Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11

In my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning until the day he gave his instructions to the apostles he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. He had shown himself alive to them after his Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days he had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God. When he had been at table with them, he had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised. ‘It is’ he had said ‘what you have heard me speak about: John baptised with water but you, not many days from now, will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’

Now having met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, has the time come? Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth.’

As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two men in white were standing near them and they said, ‘Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there.’
_____________________

Ephesians 1:17-23

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. This you can tell from the strength of his power at work in Christ, when he used it to raise him from the dead and to make him sit at his right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named not only in this age but also in the age to come. He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation.
_____________________

Mark 16:15-20

Jesus showed himself to the Eleven, and said to them: ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.’

And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven: there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.
_____________________

When the Holy Spirit comes on you

I was deeply touched by a priest’s homily about the encounter between Jesus and the woman who was being stoned for adultery. Most of us would be familiar with the scene where Jesus bends down and writes something in the sand. There are varying interpretations of why Jesus did that action which appears out of context. To this particular priest, He did it so that the attention will be shifted from the woman to himself, so that in that way, He could lift the burden of shame from the woman and put it upon Himself. This widened my perspective of Jesus as miracle worker to one who loves me so much that He will readily take over my worst burdens, even if I feel that I am totally undeserving. How can one not follow Christ after seeing His love in such a manner?

Jesus assures us that He will always be with us, till the end of the age. He ensured that His disciples received the Holy Spirit after He left them and before they went off on their mission to spread His word. To this very day, the Holy Spirit is alive and active in each of us.

My dear readers, are we able to discern the presence of the Spirit in our lives? I know that the Spirit is the only source for my Oxygen reflections lately, as I have been feeling totally bogged down and uninspired, feeling too unmotivated even to think about praying. I can only leave it to the Spirit to do the writing, and interestingly, I am relying on the writing to help me persevere through difficult times. The Spirit is not tangible to our human senses, but His work definitely is, if we open ourselves to Him.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
_____________________

Prayer: We pray for grace-filled quiet moments where we can contemplate the love of Christ and the work of the Spirit in all things.

Thanksgiving: We thank the Lord for loving us beyond human comprehension.

Matthias (d. 80) was an Apostle. As he could bear witness to the Resurrection of Jesus, he was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. He preached the Gospel for more than 30 years in Judaea, Cappadocia, Egypt, and Ethopia. He is remembered for preaching the need for mortification of the flesh with regard to all its sensual and irregular desires. He was martyred in Colchis in AD 80 by stoning.

- Patron Saint Index
_____________________

Acts 1:15-17.20-26

One day Peter stood up to speak to the brothers – there were about a hundred and twenty persons in the congregation: ‘Brothers, the passage of scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit, speaking through David, foretells the fate of Judas, who offered himself as a guide to the men who arrested Jesus – after having been one of our number and actually sharing this ministry of ours. Now in the Book of Psalms it says:

Let his camp be reduced to ruin,
Let there be no one to live in it.

And again:

Let someone else take his office.
‘We must therefore choose someone who has been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was travelling round with us, someone who was with us right from the time when John was baptising until the day when he was taken up from us – and he can act with us as a witness to his resurrection.’

Having nominated two candidates, Joseph known as Barsabbas, whose surname was Justus, and Matthias, they prayed, ‘Lord, you can read everyone’s heart; show us therefore which of these two you have chosen to take over this ministry and apostolate, which Judas abandoned to go to his proper place.’ They then drew lots for them, and as the lot fell to Matthias, he was listed as one of the twelve apostles.
_____________________

John 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments
you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
I have told you this
so that my own joy may be in you
and your joy be complete.
This is my commandment:
love one another, as I have loved you.
A man can have no greater love
than to lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends,
if you do what I command you.
I shall not call you servants any more,
because a servant does not know
his master’s business;
I call you friends,
because I have made known to you
everything I have learnt from my Father.
You did not choose me:
no, I chose you;
and I commissioned you
to go out and to bear fruit,
fruit that will last;
and then the Father will give you
anything you ask him in my name.
What I command you
is to love one another.’
_____________________

I call you friends

Recently, I watched a pro-life video on the net. It was a young mother narrating, with the use of hand-written placards, how she came to have her baby. She was at first really excited, until doctors told her that there was something wrong with her child. After the little boy was delivered, she saw that he not only had a severe cleft lip and palate, he also had no eyes. Besides experiencing the discomfort of the public when she brings him out, she was also blamed for not aborting her baby for his abnormalities. However, she bore with it and her baby’s cheerful personality actually won him many fans. The mother did not regret her decision to keep him, and continues loving him and taking care of him.

We celebrated Mother’s Day over the weekend, and indeed, the calling of a mother is something that goes beyond her personal choice. There are probably many things that she does not particularly like doing, but she does them anyway, out of love for her child.

Jesus said in today’s gospel reading that we did not choose Him, rather, He chose us. He chose us because He loves us, and His main command to us is to love others. This is the mission of our lives – to make God known to others through our love for them. It may seem like an awfully daunting mission, but God will grant us what we need to carry on. It is the same with the apostles and the young mother, who were given the strength and resources to persevere through difficult, and sometimes extraordinary circumstances.

Even if we choose to turn our backs on Him, God will never stop loving and choosing us. Each time we feel that hope is gone, let us remember to turn to Jesus in faith, knowing that He will give us what we need.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
_____________________

Prayer: We pray for the joy of Christ in our hearts.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for the uplifting love of our Lord.

Philip was a disciple of St. John the Baptist, and a convert. He was one of the Twelve Apostles, and brought St. Nathanael to Christ. He was a confidant of Jesus’. Little is known about him, but scriptural episodes give the impression of a shy, naïve, but practical individual. He preached in Greece and Asia Minor, and died a martyr for the faith.

