calling herself “Holy Mary of Guadalupe”, she told Juan to return to the bishop. He asked for the sign he required. Mary told him to go to the rocks and gather roses. Juan knew it was neither the time nor the place for roses, but he went and found them. Gathering many into the lap of his tilma (a long cloak or wrapper used by Mexican Indians), he came back. The Holy Mother rearranged the roses, and told him to keep them untouched and unseen until he reached the bishop.

When Juan met with Zumarraga, Juan offered the sign to the bishop. As he unfolded his cloak, the roses, fresh and wet with dew, fell out. Juan was startled to see the bishop and his attendants kneeling before him. The life-size figure of the Virgin Mary, just as Juan had described her, was glowing on the tilma. The picture was venerated, guarded in the bishop’s chapel, and soon after, carried in procession to the preliminary shrine.

Painters have not understood the laying on of the colours. They have deposed that the “canvas” was not only unfit but unprepared, and they have marvelled at the apparent oil, water, distemper, etc. colouring in the same figure. They are left in equal admiration for the flower-like tints and the abundant gold. They and other artists find the proportions perfect for a maiden of fifteen. The figure and the attitude are of one advancing. There is flight and rest in the eager supporting angel. The chief colours are deep gold in the rays and stars, blue green in the mantle, and rose in the flowered tunic.

The clergy, secular and regular, has been remarkably faithful to the devotion towards Our Lady of Guadalupe, the bishops fostering it, even to the extent of making a protestation of faith in the miracle a matter of occasional obligation. Pope Benedict XIV decreed that Our Lady of Guadalupe should be the national patron, and made 12 December a holiday of obligation with an octave, and ordered a special Mass and Office.

- Patron Saint Index
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Numbers 24:2-7. 15-17

Raising his eyes Balaam saw Israel, encamped by tribes; the spirit of God came on him and he declaimed his poem. He said:

“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man with far-seeing eyes,
the oracle of one who hears the word of God.
HE sees what Shaddai makes him see,
receives the divine answer, and his eyes are opened.
How fair are your tents, O Jacob!
How fair your dwellings, Israel!
Like valleys that stretch afar,
like gardens by the banks of a river,
like aloes planted by the Lord,
like cedars beside the waters!
A hero arises from their stock,
he reigns over countless peoples.
His king is greater than Agag,
his majesty is exalted.”

Then Balaam declaimed his poem again. He said:

“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man with far-seeing eyes,
the oracle of the one who hears the word of God,
of one who knows the knowledge of the Most High.
He sees what Shaddai makes him see,
receives the divine answer, and his eyes are opened.
I see him – but not in the present,
I behold him – but not close at hand:
a star from Jacob takes the leadership,
a sceptre arises from Israel.”
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Matthew 21:23-27

Jesus had gone into the Temple and was teaching, when the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him and said, “What authority have you for acting like this? And who gave you this authority?” “And I,” replied Jesus, “will ask you a question, only one; if you tell me the answer to it, I will then tell you my authority for acting like this. John’s baptism: where did it come from: heaven or man?” And they argued it out this way among themselves, “If we say from heaven, he will retort, ‘Then why did you refuse to believe him?’; but if we say from man, we have the people to fear, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” So their reply to Jesus was, “We do not know.” And he retorted, “Nor will I tell you my authority for acting like this.”
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He shows the path to those who stray, He guides the humble in the right path.

When I was in my university days, I was going through a visionless period in my life. I was uncertain about the future and whether the study of law was the course for me. There were crossroads I had to face and I was paralysed with indecision.

Then one day, I ran into an old junior college friend of mine. As we chatted, he shared with me a bible verse. It was a popular verse that I had seen in many ‘decorative’ pieces and wallet cards in Christian bookstores but I’d never really thought about how the verse would apply. It suddenly dawned on me that there was a precious promise in it which I needed to commit to memory and constantly recall as I walked through life.

The verse is this: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5).

