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 a 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 plan 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. 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 oiur 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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Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.

A very Merry Christmas Eve morning to all of you!

Twenty-eight generations after King David, came the King of Kings, Lord Jesus. David had led the people of Israel into victory and greatness; however prophets continue to preach of the One who is the Son of the Most High. They had expectations of one who is born of royal blood and perhaps from an affluent family; a warrior who is to lead them through continuous victory and wealth for they are the chosen race. Little did the people of Israel know that their Messiah is going to be born in a manger among animals! I have been living in countries where the political scene is considered to be stable and with little unrest. In those times, religious beliefs and politics were very sensitive issues. People were afraid to lose their power.

The Lord speaks to Nathan that the House of David stands secure forever. Even after the Babylonian deportation, this House rose up and finds its foundation in God. I find Zechariah’s prophecy very beautiful. He praises God and the salvation in which Jesus’ is about first, above all else. Only then did he address his child, John, of his mission to bring to the people and prepare everyone for the coming of Christ. Zechariah’s silence up until the naming of his child made him clear his doubts of God’s ability, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit to speak of God’s beauty and plans.

The House is not only about people of Israel, Jesus’ came to include and save everyone, both the Jews and Gentiles. Till today His throne is established that His name is known at every corner of the Earth. God has built himself, fulfilling his promises (covenants) He had made with His people. We speak of hope, it has been fulfilled; we speak of rejoices and resurrection, it has been fulfilled; we speak of the greatest gift of love from the Father, He has given us Jesus. In this present day, knowing that God will act on what He has promised, let us not take our opportunity of knowing Christ for granted, but as a privilege that we play our role as Christians to contribute and know that we are part of this royal household.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Austin Leong)
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Prayer: Let us pray for the people who have rejected Christ, that they may one day understand our existence on Earth, for them to embrace the gift which God has given us.

Thanksgiving: May the unending praises to You be our gratitude for the year that has passed. O Praise You Lord Jesus.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu, 24 Dec – Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17. 22-25; Matthew 1:1-25; Solemnity of The Nativity of the Lord (Vigil Mass)
Fri, 25 Dec – Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14; Solemnity of The Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Midnight)
Fri, 25 Dec – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Dawn)
Fri, 25 Dec – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18; Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day)
Sat, 26 Dec – Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22; Feast of St. Stephen, Protomartyr
Sun, 27 Dec – 1 Samuel 1:20-22. 24-28; 1 John 3:1-2. 21-24; Luke 2:41-52; Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph; Singapore: Family Life Sunday

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 a refiner’s fire and the fuller’s 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 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 days comes, that great and terrible day. He shall turn the hearts of fathers towards their children and the hearts of the 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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… refine them like gold and silver

Are we prepared to be refined, to be rid of impurities and be purified so that others can see the love of God in us? I am not perfect and am unaware of the little things I do that could tarnish my ‘metals’ everyday. Only when I sit to reflect on my behaviour can I stop to think that my actions were probably wrong and another better approach should have been made. Do you own silverware or know of anyone who owns silver jewellery? Sometimes when the silver is not kept properly or not worn for a long time they begin to tarnish. When that silver item is needed to be displayed or worn for an event or to be displayed for parties, we quickly send it to the shop for polishing so that it looks new and shiny to be noticed and looking good for our guests.

We celebrate Christmas in two days! Have we prepared and polished ourselves so that we look shiny and new? I am not talking about new clothes and dresses from Christmas sales, nor am I referring to new furniture and upholstery in the house. The Son of God is arriving, and we are to make good our relationships with our loved ones at home, to have the courage to know how tarnished we are and polish ourselves for the Lord’s coming.

In today’s readings, God the Father sends John the Baptist ahead to prepare the way for our Lord. He is not the one to purify the hearts of men but who shares with the people of the purifier’s coming, and also the one who initiates Jesus’ mission. Indeed a very important character in the bible whose birth and death is being written so that we know John who has been excited about Jesus’ coming since he was in Elizabeth’s womb and who throughout his life spoke to the people of the Lord’s coming. It is indeed a season to be excited about, a day to celebrate and fill ourselves with pure enthusiasm.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Austin Leong)
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Prayer: Dear Lord, purify my heart, my mind and my soul. Rid the impurities I face around me everyday so that others can see Your love, hope and joy in me. So I can proclaim Your name on high.