- Patron Saint Index

James the Lesser was the cousin of Jesus, and brother of St. Jude Thaddeus. He was raised in a Jewish home of the time with all the training in Scripture and Law that was part of that life. He was a convert, and one of the Twelve Apostles. He was one of the first to have visions of the risen Christ.

He was the first bishop of Jerusalem. He met with St. Paul the Apostle to work out Paul’s plans for evangelization. He supported the position that Gentile converts did not have to obey all Jewish religious law, though he continued to observe it himself as part of his heritage. He may have been a vegetarian. He was a just and apostolic man known for his prayer life and devotion to the poor.

He was martyred for his faith in c.62 when he was thrown from a pinnacle of the Temple in Jerusalem, and then stoned and beaten with clubs while praying for his attackers. Having been beaten to death, a club almost immediately became his symbol, leading to his patronage of fullers and pharmacists, both of whom use clubs in their professions.

He is reported to have spent so much time in prayer that his knees thickened, and looked like a camel’s. Soon after the Crucifixion, James said he would fast until Christ returned; the resurrected Jesus appeared to him, and fixed a meal for James Himself.

- Patron Saint Index
_____________________

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, the gospel that you received and in which you are firmly established; because the gospel will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I preached to you – believing anything else will not lead to anything.

Well then, in the first place, I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared first to Cephas and secondly to the Twelve. Next he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died; then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles; and last of all he appeared to me too; it was as though I was born when no one expected it.
_____________________

John 14:6-14

Jesus said to Thomas:

‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one can come to the Father except through me.
If you know me, you know my Father too.
From this moment you know him and have seen him.’

Philip said, ‘Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.’

‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip,’ said Jesus to him ‘and you still do not know me?

‘To have seen me is to have seen the Father,
so how can you say, “Let us see the Father”?
Do you not believe
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself:
it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work.
You must believe me when I say
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me;
believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason.
I tell you most solemnly,
whoever believes in me
will perform the same works as I do myself,
he will perform even greater works,
because I am going to the Father.
Whatever you ask for in my name I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask for anything in my name,
I will do it.’
_____________________

Keep believing exactly what I preached to you

I once heard a priest talk about the difference being believing someone and believing in someone. It might be clearer to make a comparison. I might say to someone that I believe what he is saying, but that does not mean that I believe in him. I tell people that I believe in God, but you will not find me saying that I believe God. To believe in God is something that goes beyond just acknowledging that Jesus’ teachings are good and true – it entails a complete entrusting of self to God. He alone will bring us salvation.

In the gospel passage, it appeared that Philip had trouble even believing Jesus’ words about knowing and seeing God through Him. I think that if he had believed in Jesus at that time, he would not have any problem believing everything that Jesus says. But then, it is evident that believing in Jesus during certain moments when we most feel like it is not enough, for St Paul says in the first reading that we have to keep believing exactly everything that Jesus teaches. And we can do so by remembering the works of Christ. In St Paul’s time there were people who had seen the risen Christ face to face, in our present time we experience the risen Christ in a more intimate manner, by having Him touch our hearts and souls.

Although I am aware of the importance of always believing in Jesus, a lot of times I put Him into a corner, choosing to believe in other things instead. For instance, I believe firmly in the power of retail therapy to make me happy, I believe in the power of music and movies to do the same. Prayer time, by contrast, seems to bring me into uncomfortable zones and possibly lots of guilt and regret, so I often choose other endeavours instead. During times when my sense of justice tells me that people who have done me wrong should get their just desserts, I have difficulty understanding Jesus’ persistent message of love for one’s enemies.

“And what is the secret of perseverance? Love. Fall in love, and you will not leave him.” – Josemaria Escriva

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
_____________________

Prayer: We pray for the grace to open our hearts to the love of the Lord, and to keep falling in love with Him.

Thanksgiving: Lord, thank you for all the evidence of the work that you have done in our lives.

Joseph (d. 1st century) was a descendant of the House of David. He was a layman, a builder by trade; traditionally a carpenter, but may have been a stone worker. He was the earthly spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the foster and adoptive father of Jesus Christ. He was a visionary who was visited by angels. He was noted for his willingness to immediately get up and do what God had told him to do. He died of natural causes, prior to the Passion of Christ.

- Patron Saint Index
_____________________

Acts of the Apostles 11:19-26

Those who had escaped during the persecution that happened because of Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, but they usually proclaimed the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, who came from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch where they started preaching to the Greeks, proclaiming the Good News of the Lord Jesus to them as well. The Lord helped them, and a great number believed and were converted to the Lord.

The church in Jerusalem heard about this and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. There he could see for himself that God had given grace, and this pleased him, and he urged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with heartfelt devotion; for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. And a large number of people were won over to the Lord.

Barnabas then left for Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. As things turned out they were to live together in that church a whole year, instructing a large number of people. It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians.’
_____________________

John 10:22-30

It was the time when the feast of Dedication was being celebrated in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the Temple walking up and down in the Portico of Solomon. The Jews gathered round him and said, ‘How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’ Jesus replied:

‘I have told you, but you do not believe.
The works I do in my Father’s name are my witness;
but you do not believe,
because you are no sheep of mine.
The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice;
I know them and they follow me.
I give them eternal life;
they will never be lost
and no one will ever steal them from me.
The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone,
and no one can steal from the Father.
The Father and I are one.’
_____________________

The Father and I are one

Do you know miracles happen daily if only we slow down and reflect? I realized as I spend time in silence, I witness his presence with me daily. Recently I was at Lower Peirce Reservoir for nature walk and I witnessed the most beautiful sunset that I have ever seen. I always thought that I need to travel overseas to witness the beauty of creation. He proved me wrong. All I need to do is to explore nature in Singapore and soak in the simple things in life. My friend and I were about to walk off after taking some pictures of the reservoir when someone told us there was a boardwalk. As we explored that boardwalk, the greenery and nature surfaced. It was getting dark when we turned back from our walk. That timing was perfect, as it was then we witnessed the sunset.  Picture the sun setting with a mixture of dark blue, orange, pink and the reflection of the waters coupled with the trees. It was picture perfect.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that the sheep that belong to Him listen to His voice. When they follow him, He gives them eternal life and they will never be lost. No one will ever steal from Him. He assures us that the Father and He are one.