This verse has since held true for me. No matter what the circumstances I’m facing, I have learnt to trust in the Lord and not lean on my own understanding, especially when I can’t foresee what is going to happen next.

The verse tells us to trust in God even when we can’t make sense of what we’re going through now. It advises us not to try to rely on our own understanding but to acknowledge God instead wherever we are at currently in our lives. It doesn’t matter if you’ve strayed away from God or feel estranged from him. After all, the Gospel says, “He shows the path to those who stray”. So rest assured that this message is for you. You don’t have to be a faithful “A*” believer for this verse to hold true.

The requisites are just plain and simple. All you have to do is just to acknowledge God in your present circumstance. For instance, if you are currently going through a desperate and difficult situation in your life, just tell God that. Just let him know you feel like crap and you’re at your wits end. Speak to him like you would a close and personal friend, and trust that like a loyal and faithful friend, He’s not going to assess you while you share!

Acknowledging simply means “recognizing”. It’s like acknowledging the presence of someone there with you in a room, just that in our case, it’s acknowledging the presence of someone there, at that moment, with us, in our circumstance. It doesn’t require much training, skill or art, but it does require practice. And the more we acknowledge God in our circumstances, the deeper our relationship grows with Him.

You may be going through a tough period right now. Are you in a situation or a life circumstance that you feel is too difficult for you to handle alone? Sometimes when the problem gets too big, beyond our understanding, comprehension and power of resolution, there are times when we need to learn to let it go and surrender it to God.

Surrendering doesn’t mean completely chucking the problem aside and not caring about it or dealing with it. That wouldn’t be surrendering but escaping. Rather, surrendering means knowing that despite how giant-sized your problems are, God is still much bigger and he can deal with it and handle it.

As the saying goes, there is nothing too small or too big that God can’t handle. He has the power to deal with it and you can entrust your cares to him. While you start to plan and take action on your steps, you can trust that God is going to guide us and provide us opportunities to overcome our circumstance. It also means knowing that when we are faced with a really bad patch, He will make a way for us.

As Proverbs 3:5 says, as long as we are humble enough to acknowledge God in our circumstances, we can be sure that he will guide us in the right path.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Cassandra Cheong)
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Prayer: Father, help us to trust in you especially when our daily burdens become too hard for us to handle. Teach us to surrender, recognise and acknowledge your presence more and more with each passing day.

Thanksgiving: Father, we thank you for your guiding and directing our steps in our lives.

Upcoming Readings:
Tue 13 Dec – Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13; Matthew 21:28-32; Memorial for St. Lucy, virgin, martyr
Wed 14 Dec – Isaiah 45:6-8. 18. 21-25; Luke 7:19-23; Memorial for St. John of the Cross, priest
Thu 15 Dec – Isaiah 54:1-10; Luke 7:24-30
Fri 16 Dec – Isaiah 56:1-3. 6-8; John 5:33-36
Sat 17 Dec – Genesis 49:2, 8-10; Matthew 1:1-17; Weekdays of Advent
Sun 18 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

Sunday, 11 Dec – Living In Grace

Daniel Tay — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:40:10 +0000

11 Dec

Our Joy In Christ

We celebrate our joy in Christ’s redeeming work among us, realising that he who is to come is indeed already with us, “unknown to us”.

- The Sunday Missal
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Isaiah 61:1-2. 10-11

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
for the Lord has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring good news to the poor,
to bind up hearts that are broken;

to proclaim liberty to captives,
freedom to those in prison;
to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.

“I exult for joy in the Lord,
my soul rejoices in my God,
for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation,
he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity,
like a bridegroom wearing his wreath,
like a bride adorned in her jewels.

“For as the earth makes fresh things grow,
as a garden makes seeds spring up,
so will the Lord make both integrity and praise
spring up in the sight of the nations.”
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1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Be happy at all times; pray constantly; and for all things give thanks to God, because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus.