Thanksgiving: I thank You Lord for John the Baptist who is a great example of one who is enthusiastic about You. His pure excitement gives me a stronger believe that You are all things good.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu, 24 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5. 8-12. 14; Luke 1:67-79 (Morning Mass)
Thu, 24 Dec – Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17. 22-25; Matthew 1:1-25 (Vigil Mass)
Fri, 25 Dec – Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 (Mass at Midnight)
Fri, 25 Dec – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20 (Mass at Dawn)
Fri, 25 Dec – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18 (Mass at Evening)
Sat, 26 Dec – Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22 (Feast of St. Stephen, protomartyr)
Sun, 27 Dec – 1 Samuel 1:20-22. 24-28; 1 John 3:1-2. 21-24; Luke 2:41-52 (Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph; Singapore: Family Life Sunday)

1 Samuel 1:4-28

When Hannah had weaned 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.’

Then she left him, for the Lord.
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Luke 1:49-56

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.’
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… my spirit exults in God my saviour

I burst out singing when I am in a really good mood and a song comes to mind that speaks of the good feelings. Every workplace I have been to always have colleagues that were able to rub their great feelings on someone who is even having a bad day. They do this by singing a familiar tune and when they stop at the chorus, everyone else continues and sings together. Singing liven the workplace; it takes the monotony out of the daily work we are involved in.

My personal emotions can be affected by music quite easily. It could be a nice slow ballad that makes me warm and fuzzy inside, nice easy listening classics on a Sunday afternoon, the beauty of music and praises in church that allows me to sing and praise God in a way in which both Mary and Hannah did.

In today’s Gospel, Mary’s praise and song is often called the Magnificat. It proclaims the greatness of God as Mary is greatly assured by God of her role as a lowly handmaid chosen to be Mother of Lord Jesus. By singing the Magnificat, we can sing to God of our very own personal rejoices, praise and thanksgiving.

In the book of Samuel, Hannah gives thanks for Samuel’s birth. Further on in the book (1 Samuel 2:1-10), Hannah sings a song to praise the greatness of God also. She shares with us that God is a creator of everything and is involved in all things of our life, only if we let Him in. The songs truly tell of God’s powers and His love for us will never end.

We perhaps are not great song writers ourselves. However, we are all able to feel good and give thanks to those who have given us great opportunities. God has given us life and indeed it is one of the greatest opportunities. We thank the Father for what He has given us, we praise Him aloud so that our song will be heard and touch the hearts of others and they may come to know Him.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Austin Leong)
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Prayer: Almighty God, I pray that the downtrodden, the sick, the homeless and the lonely will be able to hear a song of You this Christmas, that Mary’s boy child Jesus Christ was born to give hope into this world.

Thanksgiving: ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of God the Father; He has given me Life and filled me with good things; He brought me out of the burrows and into the light; I will seek Him forever and will not lose my way.’

Upcoming Readings:
Wed, 23 Dec – Malachi 3:1-4. 23-24; Luke 1:57-66; Memorial for St. John of Kanty, Priest
Thu, 24 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5. 8-12. 14; Luke 1:67-79 (Morning Mass)
Thu, 24 Dec – Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17. 22-25; Matthew 1:1-25 (Vigil Mass)
Fri, 25 Dec – Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 (Mass at Midnight)
Fri, 25 Dec – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20 (Mass at Dawn)
Fri, 25 Dec – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18 (Mass at Evening)
Sat, 26 Dec – Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22 (Feast of St. Stephen, protomartyr)
Sun, 27 Dec – 1 Samuel 1:20-22. 24-28; 1 John 3:1-2. 21-24; Luke 2:41-52 (Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph; Singapore: Family Life Sunday)

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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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 our 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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Zephaniah 3:14-18

Shout for joy, daughter of Zion,
Israel, shout aloud!
Rejoice, exult with all your heart,
daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has repealed your sentence;
he has driven your enemies away.
The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst;
you have no more evil to fear.
When that day comes, word will come to Jerusalem:
Zion, have no fear,
do not let your hands fall limp.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a victorious warrior.
He will exult with joy over you,
he will renew you by his love;
he will dance with shouts of joy for you
as on a day of festival
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Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out 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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… the child in my womb leapt for joy.

Today’s alternative reading is the same as the first reading for the Third Sunday of Advent. Four days before Christmas, we are reminded once again to rejoice and shout for joy because Jesus Christ was born. There is a lot of warmth and reason to rejoice in just today’s gospel passage. The visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth shows the coming together of two mothers-to-be because God has told them that they will each bear a child. Not only were the women exchanging greetings, the love and happiness was felt by the child in the womb as well. Indeed it is filled with blessings.

Elizabeth’s son John is not only the messenger who prepares the people for the Lord Jesus; he is also Jesus’ cousin. My cousin and I are two months apart, and I believe that when our family knew of our arrivals being so close to one another, they might have danced and there would have been shouts of joy. However, I cannot remember if I leapt for joy in my mother’s womb. In this season, we are not only welcoming Jesus’ but also the Holy Family (Jesus, Mother Mary and St. Joseph), John the Baptist and celebration for Zechariah and Elizabeth.