I must admit that at times my faith is weak. There were moments in my life particularly last year when I was troubled – issue of my grandmother, the job search, silent war with my friend and many other disappointments and rejections. It was difficult to believe that God was there. Yet looking back, He did bless me a circle of friends who prayed together with me, homilies at daily mass which spoke to me and He provided my daily bread.

By human strength we are unable to do many things in life. Yet pray for His grace to sustain us daily. Pray for His grace to strengthen us in faith, a total surrender in all aspects of our lives and to trust that God knows best. Indeed, invite the holy trinity into our lives and witness the miracles that will slowly surface.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Patricia Ang)
_____________________

Prayer: Lord grant us the childlike faith to see your revelation. When things don’t go our ways, allow us to pray and trust in you for you know best.

Thanksgiving: We thank you Lord for the experiences in our lives that mould us to be better people and growing in maturity.

St. Mark is believed to be the young man who ran away when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:51-52), and the “John whose other name was Mark” (Acts 12:25). He was a disciple of St. Peter who travelled with him to Rome, and was referred to as “my son Mark” by the first Pope. He was the author of the earliest canonical Gospel. He travelled with his cousin St. Barnabas, and with St. Paul through Cyprus. He evangelized in Alexandria, established the Church there, and founded the first famous Christian school.

- Patron Saint Index
_____________________

1 Peter 5:5-14

All wrap yourselves in humility to be servants of each other, because God refuses the proud and will always favour the humble. Bow down, then, before the power of God now, and he will raise you up on the appointed day; unload all your worries on to him, since he is looking after you. Be calm but vigilant, because your enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Stand up to him, strong in faith and in the knowledge that your brothers all over the world are suffering the same things. You will have to suffer only for a little while: the God of all grace who called you to eternal glory in Christ will see that all is well again: he will confirm, strengthen and support you. His power lasts for ever and ever. Amen.

I write these few words to you through Silvanus, who is a brother I know I can trust, to encourage you never to let go this true grace of God to which I bear witness.

Your sister in Babylon, who is with you among the chosen, sends you greetings; so does my son, Mark.

Greet one another with a kiss of love.
_____________________

Mark 16:15-20

Jesus showed himself to the Eleven, and said to them: ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.’

And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven: there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.
_____________________

Proclaim the Good News to all creation

Not too long ago a colleague of mine started a weekly fellowship at our workplace, gathering her Christian friends from various divisions for lunch meet-ups to talk about scripture. While I admire her consistency at sustaining the weekly lunch sessions, I am rather embarrassed to say that I have somehow not managed to attend a single session. I think I have this strange insecure feeling about my lack of bible knowledge compared to my Protestant friends.

Today being the feast day of St Mark the Evangelist, I did a quick Google browse on evangelising in the Catholic Church, and was reminded of how, to a lot of people, Catholics do not seem to evangelise. At least, it is highly unlikely that you will find a Catholic approaching you on the street to talk to you about God.  Then again, there are many ways of evangelising, through the way we live our lives, our reactions to setbacks, our ability to give thanks even in times of darkness. Even so, I wonder whether I am living the Good News in my life to an extent that I can inspire my non-Christian friends around me.

There is a line from the Catechism of the Catholic Church that says – “Our love for Jesus and for our neighbor impels us to speak to others about our faith.” I guess that for anyone, Christian or Catholic, the heart to evangelise comes from a personal relationship with Jesus. Only when we have been touched by God’s love, can we have the impetus and courage to share it with others.

Personally, I find it difficult to talk about my personal relationship with God verbally, especially in secular settings. I am far more comfortable expressing myself in writing, and though I have gotten good feedback about that, I have seen the importance of talking about God to others. Just a few spoken words can really make a difference.

“I encourage you to never let go this true grace of God to which I bear witness.” – St Peter

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
_____________________

Prayer: Lord, we pray for the grace of confidence in evangelising ourselves and others.

Thanksgiving: Lord, thank you for the family, friends and colleagues who have evangelised to us in their own ways.

The annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Gabriel the archangel that she was to be the Mother of God (Luke 1), the Word being made flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The feast probably originated about the time of the Council of Ephesus (c. 431), and is first mentioned in the Sacramentary of Pope Gelasius (d. 496).

The Annunciation has been a key topic in Christian art in general, as well as in Roman Catholic Marian art, particularly during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. It is represented in art by many masters, among them Fra Angelico, Hubert Van Eyck, Ghirlandajo, Holbein the Elder, Lippi, Pinturicchio, and Del Sarto.

This feast is celebrated on Mar 25, nine months before the feast of the Nativity of Jesus (Christmas) on Dec 25.

The Annunciation is also mentioned twice in the Quran, the holy book for the Muslims.

- Patron Saint Index, Wikipedia
_____________________

Isaiah 7:10-14.8:10

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 he 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.’
_____________________

Hebrews 10:4-10

Bulls’ blood and goats’ blood are useless for taking away sins, and 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.
_____________________

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.
_____________________

I am coming to obey your will

The period of Lent is going to be over soon. Due to looming deadlines, this has also been a period where I had to spend my weeknights and weekends doing work, leaving me little time and energy for doing Lenten reflections. I have feeling stressed, but have also been pleasantly surprised at several instances when I felt the presence and reassurance of the Lord, despite my lack of prayer efforts. Sometimes I really feel intense dread and hopelessness, but the Lord has been showing and reminding me that He is close, that I still have it in me to push on, and to trust in Him.