Never try to suppress the Spirit or treat the gift of prophecy with contempt; think before you do anything – hold on to what is good and avoid every form of evil.

May the God of peace make you perfect and holy; and may you all be kept safe and blameless, spirit, soul and body, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has called you and he will not fail you.
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John 1:6-8. 19-28

A man came, sent by God.
His name was John.
He came as a witness,
as a witness to speak for the light,
so that everyone might believe through him.
He was not the light,
only a witness to speak for the light.
This is how John appeared as witness. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” he not only declared, but he declared quite openly, “I am not the Christ.” “Well then,” they asked, “are you Elijah?” “I am not,” he said. “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We must take back an answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?” So John said, “I am, as Isaiah prophesied:

a voice that cries in the wilderness:
Make a straight way for the Lord.”

Now these men had been sent by the Pharisees, and they put this further question to him, “Why are you baptising if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the prophet?” John replied, “I baptise with water; but there stands among you – unknown to you - the one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo his sandal-strap.” This happened at Bethany, on the far side of the Jordan, where John was baptising.
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He has sent me… to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord

A few years ago, a few friends and I began an annual year-end “tradition”. On the eve of New Year, we would gather and reflect on how the past one year had been for each of us.

Some of the questions that we’d ponder on would be questions like: How have we seen ourselves grow in the past one year? If it was a challenging year, in what ways was it challenging? Did anything significant happen in the past one year for us? Are there any blessings or personal achievements that we would like to thank God for?

We would then jot it down in a journal and share.

Apart from reflecting upon the past one year, we would also write about our hopes for the year ahead and entrust it to the Lord in prayer. Our hopes could range from: a new job, a pay increment, directions for a dilemma, the healing of a loved one. This was always the part that I enjoyed best. I liked the feeling of expectation and wonder about what God would do in the year ahead.

This feeling of expectation and wonder is voiced throughout the entire book of Isaiah. It is rich with the promises of God to his people. Despite the many times that the Israelites rebelled and forgot about God, God still never abandoned them.

In fact, He even thought of a foolproof way where He would bring His people into a secure bond with Him, one that would never cause them to fall out of His grace and remain constantly, perpetually, eternally in His favour. In spite of their unfaithfulness, He promised them a future.

As we read the readings today, let us feel blessed for God’s promise is true even for us today. It is not just limited to the people of that time. When He proclaims a “year” of favour, He is proclaiming a “time” of grace for all of us, who are God’s people.

For instance, He reassures them, “Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all who are left of my people. I have cared for you from the time you were born. I am your God and will take care of you until you are old and your hair is grey. I made you and will care for you; I will give you help and rescue you.” This precious promise is true for all of us even till today.

While the Israelites could only hang on to a hope at that time, we are exceedingly blessed for we are born into a time after Christ, when all of God’s promises have been fulfilled. We are now able to live in that secure bond with him and experience the exceeding goodness of Christ who is God’s promise of salvation.

Are you suffering from an illness and seeking God’s healing? Come to Jesus, for by his stripes you are healed. Are you seeking for a breakthrough or a blessing in your life? Come to Jesus, for he is the channel through whom God satisfies all his promises.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Cassandra Cheong)
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Prayer: Grant us the grace Lord to trust in your providence, especially during the times when we’re unable to see what lies ahead.

Thanksgiving: Thank you Lord for blessing us with a future and a hope.

Upcoming Readings:
Mon 12 Dec – Numbers 24:2-7. 15-17; Matthew 21:23-27; Memorial for Our Lady of Guadalupe
Tue 13 Dec – Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13; Matthew 21:28-32; Memorial for St. Lucy, virgin, martyr
Wed 14 Dec – Isaiah 45:6-8. 18. 21-25; Luke 7:19-23; Memorial for St. John of the Cross, priest
Thu 15 Dec – Isaiah 54:1-10; Luke 7:24-30
Fri 16 Dec – Isaiah 56:1-3. 6-8; John 5:33-36
Sat 17 Dec – Genesis 49:2, 8-10; Matthew 1:1-17; Weekdays of Advent
Sun 18 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

Saturday, 10 Dec – Do You See Me?