Celebrations and many joyous occasions are not just for one person. It is always a party, a room full of people. Despite a pretty depressing year on the financial outlook around the world, Christmas is not about how much money we made at the end of the year, but about how we had gone through a long year and still surviving it all, still able to have the hope and love with family and friends around us.

Gather everyone this Christmas, invite our neighbours, non-Christian friends to celebrate with you and spread the joyful atmosphere from a mother’s womb into your living room. We could also invite them to the Christmas Mass and let them experience the true meaning of Christmas. Let us shout and spread about Christ this Christmas.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Austin Leong)
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Prayer: Let us keep in mind those who have lost a loved one this year, or who are going through a hard time with work, family or whatever reason. We pray that they may find a spark of happiness from someone, because Christmas is about sharing Christ with everyone so that they will find the love and hope eventually.

Thanksgiving: I thank You Lord that there is something which keeps my joyous lamp burning this year. It is the little things around me which I am rejoicing over.

Upcoming Readings:
Tue, 22 Dec – 1 Samuel 1: 24-28; Luke 1:46-56
Wed, 23 Dec – Malachi 3:1-4. 23-24; Luke 1:57-66; Memorial for St. John of Kanty, Priest
Thu, 24 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5. 8-12. 14; Luke 1:67-79 (Morning Mass)
Thu, 24 Dec – Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17. 22-25; Matthew 1:1-25 (Vigil Mass)
Fri, 25 Dec – Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 (Mass at Midnight)
Fri, 25 Dec – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20 (Mass at Dawn)
Fri, 25 Dec – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18 (Mass at Evening)
Sat, 26 Dec – Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22 (Feast of St. Stephen, protomartyr)
Sun, 27 Dec – 1 Samuel 1:20-22. 24-28; 1 John 3:1-2. 21-24; Luke 2:41-52 (Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph; Singapore: Family Life Sunday)

Mary’s Child: The Prince Of Peace
From the least of the clans of Judah, from Mary his lowly handmaid, God prepared a body for his Christ, who comes to fill the world with his spirit of peace.

- The Sunday Missal
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Micah 5:1-4

The Lord says this:

You, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
the least of the clans of Judah,
out of you will be born for me
the one who is to rule over Israel;
his origin goes back to the distant past,
to the days of old.
The Lord is therefore going to abandon them
till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth.
Then the remnant of his brothers will come back
to the sons of Israel.
He will stand and feed his flock
with the power of the Lord,
with the majesty of the name of his God.
They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power
to the ends of the land.
He himself will be peace.
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Hebrews 10:5-10

This is what Christ said, on coming into the world:

You who wanted no sacrifice or oblation,
prepared a body for me.
You took no pleasure in holocausts or sacrifices for sin;
then I said,
just as I was commanded in the scroll of the book,
“God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will.”

Notice that he says first: You did not want what the Law lays down as the things to be offered, that is: the sacrifices, the oblations, the holocausts and the sacrifices for sin, and you took no pleasure in them; and then he says: Here I am! I am coming to obey your will. He is abolishing the first sort to replace it with the second. And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ.
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Luke 1:39-44

Mary set out 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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He himself will be peace

The Advent and Christmas season is often a time for love, peace, joy, and hope. I don’t know about love, joy, and hope, but peace is rarely something I find in this season. There’s so much bustling around, trying to get gifts for relatives and friends, trying to make sure I didn’t leave anyone out, trying to make sure that the gifts are appropriate. I see others having the same difficulty finding peace during this season when they go about making sure everyone is coming to the Christmas party they are planning, trying to make sure that there will be enough food, and so on. Maybe the reason why we’re not finding peace in this season is because Jesus is absent.

One of the often overlooked aspects of Jesus is His humility. He is revered and worshipping as the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, but He came from the least of the clans of Judah, as the first reading tells us. The second reading tells us that He wanted nothing more than to do the will of God through the gift of Himself to the world.

The busyness of the Christmas season and the lack of peace we often have remind me of a certain episode in one of the gospels. There Jesus visits the home of Mary and Martha, and Martha, in her hospitality, busies herself with preparing to serve Jesus while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus listening to Him. Martha gets frustrated at Mary not helping and asks Jesus to ask Mary to help. But Jesus says that Mary has chosen the better part and indeed only one thing is necessary.