In the second reading, it is written that God takes no pleasure in holocausts or sacrifices for sin. Our God is not a distant divine being who lives on a remote mountain, coming down every now and then to receive gifts and sacrifices. He is a God of our lives and our hearts, and He yearns to be with us in the closest sense possible. That is why He became one of us, and took on all our sins upon Himself. He is our only hope against the darkness of sin and death. By offering our very beings to His will, we will experience the freedom and joy of His love.

Dear readers, some of you would have made a sacrifice of some sort for Lent – it could be giving up a bad habit, cutting down on unhealthy food, not saying any swear words, and so on. Perhaps you would like to reflect on whether these actions have changed you as a person, and whether they have brought you closer to God. What is the value of stopping a bad habit during Lent, only to return to it after Easter? Today, as we recall the beginning when our Father’s son became man, may we come to a greater appreciation of the power of Jesus’ resurrection during Easter.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
_____________________

Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray for a true conversion of our hearts this Lent and Easter.

Thanksgiving: Dear Lord, we thank you for showing us that through the power of your Spirit, the impossible can become possible.

Joseph is a descendant of the house of David. A layman and a carpenter, he was the earthly spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and foster and adoptive father of Jesus Christ. He was a visionary who was visited by angels, and is noted for his willingness to immediately get up and do what God told him.

Prayer to St. Joseph
Blessed Joseph, husband of Mary, be with us this day.
You protected and cherished the Virgin;
loving the Child Jesus as your Son,
you rescued Him from the danger of death.
Defend the Church, the household of God,
purchased by the blood of Christ.

Guardian of the Holy Family,
be with us in our trials.
May your prayers obtain for us
the strength to flee from error
and wrestle with the powers of corruption
so that in life we may grow in holiness
and in death rejoice in the crown of victory.
Amen.

- Patron Saint Index
_____________________

2 Samuel 7:4-5.12-14.16

The word of the Lord came to Nathan:

‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: “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. (It is he who shall build a house for my name, and I will make his royal throne secure for ever.) 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. Yet I will not withdraw my favour from him, as I withdrew it from your predecessor. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’
_____________________

Romans 4:13.16-18.22

The promise of inheriting the world was not made to Abraham and his descendants on account of any law but on account of the righteousness which consists in faith. That is why what fulfils the promise depends on faith, so that it may be a free gift and be available to all of Abraham’s descendants, not only those who belong to the Law but also those who belong to the faith of Abraham who is the father of all of us. As scripture says: I have made you the ancestor of many nations – Abraham is our father in the eyes of God, in whom he put his faith, and who brings the dead to life and calls into being what does not exist.

Though it seemed Abraham’s hope could not be fulfilled, he hoped and he believed, and through doing so he did become the father of many nations exactly as he had been promised: Your descendants will be as many as the stars. This is the faith that was ‘considered as justifying him.’
_____________________

Matthew 1:16.18-21.24

Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary; of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.

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.’ When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do.
_____________________

Your throne be established forever.

There’s a song by the alternative rock band Switchfoot that I have grown to like. It’s called “Dare you to move”. I found the lyrics very meaningful – “I dare you to move/like today never happened before, the tension is here/between who you are/and who you could be/between how it is/and how it should be.” A lot of times when I find myself stuck in a rut, having to make difficult decisions and dreading what is to come, I don’t dare to make any move.

I cannot really imagine how St Joseph must have felt when he was told to accept the pregnant Mary as his wife. I can think of all the “What-ifs” if I were in his shoes – What if people realise and they start talking? What if the dream I had was really just a dream? What if I cannot take on the responsibility of being the guardian of the saviour of the world? But seriously, I think Joseph simply went ahead and did what the Lord told him to do, as stated in the gospel. He had enough faith in God to know that whatever is asked of him is the right thing.

A couple of days ago I went for an interview for a postgraduate scholarship. After that I found myself analysing what I said during the interview, looking for loopholes and all the while feeling doubtful about myself. It has taken me some effort and a fair amount of experience in education before reaching the point of the interview, so I should really have more confidence in the Lord for taking me this far. I know I ought to keep on moving and leave the results of the interview in God’s hands, having faith that He will know what is best for me.

“Though it seemed Abraham’s hope could not be fulfilled, he hoped and he believed”. I think that being able to hope when there does not seem to be any is one of the hardest things that one can achieve. But it becomes easy with a strong faith in a God who “brings the dead to life and calls into being what does not exist.” My dear readers, let us take courage from Abraham, whose faith fulfilled his hope.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
_____________________

Prayer: We pray that we will have the courage to place our faith in God.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for guidance of the Holy Spirit, particularly during those times when He opened our eyes to the Father’s will.

This feast celebrates an early episode in the life of Jesus. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Presentation is the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, it is one of the twelve Great Feasts. In many Western liturgical churches, Vespers (or Compline) on the Feast of the Presentation marks the end of the Epiphany season.

This feast is also known by other traditional names including Candelmas, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin, and the Meeting of the Lord. Prior to the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, Candlemas marked the end of the Christmas and Epiphany season.

The Western term ‘Candlemas’ (or Candle Mass) referred to the practice whereby a priest on Feb 2 (forty days after Christmas) blessed beeswax candles with an aspergilium (liturgical implement used to sprinkle holy water) for use throughout the year, some of which were distributed to the faithful for use in the home.

Since the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, this feast has been referred to as the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, with references to candles and the purification of Mary de-emphasized in favour of the Prophecy of Simeon the Righteous. Pope John Paul II connected the feast day with the renewal of religious vows.