Aloysius Ting — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:00:07 +0000

10 Dec
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Ecclesiasticus 48:1-4.9-12

The prophet Elijah arose like a fire,
his word flaring like a torch.
It was he who brought famine on the people,
and who decimated them in his zeal.
By the word of the Lord, he shut up the heavens,
he also, three times, brought down fire.
How glorious you were in your miracles, Elijah!
Has anyone reason to boast as you have?
Taken up in the whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with fiery horses;
designated in the prophecies of doom
to allay God’s wrath before the fury breaks,
to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children,
and to restore the tribes of Jacob,
Happy shall they be who see you,
and those who have fallen asleep in love.
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Matthew 17:10-13

As they came down from the mountain the disciples put this question to Jesus, ‘Why do the scribes say then that Elijah has to come first?’ ‘True;’ he replied ‘Elijah is to come to see that everything is once more as it should be; however, I tell you that Elijah has come already and they did not recognise him but treated him as they pleased; and the Son of Man will suffer similarly at their hands.’ The disciples understood then that he had been speaking of John the Baptist.
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It was written that you should be the one to calm God’s anger… happy are those who will see you

I work in Central, Hong Kong. On any given day I share the four square blocks where our offices are located, with lawyers, bankers… and beggars. A beggar can sit on the same park-bench as a banker. Yet despite their proximity, neither one sees the other or speaks. People just sit quietly and go about their own business. This is the single most affluent piece of real estate in the city. It is full of contradictions. Bankers and beggars go about their daily grind, yet never acknowledge one another. It is winter now and the nights are getting cold. The numbers of homeless around Central have started to grow. They huddle under bridges, in nooks under stairs, around sheltered sidewalks with only their cardboard boxes for protection. Meanwhile, shoppers and tourists wrapped up in winter coats, just rush by. I’ve lived in so many global cities. It’s always the same. No one sees anyone. No one raises their eyes to look. People don’t see. Or don’t want to see.

“It was written that you should be the one to calm God’s anger… happy are those who will see you…” – Sirach 48:10-11. Elijah was sent to bring God’s people back to Him, to awaken their conscience and help them to see. Elijah lived in a time of turmoil, selfishness and religious barrenness, a time not unlike the one we live in. Through Elijah, God performed miracles with fire and rain, and brought the dead back to life so that the people of that time would believe and be converted. Those who had faith, whose eyes God opened, were blessed with a personal experience of Him.

John the Baptist, in his time, also came to bring about the conversion of the people, to prepare their hearts, so they could see – “I baptize you in water for a change of heart” (Matt 3:11). He prepared their hearts so they would be ready to receive Jesus teachings and act on them. Like the seed that fell on good soil, those who heard the word and perceived it, let it bear fruit a hundred times over. “Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears, because they hear” (Matt 13:16).

Upon our conversion, we are all called to the same apostolic mission as Moses, Elijah, John, the apostles and the generations of believers that have come after. We are not like the Pharisees who were able to hear but not understand, able to see but not perceive… we are to see with open eyes and open hearts – and to help others to see. Do we see all the ways that we can let His love reflect off us? This season of Advent, can we open our eyes?

“The lamp of the body is the eye; if your eyes are sound, your whole body will be in light. If your eyes are diseased your whole body will be in darkness. Then, if your light has become darkness, how dark will be the darkest part of you!” (Matt 6:22-23)

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: We pray that God will open our eyes and our hearts to see the suffering that is happening around us, in the neighborhoods where we live, our places of work, our schools, our churches. We pray He blesses us with the compassion and courage to make a difference, right where we stand.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for the gift of awareness. When He opens our eyes and our hearts, may He also give us the means to bring comfort, love and relief.