Perhaps if we all did that one necessary thing this Christmas, we will find peace.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Daniel Tay)
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Prayer: We pray for all who can’t seem to find peace this busy season, that we may not neglect the most important thing in this season.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for the gift of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Upcoming Readings
Mon, 21 Dec – Song of Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18; Luke 1:39-45; Memorial for St. Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor
Tue, 22 Dec – 1 Samuel 1: 24-28; Luke 1:46-56
Wed, 23 Dec – Malachi 3:1-4. 23-24; Luke 1:57-66; Memorial for St. John of Kanty, Priest
Thu, 24 Dec – 2 Samuel 7:1-5. 8-12. 14; Luke 1:67-79 (Morning Mass)
Thu, 24 Dec – Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17. 22-25; Matthew 1:1-25 (Vigil Mass)
Fri, 25 Dec – Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 (Mass at Midnight)
Fri, 25 Dec – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20 (Mass at Dawn)
Fri, 25 Dec – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18 (Mass at Evening)
Sat, 26 Dec – Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22 (Feast of St. Stephen, protomartyr)
Sun, 27 Dec – 1 Samuel 1:20-22. 24-28; 1 John 3:1-2. 21-24; Luke 2:41-52 (Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph; Singapore: Family Life Sunday)

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 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, “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 belong 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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How can I be sure of this?

How can I be sure that I am hearing messages and instructions from a messenger of the Lord? There are so many media in which messages can be conveyed and yet we think that whatever we read or come across is some form of message or sign from God. Don’t we doubt even what the priest advises us on? How can I be sure that advice given to us will lead us to a glorious life on Earth?

Last September, I attended a healing session at a church in Australia. I had not been to one since 15 years ago. So I thought, it is about time to experience the Holy Spirit at a deeper level. Doubts and fear had been keeping me from attending one of these sessions. That evening, the session was incredible to me. It began by having us opening our hearts and self to the Lord. It wasn’t easy at first with all the doubt and scepticism hovering in my mind. I was also distracted by other issues. However, I finally settled my mind and kept focused on Lord Jesus and began inviting the Holy Spirit into my heart.

A fellow parishioner walked over and prayed over me, and then he said things to me that were messages from God. It may seem like a very generic message at first but I prayed over that message and it felt a great sense of peace in me. If I had not opened my heart and invite the Holy Spirit, there would have been just the usual doubts and the evening would have been meaningless talk by the leaders.

In today’s reading and Gospel, the angel of the Lord brought news of a child in the families. Manoah’s wife had her heart opened for the message form the angel and was blessed with Samson. However, Zechariah, being a priest was filled with fear when the angel appeared before him. In addition to that, he had doubted the message sent by Gabriel.

Have no fear, have no doubts as we must stay prepared for the messages and gifts from God. As Christmas draws closer, we prepare to receive our Lord Jesus and celebrate His birth.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Austin Leong)
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Prayer: Remove our fear and doubts in Your works, O Lord. Open our eyes and hearts to know what is truly Yours. I invite You into my life.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for continuously reaching out and watching over me, dear Lord, keeping me from harm and leading me back to the right path.

Upcoming Readings:
Sun, 20 Dec – Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Matthew 11:16-19

Jeremiah 23:5-8

‘See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks -
when I will raised a virtuous Branch for David,
who will reign as true king and be wise,
practising honesty and integrity in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel dwell in confidence.
And this is the name he will be called:
The Lord-our-integrity.

‘So, then, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when people will no longer say,” As the Lord lives who brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt!” but, ‘As the Lord lives who led back and brought home the descendants of the House of Israel out of the land of the North and from all the countries to which he had dispersed them, to live on their own soil.”‘
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Matthew 1:18-24

This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son
and they will call him Emmanuel,

a name which means ‘God-is-with-us’. When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home.
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He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared…

Whenever I do personality tests, they conclude that I’m a planner. I agree that I am someone who likes to plan and know what is ahead to some degree. For the past couple of years, many things did not work out the way I had planned. Some led to more desirable results, while others just became more problematic.

Plans are just an idea of the process to achieve a desired outcome. More often than not, the initial stage usually goes well but disruptions and changes challenge us to resolve and get around it. At times, I do not even try the plan mapped out. Looking back, I realize I get frustrated and worry of not achieving the outcome basically because I did not let God into my plans.

In today’s reading from Jeremiah, he speaks of God’s plan for the people of Israel. He led the people out of Egypt through Moses and brought them home to live on their own land. God’s plan is often disrupted by the behaviour and disobedience of people. The disobedience of Adam and Eve; and the worshipping of false gods by the impatient Israelites in the wilderness are just some of the examples. He worked around it. He sends His servants to assure the people that all will be good.

Joseph’s plan to marry Mary and start a regular Jewish family did not include an immaculate conception in his plans. He got worried and scared considering the severity of social status in those days. An angel of the Lord intervened and assured Joseph to accept Mary and the Lord child Jesus.

When we draw out any plans, we should invite God into our thoughts. When it comes to executing those plans, let us invite God for the guidance. When unforseen circumstances disrupt those plans, seek help and spiritual assurance of hope from God. Regardless of the outcome, let us thank God for the journey which He had accompanied us on.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Austin Leong)
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Prayer: May our plans go hand in hand with yours, O Lord. Do guide us in every step we take, and carry us through when we are tired. We cannot do without You.