- Wikipedia
_____________________

Malachi 3:1-4

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.
_____________________

Hebrews 2:14-18

Since all the children share the same blood and flesh, Christ too shared equally in it, so that by his death he could take away all the power of the devil, who had power over death, and set free all those who had been held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it was not the angels that he took to himself; he took to himself descent from Abraham. It was essential that he should in this way become completely like his brothers so that he could be a compassionate and trustworthy high priest of God’s religion, able to atone for human sins. That is, because he has himself been through temptation he is able to help others who are tempted.
_____________________

Luke 2:22-40

When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:

‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,
just as you promised;
because my eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared for all the nations to see,
a light to enlighten the pagans
and the glory of your people Israel.’

As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’

There was a prophetess also, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. She came by just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.

When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.
_____________________

Because my eyes have seen the salvation

I am sure that my fellow writers on the Oxygen team would agree with me that writing for Oxygen has, in a way, forced us to develop a disciplined approach towards reading and reflecting on scripture. It has become habitual for me to go through various steps in my mind as I open the missal. Pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit, read each sentence slowly and prayerfully, picturing the scene in my mind, being aware of words or phrases that strike me as I read, and so on. I have long known about methods of praying with scripture, but I doubt I would have actually carried them out if I had not had the practice that comes with the responsibility of submitting reflections.

Both Simeon and Anna are described as devout servants of the Lord in the gospel reading. I am not sure how, but it seems that they simply recognised Jesus as the saviour the moment they laid eyes on him. I don’t think they would have that recognition if they had not devoted so much of their time to being in relationship with the Lord.

It is not uncommon to hear people say that there is no time for prayer. I tend to give more priority to either work or leisure than to prayer time. Indeed, compared to watching DVDs or playing games on Wii, spending time in prayer is not one of those activities that offer instant gratification, even if what we are hoping for is consolation from God. Like working on an art piece or bringing up a child, it takes time and patience to see one’s perseverance in prayer bear fruit. Sometimes God may appear distant, or silent, or we ourselves might choose to hide from Him, but the advice I come across is always to keep on at it, so that at least the habit is formed.

My dear readers, Jesus is always knocking on our doors. Are we able to discern the knocking from amidst the cacophony of noises in our lives?

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
_____________________

Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray for the discipline to spend time in your presence each day.

Thanksgiving: Dear Lord, we give thanks for the gift of your son Jesus.

St. Paul (3-65) was a Jewish Talmudic student and a Pharisee. He was a tent-maker by trade. Saul the Jew hated and persecuted Christians as heretical, even assisting at the stoning of St. Stephen the Martyr. On his way to Damascus to arrest another group of them, he was knocked to the ground, struck blind by a heavenly light, and given the message that in persecuting Christians, he was persecuting Christ. The experience had a profound spiritual effect on him, causing his conversion to Christianity. He was baptised, changed his name to Paul to reflect his new persona, and began travelling and preaching. He died a martyr for his faith.

- Patron Saint Index
_____________________

Acts of the Apostles 22:3-16

Paul said to the people, ‘I am a Jew and was born at Tarsus in Cilicia. I was brought up here in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was taught the exact observance of the Law of our ancestors. In fact, I was as full of duty towards God as you are today. I even persecuted this Way to the death, and sent women as well as men to prison in chains as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify, since they even sent me with letters to their brothers in Damascus. When I set off it was with the intention of bringing prisoners back from there to Jerusalem for punishment.

‘I was on that journey and nearly at Damascus when about midday a bright light from heaven suddenly shone round me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” I answered: Who are you, Lord? and he said to me, “I am Jesus the Nazarene, and you are persecuting me.” The people with me saw the light but did not hear his voice as he spoke to me. I said: What am I to do, Lord? The Lord answered, “Stand up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told what you have been appointed to do.” The light had been so dazzling that I was blind and my companions had to take me by the hand; and so I came to Damascus.

‘Someone called Ananias, a devout follower of the Law and highly thought of by all the Jews living there, came to see me; he stood beside me and said, “Brother Saul, receive your sight.” Instantly my sight came back and I was able to see him. Then he said, “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Just One and hear his own voice speaking, because you are to be his witness before all mankind, testifying to what you have seen and heard. And now why delay? It is time you were baptised and had your sins washed away while invoking his name.”’
_____________________

Mark 16:15-18

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.’
_____________________

Brother Saul, receive your sight

I happened to be reading the first few pages of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, and the writer described the phenomenon of experiencing what is called a paradigm shift. We all have our own paradigms, shaped by our upbringing, social conditioning, circumstances, and experiences. The paradigms are the lenses through which we see the world. When a paradigm shift occurs, which commonly takes place when people take on new roles in their lives or when crises happen, the fundamental change in thinking can change one’s behaviour permanently.

I was struck by how quickly Paul called upon the Lord and responded to him, straight after he experienced the bright light from heaven and heard the Lord speak. Many things must have happened to him at that instant. All His previous thoughts and feelings of animosity towards the Christians vanished when Jesus told him that by persecuting Christ’s followers, he was actually persecuting God. At the same instant, he changed course from being Christ’s enemy to His disciple.

I have had a few encounters which helped to strengthen my faith in the Lord, and shown me that He is real, and in my life. Unfortunately though, those experiences had not effected much paradigm shift in me – I am still letting my own pride and selfish thoughts overtake the Lord’s teachings and dictate my actions. I would need to seriously examine the root of my actions, recognise it and work on that, so that a fundamental change can happen. It is not an easy task that can be accomplished in a short time, because that would mean changing a deeply-ingrained part of who I am.

My dear readers, what kind of mental models do you have about the world? How do you look at events and people, and how does it affect the way you behave and the decisions you make?

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
_____________________

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we pray that you can help us shed light on the areas of sin in us, and show us how we can change ourselves and do better.

Thanksgiving: Lord Jesus, thank you for the times when we realise how we can see things differently and approach problems in a Christ-like manner.