Upcoming Readings:
Sun, 11 Dec – Isaiah 61:1-2.10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8.19-28; Third Sunday of Advent

Friday, 09 Dec – Woods From Trees

Aloysius Ting — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:00:35 +0000

09 Dec – Memorial for St John Diego Cuahtlatoatzin

John (1474-1548) was born an impoverished free man in a strongly class-conscious society. He was a farm worker, a field labourer, and a mat maker. He became a married layman with no children. Even as a pagan, he was a mystical and religious man and became an adult convert to Christianity at around age 50, taking the name Juan Diego. He was widowed in 1529.

He was a visionary to whom the Virgin Mary appeared at Guadalupe on 9 December 1531, leaving him the image known as Our Lady of Guadalupe. On 20 December 2001, a second miracle attributed to Juan Diego’s intervention was decreed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and was approved by Pope John Paul II. He was canonized on 31 July 2002.

- Patron Saint Index
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Isaiah 48:17-19

Thus says the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is good for you,
I lead you in the way that you must go.
If only you had been alert to my commandments,
your happiness would have been like a river,
your integrity like the waves of the sea.
Your children would have been numbered like the sand,
your descendants as many as its grains.
Never would your name have been cut off or blotted out before me.
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Matthew 11:16-19

Jesus spoke to the crowds: ‘What description can I find for this generation? It is like children shouting to each other as they sit in the market place:

“We played the pipes for you,
and you wouldn’t dance;
we sang dirges,
and you wouldn’t be mourners.”

‘For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He is possessed.” The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Yet wisdom has been proved right by her actions.’
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I, your God, teach you what is best for you; I lead you in the way that you must go

I sometimes feel I’m suffering from knowledge overload. I have so much stuff to keep on top of that it is beginning to overwhelm me. Maybe I bring it on myself. I obsessively try to be on top of every little piece of information, so much so that it is becoming difficult to sift out real substance. It’s hard to make good decisions when we’re overwhelmed by too much noise, too much knowledge.

Sometimes the message really is very simple, but we miss it because we get too caught up with the details. Or we become proud of the depth of our knowledge and we give in to excessive self-confidence and hubris. Either way, too much knowledge can hurt us. We miss the woods from the trees. It’s easy to lose your temper when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Yesterday we talked about being an ‘empty vessel’ for the Lord. How do we empty ourselves? Our reading from Matthew gives us some guidance what we are NOT to do – “they are like children sitting in the market place, about whom their companions complain : we played the flute for you but you would not dance. We sang a funeral song but you would not cry” (Matt 11 :16-19).

We are not to become jaded and cynical, filled with pride in our knowledge of Scripture. We are not to become dismissive and all-knowing. We are not to judge too quickly. “Your intelligence and knowledge have perverted you, for you have said : I am, there is none besides me” (Isaiah 47:10).

Knowledge is a powerful thing – it can help us, but it can also do us harm. The noise can crowd out God’s quiet, gentle breeze of a voice. It can weld us to one way of thinking, and as a result, we fail to open our hearts as Mary did, to the Spirit’s beckoning. We can get obsessive about accumulating too much knowledge, and be neglectful of our loved ones.

We justify this by saying that we are doing God’s work by learning more and more about Scripture, surely that counts for something? Yes it does, but not if we don’t apply what we have learnt. I don’t think it counts if we end up being short, impatient and unkind with our loved ones because we feel pushed against a wall. Then we’re just like the Pharisees, hearing but never understanding.

Ours is a living gospel. It’s good that we know it. Let’s also go out and ty to live it.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: We pray for the ability to manage the overload of information that we face everyday, whatever our walk of life.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to God, for helping us to simplify our lives and guiding us to sift out substance from plain noise.

Upcoming Readings:
Sat, 10 Dec – Sirach 48:1-4.9-11; Matthew 17:10-13
Sun, 11 Dec – Isaiah 61:1-2.10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8.19-28; Third Sunday of Advent