Thanksgiving: Thank You, O Lord, for accompanying me, I appreciate the times when You lift my tired self and I see only one set of foot prints, which is Yours.

Upcoming Readings:
Sat, 19 Dec – Judges 13:2-7.24-25; Luke 1:5-25
Sun, 20 Dec – Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Matthew 11:16-19

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 Nahson,
Nahson 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,
Jehoshapat 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,
Sheatiel 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 Eliud,
Eliud was the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar was 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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… until he come to whom it belongs, to whom peoples shall render obedience

In the past weeks, we are reminded of hope, peace and joy which represent the gift which our Lord Father has given to us – that is Jesus. In this fourth week of Advent, the Church reminds us of how this ‘gift’ is originated from the unconditional love of our Father. God loves us so much that He gave His only Son on Christmas. To my knowledge, my personal ancestral line probably does not go beyond my great-grandfather. I have never been told about the province in China which my great-granddad had come from. There is a sense of detachment on anything that was three generations ago and before.

In today’s reading from the book of Genesis, we are told of a ruler who will come in with the ultimate authority over people. It is an authority not of oppression and abuse to His people, but one which gives hope, peace, joy and love to His people, and in return, the people remain obedient to Him. That authority is none other than Jesus.

Whenever I come across the genealogy of Jesus, I find little significance other than the interesting bloodline of Jesus. However, in today’s reflection, I do find great significance and message in the Gospel. In the beginning, the people are told of a powerful ruler, and God the Father made a covenant with Abraham. At the end of the Gospel, Jesus was born to Mother Mary and Joseph. In between, we learnt that it took God 42 generations to send His Son into the world. God indeed fulfilled His promise made from the very beginning, His time and plans are not worked to fit into our calendar of 12 months a year, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Listen to the Gospel and always be prepared for God’s calling.

We celebrate the birth of our ruler and King who came to be a great example of love and obedience. As we try to live a life of loving others each day, we continuously prepare to meet Jesus in our daily activities and be obedient to God the Father in our prayer life.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Austin Leong)
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Prayer: Dear Lord God, as we prepare for the birthday of your son Jesus, let us not get caught up with materialistic presents but to give the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love to our loved ones and others who need it so much more especially the homeless, sick and lonely.

Thanksgiving: Your promise and gift of Jesus makes me see the unconditional love you have for us and I thank you God.

Upcoming Readings:
Fri, 18 Dec – Jeremiah 23:5-8; Matthew 1:18-25
Sat, 19 Dec – Judges 13:2-7.24-25; Luke 1:5-25
Sun, 20 Dec – Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Matthew 11:16-19

Isaiah 45:6-8.18.21-26

Apart from me, all is nothing.
I am the Lord, unrivalled,
I form the light and create the dark.
I make good fortune and create calamity,
it is I, the Lord, who do all this.

Send victory like a dew, youheavens,
and let the clouds rain it down.
Let the earth open
for salvation to spring up.
Let deliverance, too, bud forth
which I, the Lord, shall create.

Yes, thus says the Lord,
creator of the heavens,
who is God,
who formed the earth and made it,
who set it firm,
created it no chaos,
but a place to be lived in:

‘I am the Lord, unrivalled,
There is no other god besides me,
a God of integrity and a saviour;
there is none apart from me.
Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth,
for I am God unrivalled.

‘By my own self I swear it;
what comes from my mouth is truth,
a word irrevocable;
before me every knee shall bend,
by me every tongue shall swear,
saying, “From the Lord alone
come victory and strength.”
To him shall come, ashamed,
all who raged against him.
Victorious and glorious through the Lord shall be
all the descendants of Israel.’
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Luke 7:19-23

John, summoning the two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or must we wait for someone else?’ When the men reached Jesus they said, ‘John the Baptist has sent us to you, to ask, “Are you the one who is to come or have we to wait for someone else?’ ‘It was just then that he cured many people of diseases and afflictions and of evil spirits, and gave the gift of sight to many who were blind. Then he gave the messengers their answer, ‘Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the Good News is proclaimed to the poor and happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.’
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Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard

Singapore has four electronics and IT fairs each year. Invariably, the local news will cover these fairs with reports and pictures describing the massive turnouts and money spent by consumers. As amazing as the coverage is, nothing compares to attending the fair itself. No report can accurately convey the experience of being a part of the crowd. You are part of the human chains that move slowly through the exhibits and queue up to make payments. You get excited at good deals and frustrated with long waits. It is something that has to be lived rather than just read about.

In today’s Gospel passage, Christ treats John’s disciples in a very interesting manner. He did not give them a direct answer when they asked Him if He was the Messiah. Instead, He first healed the people while John’s disciples were watching before telling them that He was indeed the One.