The Revelation Of Christ To The World

We join all people of the world in worshipping the infant King of the Jews

- The Sunday Missal
_____________________

Isaiah 60:1-6

Arise, shine out, Jerusalem, for your light has come,
the glory of the Lord is rising on you,
though night still covers the earth
and darkness the peoples.

Above you the Lord now rises
and above you his glory appears.
The nations come to your light
and kings to your dawning brightness.

Lift up your eyes and look round:
all are assembling and coming towards you,
your sons from far away
and your daughters being tenderly carried.

At this sight you will grow radiant,
your heart throbbing and full;
since the riches of the sea will flow to you,
the wealth of the nations come to you;

camels in throngs will cover you,
and dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;
everyone in Sheba will come,
bringing gold and incense
and singing the praise of the Lord.
_____________________

Ephesians 3:2-3.5-6

You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace he meant for you, and that it was by a revelation that I was given the knowledge of the mystery. This mystery that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets was unknown to any men in past generations; it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Jesus Christ, through the gospel.
_____________________

Matthew 2:1-12

After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of King Herod, some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east. ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ they asked. ‘We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.’ When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ‘At Bethlehem in Judaea,’ they told him ‘for this is what the prophet wrote:

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah,
for out of you will come a leader
who will shepherd my people Israel.’

Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared, and sent them on to Bethlehem. ‘Go and find out all about the child,’ he said ‘and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage.’ Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And there in front of them was the star they had seen rising; it went forward, and halted over the place where the child was. The sight of the star filled them with delight, and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. But they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way.
_____________________

From you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel

Since young, I have always hated teamwork and found myself either taking charge of everything (i.e., doing it my way), or not caring about anything (i.e., allowing someone else to do most of the work). I struggled with the need to constantly communicate and incorporate everyone’s viewpoint so no one’s feelings were hurt, and then explain the final decision as sensitively as possible. To me, it was all an utter waste of time. Teamwork was inefficient and stifling to what I alone was capable of doing. However, knowing God a little better over time, I grew aware of the dangers of becoming my own God if I only worked independently. Working with others creates more opportunities for me to reexamine if I am doing things mine or God’s way.

As such, when asked to facilitate a retreat last year, I was open to the idea of working as a team rather than taking charge of the entire retreat. There were three of us in the forefront of the team, while others helped out with important background work. Of the three of us, it became quickly evident that two of us were better with public speaking/articulating concepts whereas another struggled with this. His gift was instead a more practical one where he was good at coming up with more practical activities (e.g., suggesting ice-breakers, using candles to enhance the atmosphere, etc).

This caused some tension within me because I felt it was important for him to articulate certain teachings for his session, rather than only focusing on having people participate in an elaborate activity. However, God reminded me through prayer and someone else that I cannot try to change this person and make him someone (e.g., a speaker) he is not. Perhaps he is meant to be a hands-on practical man and this does not mean that his gift is any less important than mine. Who was I to think that I, being able to articulate, was therefore more blessed or gifted than this friend? We were both blessed and gifted in different ways.

I thank God for opening my eyes and humbling me during this retreat. As I allowed this friend to continue, I saw how the Holy Spirit used his gifts powerfully to speak to others. For example, everyone felt that it was an incredible retreat and almost everyone affirmed the fellowship and friendships gained during the retreat as one of their highlights. I knew that without this friend co-facilitating this retreat, people may have developed good friendships. However, through this friend’s active involvement (e.g., how he came up with impromptu games to help people relax when they seemed a little anxious), he enabled the friendships to develop even more quickly and with greater ease. Simply put, the retreat would have been good without his gifts; and it was so much greater with his gifts.

This experience has really opened my eyes to see and cherish the unique gifts that every person has. Rather than always looking to reputable individuals, I now see the value of looking around me at the people I am familiar with to see how they can do just as powerful (or more) work as “foreign talents”.

Is there someone you often think of as less than you in his/her gifts? Is there someone you often think of as more than you in his/her gifts? Dare to speak to God about this and allow Him to renew your sight.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Jean Cheng)
_____________________

Prayer: Father, You chose a savior from within, from the most unlikely of places. Open my eyes to see others whom I still think of as less chosen or important than me in their gifts. Allow me to see the gifts that I have which are also no less than some people I envy. Help me to see with Your eyes.

Thanksgiving: Lord, love is inefficient. While this frustrates me, I know that Your wisdom is beyond mine. Thank You God for not lowering Your wisdom and standards to meet mine, and instead raising mine to meet Your’s.

Upcoming Readings:
Mon 09 Jan – 1 John 3:22–4:6; Matthew 4:12-17.23-25
Tue 10 Jan – 1 John 4:7-10; Mark 6:34-44
Wed 11 Jan – 1 John 4:11-18; Mark 6:45-52
Thu 12 Jan – 1 John 4:19–5:4; Luke 4:14-22
Fri 13 Jan – 1 John 5:5-13; Luke 5:12-16; Memorial for St Hilary, Bishop & Doctor of the Church
Sat 14 Jan – 1 John 5:14-21; John 3:22-30
Sun 15 Jan – Isaiah 55:1-11 or 42:1-4.6-7; 1 John 5:1-9 or Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38; Mark 1:7-11; Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is celebrated on Jan 1, the Octave Day of Christmas (i.e. 8th day after Christmas). It is a celebration of Mary’s motherhood of Jesus. The title “Mother of God” is a western derivation from the Greek term ‘theotokos’, the God-bearer.

The term ‘theotokos’ was adopted at the Council of Ephesus as a way to assert the divinity of Christ, from which it follows that what is declared of Christ is declared of God. So, if Mary is the mother of Jesus, she is the Mother of God. Therefore, the title ‘Mother of God’ and the ‘Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God’, which celebrates her under this title, are at once Mariological and Christological.