For John’s disciples, witnessing Christ’s power and authority rather than just having Him tell them was a much richer experience. It was one they could go back and relate to John with added fervour and excitement. This is the same zeal with which the prophet Isaiah gives his prophecies. He lived each day with the Lord and in the Lord and knew His majesty firsthand.

The season of Advent overlaps a period of high commercial activity. Shoppers and party-goers fill downtown. The third week of Advent may perhaps be even more so as Christmas usually comes the following week. Many last-minute shoppers would be out looking to complete their lists before then.

As we mingle with these merrymakers, let us also be mindful that we mingle daily with our Lord. So then my sisters and brothers, as we share the excitement of the season with our friends and family, let us also go back and share with them the joy of Christ’s coming birth.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Aloysius Ting)
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Prayer: We pray for the strength to overcome idleness.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for housework.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu, 17 Dec – Genesis 49:2.8-10; Matthew 1:1-17
Fri, 18 Dec – Jeremiah 23:5-8; Matthew 1:18-25
Sat, 19 Dec – Judges 13:2-7.24-25; Luke 1:5-25
Sun, 20 Dec – Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Matthew 11:16-19

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 draw 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 Ethipia 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 then 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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Which of the two did the father’s will?

Many of us have been asked by our parents or caregivers to help out with house work. Do we always do so immediately? Or do we ask them to wait? And if we do ask them to wait, how long is the wait? Sometimes they get fed up and by the time we decide to get around to it, we find that it has already been done. Other times we only pay lip service but do not do it at all, much to the consternation of our parents. Have you felt bad about letting them down when they put their faith in your promises? I have.

The analogy Christ made in the Gospel passage is very familiar to many of us. It was clear even to the Jewish leaders. A son who realizes the error of his ways and makes amends is far better than one who tells his father what he wants to hear but does not follow through. In turn, the repentant sinners were more worthy than the unbelieving Jewish leaders. It is something foretold by Zephaniah. It is not the proud and self-righteous but the humble and penitent who would be glorified. The former had broken their promises with no regrets and so lost their share in happiness.

The season of Advent can be a busy one. As we prepare for the joyous occasion of Christ’s birth, some of us may be asked to help out at home, in church, at work or among friends to do spring-cleaning, plan parties or run errands. We are asked because others have put their trust in us. Using our God-given talents to help others in need is in accordance to the Father’s will. When we do extend our help, my brothers and sisters, let us go about fulfilling our promises in a timely manner, for the joy of Christ should not have to wait.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Aloysius Ting)
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Prayer: We pray for the strength to overcome idleness.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for housework.

Upcoming Readings:
Wed, 16 Dec – Isaiah 45:6-8.18.21-25; Luke 7:18-23
Thu, 17 Dec – Genesis 49:2.8-10; Matthew 1:1-17
Fri, 18 Dec – Jeremiah 23:5-8; Matthew 1:18-25
Sat, 19 Dec – Judges 13:2-7.24-25; Luke 1:5-25
Sun, 20 Dec – Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Matthew 11:16-19

John (1675–1726) was born in poverty. He cared for the poor in the hospital in Medina. He became a lay Carmelite brother in 1563 at age 21, though he lived stricter than their Rule. He studied at Salamanca. He was ordained a Carmelite priest in 1567 at age 25.

He was persuaded by St. Teresa of Avila to begin the Discalced (or barefoot) reform within the Carmelite Order, and took on the name John of the Cross. He was a master of novices, and spiritual director and confessor at St. Teresa’s convent. His reforms did not sit well with some of his brothers, and he was ordered to return to Medina. He refused and was imprisoned at Toledo, Spain, and escaped after nine months.

He was vicar-general of Andalusia. His reforms revitalized the Order. He was a great contemplative and spiritual writer. On Aug 24, 1926, he was proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI.

- 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 far are your tents, O Jacob!
How fair your dwellings, Israel!
Like valleys that stretch afar,
like gardent 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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The spirit of God came on him

Online quizzes are always popular. You know the type. Answer a series of questions about yourself and you get to find out what kind of car, flower or even cookie flavour you are. These quizzes have much in common personality profiling exercises like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Regardless of whether they are for entertainment or for personality assessment, an accurate result depends on giving honest answers to the questions.

Some people do not like what they get the first time and retake the test, tweaking answers to get a result closer to their ideal. Some of those tweaked answers might be very far from the truth. Discounting some quizzes which are poorly designed or require comedic answers, this produces results which may not be truly reflective of the person.

Hearing a prophet bless Israel is not surprising. What makes the blessing from Balaam different is that he was actually employed by Balaak, king of Moab, to curse Israel. Balaam had repeatedly told Balack that he would only be able to say what God directed him to. Today’s first reading has him deliver the third of four prophecies blessing Israel, to the consternation of Balaak. When moved by the spirit of God, what more could he do than to speak the truth?

Contrary to this, the Jewish leaders in the Gospel passage pretended that they did not know the answer to the question Christ posed them. In truth, it was plainly obvious but they did not like the outcomes. Since they were dishonest, they did not deserve to learn about Jesus’ authority.

In the film “A Few Good Men”, Jack Nicholson’s character utters the now famous phrase – “You can’t handle the truth!” What is the truth in this third week of Advent? The discounts and shopping and eating during the festive season do make people happy. But can all these match the joy of Christ’s coming? This, my sisters and brothers, is the truth and you can handle it.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Aloysius Ting)
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Prayer: We pray that we will always stand up for the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for our own unique personalities.

Upcoming Readings:
Tue, 15 Dec – Zephaniah 3:1-2.9-13; Matthew 21:28-32
Wed, 16 Dec – Isaiah 45:6-8.18.21-25; Luke 7:18-23
Thu, 17 Dec – Genesis 49:2.8-10; Matthew 1:1-17
Fri, 18 Dec – Jeremiah 23:5-8; Matthew 1:18-25
Sat, 19 Dec – Judges 13:2-7.24-25; Luke 1:5-25
Sun, 20 Dec – Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Matthew 11:16-19

A Day Of Festival
Today we sing and shout for joy with Christ, the Lord of the Dance, who brings us the Good News of our redemption, and renews us by his love.

- The Sunday Missal
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Zephaniah 3:14-18

Shout for joy, daughter of Zion,
Israel, shout aloud!
Rejoice, exult with all your heart,
daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has repealed your sentence;
he has driven your enemies away.
The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst;
you have no more evil to fear.
When that day comes, word will come to Jerusalem:
Zion, have no fear,
do not let your hands fall limp.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a victorious warrior.
He will exult with joy over you,
he will renew you by his love;
he will dance with shouts of joy for you
as on a day of festival
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Philippians 4:4-7

I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness. Let your tolerance be evident to everyone: the Lord is very near. There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus.
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Luke 3:10-18

When all the people asked John, ‘What must we do?’ he answered, ‘If anyone has two tunics he must share with the man who has none, and the one with something to eat must do the same.’ There were tax collectors too who came for baptism, and these said to him, ‘Master what must we do?’ He said to them, ‘Exact no more than your rate.’ Some soldiers asked him in their turn, ‘What about us? What must we do?’ He said to them, ‘No intimidation! No extortion! Be content with your pay!’

A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, ‘I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.’ As well as this, there were many other things he said to exhort the people and to announce the Good News to them.’
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Some is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am

One of my favourite activities at the cinema is going in early to catch the trailers. Trailers are meant to herald and promote an upcoming show and do it in just under a minute. Considering that many movies now run in excess of two hours, this is a considerable feat. I doubt putting a good trailer together is easy but the returns are worth it. They generate hype and interest. Trailers now are no longer restricted to cinemas and you can see them on TV and the Internet. Neither are they restricted only to movies; computer and video games and TV series also employ trailers to promote themselves. Many now look forward to trailers in anticipation of a new release.

Back in his day, John must have been a very interesting person. He was so different from the priests and Levites, living in the wilderness and boldly proclaiming the kingdom of God. Yet when questioned whether he was the Messiah, he stated that he was only a herald and that someone much greater was to come. Imagine the surge of interest that the people must have had on learning this. There was one among them who would surpass John? This was something to look forward to.

For his part, John was content that this was so as he was preparing the way for the fullness of salvation. This is the same joy which inspires Isaiah and Paul. The first two readings are filled with the kind of words which would interest those who heard or read them. And yet all of that was only a small taste of the full splendour of Christ.

This is the third Sunday of Advent. We light the candle of joy. As we light it, my brothers and sisters, may our hearts similarly be alight with joy. And may this joy be visible for those around us, as a thrilling trailer of the fullness of joy coming soon.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Aloysius Ting)
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Prayer: We pray for hearts and homes filled with joy.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for Advent to prepare for Christmas.

Upcoming Readings:
Mon, 14 Dec – Nehemiah 24:2-7.15-17; Matthew 21:23-27; Memorial for St John of the Cross, Priest, Doctor of the Church
Tue, 15 Dec – Zephaniah 3:1-2.9-13; Matthew 21:28-32
Wed, 16 Dec – Isaiah 45:6-8.18.21-25; Luke 7:18-23
Thu, 17 Dec – Genesis 49:2.8-10; Matthew 1:1-17
Fri, 18 Dec – Jeremiah 23:5-8; Matthew 1:18-25
Sat, 19 Dec – Judges 13:2-7.24-25; Luke 1:5-25
Sun, 20 Dec – Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Matthew 11:16-19

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 in Mexico it 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 in Mexico 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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Ecclesiasticus 48:1-4.9-11

The prophet Elijah arose like a fire,
his word flaring like a torch.
It was he who brought famine on them,
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 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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Elijah is to come to see that everything is once more as it should be.