- Wikipedia
_____________________

Numbers 6:22-27

The Lord spoke to Moses and said, ‘Say this to Aaron and his sons: “This is how you are to bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace.”
This is how they are to call down my name on the sons of Israel, and I will bless them.’
_____________________

Galatians 4:4-7

When the appointed time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law and to enable us to be adopted as sons. The proof that you are sons is that God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts: the Spirit that cries, ‘Abba, Father’, and it is this that makes you a son, you are not a slave any more; and if God has made you son, then he has made you heir.
_____________________

Luke 2:16-21

The shepherds hurried away to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds had to say. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; it was exactly as they had been told.

When the eighth day came and the child was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before his conception.
_____________________

May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace

I had heard a couple of good homilies about Mary lately. The first was by a priest who said mass for us during a retreat in Thailand. During the retreat, which was carried out in silence, we had a lot of time to reflect and ponder on events in our lives, and also to be in God’s presence in nature. The priest commented that he sees the need for more of such reflection on God’s work in our lives, and brought up the example of Mary, who “treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart”. Like Mary, we should treasure all things that happen to us, good or bad, and ponder them to discern God’s hand in His plan for each of us.

The second homily was by a deacon, who highlighted the point that Mary was merely a teenager, a young girl who chose to say “Yes” to God. She could have refused to take part in God’s salvation plan, but she had so much trust in God that she submitted herself willingly as His handmaid. He also told us a little story about a young girl who saw a lot of suffering happening to people around her. In frustration and pity, she asked God why He had not done anything to help those people. God replied that, yes, He has already done something. He made her.

I think these are important messages to remind us of how, as Christ’s first disciple, Mary is our role-model as followers of Christ. It is not easy to say “Yes”, but with a willing heart to follow the Lord, recognising that He truly loves us, the “Yes” would come more easily. In the new year, there will be many decisions one has to make, and let us not forget to always go back to the purpose of our life in Christ – to know Him, love Him and serve Him.

May you have a most blessed and happy start to 2012, and live the year in the presence of the Lord.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
_____________________

Prayer:  We pray that we will have a heart and mind as pure and faithful as Mary’s. As fresh challenges and hopes await us in 2012, we pray for the wisdom to face them well.

Thanksgiving: We thank our Mother Mary, who never fails us when we turn to her. We also give thanks for 2011, all its ups and downs, and how it has prepared us for the year ahead.

Upcoming Readings:
Mon 02 Jan – 1 John 2:22-28; John 1:19-28; Memorial for Ss Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops & Doctors of the Church
Tue 03 Jan – 1 John 2:29-3:6; John 1:29-34
Wed 04 Jan – 1 John 3:7-10; John 1:35-42
Thu 05 Jan – 1 John 3:11-21; John 1:43-51
Fri 06 Jan – Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3.5-6; Matthew 2:1-12; Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
Sat 07 Jan – 1 John 3:22-4:6; Matthew 4:12-17.23-25; Memorial for St. Raymond of Penyafort, priest
Sun 08 Jan – Isaiah 55:1-11 or 42:1-4.6-7; 1 John 5:1-9 or Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38; Mark 1:7-11; Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

We celebrate the Holy Family of Nazareth which is the model for all who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.

- The Sunday Missal
_____________________

Colossians 3:12-21

You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be faithful.

Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all widsom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wives, give way to your husbands, as you should in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and treat them with gentleness. Children, be obedient to your parents always, because that is what will please the Lord. Parents, never drive your children to resentment or you will make them feel frustrated.
_____________________

Luke 2:22-40

When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:

‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,
just as you promised;
because my eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared for all the nations to see,
a light to enlighten the pagans
and the glory of your people Israel.’

As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’

There was a prophetess also, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. She came by just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.

When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.
_____________________

Wives… Husbands… Children… Parents… Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you

One of the most popular local television productions was a drama series called “Growing Up”. Set in the 1960s to 80s, it depicted a family of six as the country went from one era to the next. Part of the series’ appeal was the interactions within the family as it experienced various events. The family was by no means a perfect one. They had their fair share of challenges, conflicts and secrets to work through as they lived and grew up together. This would have resonated with many viewers in our own families.

Today we celebrate the Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the Holy Family of Nazareth. This family is the model for all families, not only in sharing joys but also in facing trials. From the earliest, Mary and Joseph faced possible ridicule for Mary’s pregnancy. Soon after His birth in hardly the best conditions, the family had to flee to a foreign land. As Simeon said, Christ would be a sword that pieces Mary’s heart. Despite all this, they remained united. According to sacred tradition, Joseph died a happy death. This was a family that lived as Paul wrote, the message of God in each of them.

Our families are often the ones closest physically, temporally and emotionally. Because of this, it is often also true that they are the ones who can most frustrate us. Despite this, we would not be who we are without them. Our families are our first teachers and the ones to whom we first witness for the Lord. My sisters and brothers, this Christmas season, let us make sure we spend some quality time with our families.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Aloysius Ting)
_____________________

Prayer: We pray for greater empathy within our families.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for wives, husbands, parents and children.

Upcoming Readings:
Sat 31 Dec – 1 John 2:18-21; John 1:1-18; Seventh Day of the Octave of Christmas; Memorial for St Sylvester I, Pope
Sun 01 Jan – Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21; Octave Day of Christmas; Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

The Holy Innocents are the children slaughtered by Herod the Great when he tried to kill the infant Christ.

- Patron Saint Index

The children died for Christ, though they do not know it. The parents mourned for the death of martyrs. The Christ child makes of those as yet unable to speak fit witnesses to Himself.

To what merits of their own do the children owe this kind of victory? They cannot speak, yet they bear witness to Christ. They cannot use their limbs to engage in battle, yet already they bear off the palm of victory.