Elijah is one of the most revered prophets of the Old Testament. His exploits, often in the form of legends and miracles, are detailed in the first book of Kings. He is often associated with images of fire and whirlwind.

One of the accounts of Elijah describes an experience where he felt defeated. Elijah had just achieved a resounding victory over the gods of Baal, ending a long drought for the Israelites. He is so excited that he rushes off to announce this victory, but he is dismayed to hear the message that the evil queen Jezebel wants his life. He becomes afraid and weary, and asks God to let him die.

After his rollercoaster of emotions, an angel speaks to Elijah and tells him to eat. He obeys, and finds the strength to travel a long distance away from where Jezebel was.

I am sure that all of us have experienced instances where we went from an emotional high to an all-time low almost immediately after. I know my typical response would be frustration and I would be questioning God about the senselessness of it all. Elijah’s experience illustrates that God knows when we are in our darkest moments, and He will help us through it, He will never let us down. Like Elijah, we just need to continue to obey God, and not give up.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
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Prayer: Dear God, give us the confidence that we can always count on Your love and graces, even in our darkest moments.

Thanksgiving: We thank the Lord for catching us every time we fall, and for letting us learn a bit more about ourselves after we pick ourselves up.

Upcoming Readings:
Sun, 13 Dec – Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Matthew 11:16-19; Third Sunday of Advent

Damasus (306-384) was raised in a pious family. His father was a priest in Rome, and Damasus served for a time as deacon in his father’s church, St. Laurence. He was ordained a priest and became assistant to Pope Liberius. He was elected the 37th pope in a disputed election in which a minority chose the anti-pope Ursinus. The two reigned simultaneously in Rome which eventually led to violence between their supporters and Damasus’ false accusation of a crime.

His pontificate suffered from the rise of Arianism, and from several schisms including break-away groups in Antioch, Constantinople, Sardinia, and Rome. However, it was during his reign that Christianity was declared the religion of the Roman state. He enforced the 370 edict of Emperor Valentinian controlling gifts to prelates, and opposed Arianism and Apollinarianism. He supported the 374 council of Rome which decreed the valid books of the Bible, and the Grand Council of Constantinople in 381 which condemned Arianism.

He was the patron of his secretary, St. Jerome, and commissioned him to make the translation of scripture now known as the Vulgate. Damasus restored catacombs, shrines, and the tombs of martyrs, and wrote poetry and metrical inscriptions about and dedicated to martyrs. They state that he would like to be buried in the catacombs with the early martyrs, but that the presence of one of his lowly status would profane such an august place. Ten of his letters, personal and pontifical, have survived.

- Patron Saint Index
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Isaiah 48:17-19

I, the Lord, your God, teach 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 like the waves on 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 proven right by her actions.’
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What description can I find for this generation?

We live in a secular society, where we try to achieve harmony while allowing religious expressions of different faiths to take place. Consciously I am careful about my mention of “God” amidst colleagues or non-Christian friends. Even among friends of the same faith, those who show more religious fervour are deemed as the “holy-moly” ones, out of the league of common folk. They are sometimes regarded from a respectful distance, and may even be the butt of jokes.

Human psychology is such that criticizing others often help us to feel better about ourselves. I imagine that John the Baptist was treated as a kind of social outcast in his time, with his austere ways of living and proclamations of the messiah’s arrival. Jesus, who preached about the kingdom of God and pointed out the hypocritical behaviour of the scribes and Pharisees, was accused of blasphemy. Inwardly I believe that the critics saw the truth in the words of Jesus and John, but they refused to respond to it.

There are several lines in the Litany of Humility that direct me to do very challenging things, and there is a particular one that goes – That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should. I believe that all of us have a desire to become holy, but how many of us have a desire for others to be holier than ourselves?

Blinded by their jealousy, the “generation” that Jesus referred to in the parable did not pay heed to the message preached by both John the Baptist and Jesus. Let us not let our negative emotions and prejudices lead us to make assumptions about others, and blind us to the good inherent in each of them.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
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Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray that we will be able to love our neighbour by recognizing and exalting the good qualities in them. Grant us the grace to not give in to the temptations of envy and jealousy.

Thanksgiving: Thank You, Lord, for the people around us who show such confidence and faith in You.

Upcoming Readings:
Sat, 12 Dec – Zechariah 2:14-17; Luke 1:26-38; Memorial for Our Lady of Guadalupe
Sun, 13 Dec – Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Matthew 11:16-19; Third Sunday of Advent