- From a sermon by bishop St. Quodvultdeus about the Holy Innocents
_____________________

1 John 1:5-2:2

This is what we have heard from Jesus Christ,
and the message that we are announcing to you:
God is light; there is no darkness in him at all.
If we say that we are in union with God
while we are living in darkness,
we are lying because we are not living the truth.
But if we live our lives in the light,
as he is in the light,
we are in union with one another,
and the blood of Jesus, his Son,
purifies us from all sin.

If we say we have no sin in us;
we are deceiving ourselves
and refusing to admit the truth;
but if we acknowledge our sins,
then God who is faithful and just
will forgive our sins and purify us
from everything that is wrong.
To say that we have never sinned
is to call God a liar
and to show that his word is not in us.

I am writing this, my children,
to stop you sinning;
but if anyone should sin,
we have our advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ, who is just;
he is the sacrifice that takes our sins away,
and not only ours,
but the whole world’s.
_____________________

Matthew 2:13-18

After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet:

I called my son out of Egypt.

Herod was furious when he realised that he had been outwitted by the wise men, and in Bethlehem and its surrounding district he had all the male children killed who were two years old or under, reckoning by the date he had been careful to ask the wise men. It was then that the words spoken through the prophet Jeremiah were fulfilled:

A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loudly lamenting:
it was Rachel weeping for her children,
refusing to be comforted because they were no more.
_____________________

A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and lamenting

Christmas is a time of celebration. That means that the world will be at peace and that bad things will not happen. We all know that that last statement is false. Many South Koreans would be apprehensive that the death of North Korea’s Kim Jong Il could destabilise the region. At home, the breakdown of one of our rail lines caused many to be trapped, during which time they would have felt desperate. More recently, an auxiliary police was found dead in a shopping complex; this would be a big blow to his family.

This day we commemorate the Holy Innocents. These young boys died only because they were around Jesus’ age though none of them or their parents knew this. They are nonetheless often regarded as the first martyrs for Christ. Their massacre emphasises how suffering can happen anytime and without us knowing the cause. Their commemoration reflects their commonality in innocence with the Lord. This parallels the union the John mentions which washes away sins.

In the bustle of Christmas celebrations, the sufferings of others can easily become invisible to us. To be Christian though means to look beyond ourselves. My brothers and sisters, may we be aware of those around us in need of help and be ready to offer assistance and prayer.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Aloysius Ting)
_____________________

Prayer: We pray for those who are suffering, that the joy of the Lord will be their strength.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for new-borns, who show us the miracle of life.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu 29 Dec – 1 John 2:3-11; Luke 2:22-35; Fifth Day of the Octave of Christmas; Memorial for St Thomas à Becket, Bishop & Martyr
Fri 30 Dec – Sirach 3:3-7.14-17 or Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2:22-40; Sixth Day of the Octave of Christmas; Feast of the Holy Fmaily
Sat 31 Dec – 1 John 2:18-21; John 1:1-18; Seventh Day of the Octave of Christmas; Memorial for St Sylvester I, Pope
Sun 01 Jan – Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21; Octave Day of Christmas; Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

St. John, also known as the “beloved disciple” of Jesus’ was the son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of St. James the Great, and was called one of the Sons of Thunder. Before becoming Jesus’ disciple, he was already a disciple of St. John the Baptist, and a friend of St. Peter the Apostle. He was called by Jesus during the first year of Christ’s ministry, and travelled everywhere with him. He took part in the Last Supper, and was the only one of the Twelve not to forsake the Saviour in the hour of his Passion, standing at the foot of the cross.

He was made guardian of Our Lady by Jesus, and he took her into his home. Upon hearing of the Resurrection, he was the first to reach the tomb; when he met the risen Lord at the Lake of Tiberius, he was the first to recognise him.

During the era of the new Church, he worked in Jerusalem and at Ephesus. During Jesus’ ministry, he tried to block a Samaritan from their group, but Jesus explained the open nature of the new Way, and he worked on that principle to found churches in Asia Minor and baptising converts in Samaria. He was imprisoned with Peter for preaching after Pentecost. He wrote the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and possibly the Book of Revelation.

- Patron Saint Index
_____________________

1 John 1:1-4

Something which has existed since the beginning,
that we have heard,
and we have seen with our own eyes;
that we have watched
and touched with our hands:
the Word, who is life –
this is our subject.
That life was made visible:
we saw it and we are giving our testimony,
telling you of the eternal life
which was with the Father and has been made visible to us.
What we have seen and heard
we are telling you
so that you too may be in union with us,
as we are in union
with the Father
and with his Son Jesus Christ.
We are writing this to you to make our own joy complete.
_____________________

John 20:2-8

On the first day of the week Mary of Magdala came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’

So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed.
_____________________

We are writing this to you to make your own joy complete

In many monarchies, it is traditional for the newly ascended ruler to take on a regnal name symbolising their reign. This name was often different from the one they were born with. In European countries, many monarchs took on names that their predecessors used. George VI took on his father’s name in order that the United Kingdom might have a sense of continuity. We see this also in the names chosen by our popes. John Paul II took the name of his immediate predecessor to honour him. This would have been reassuring to the faithful coming after the very short reign of John Paul I.

Today we celebrate St John the Evangelist. John was present at events many of the other apostles did not. The Gospel passage for today tells of John bearing witness to the empty tomb following the Resurrection. Besides this, John was one of three disciples present at the Transfiguration and was the only disciple who stood with Mary at the foot of the Cross.

John is also notable for being the only apostle to not suffer martyrdom. In his long life John would have served as a pillar of continuity for the Church. The first reading shows John doing just this. The first letter of John was written to refute heretical teachings such as Christ not being incarnate in flesh. As one who journeyed with Jesus during His ministry, John was the best person to correct these fallacies.

In the fast paced world we live in, our interpersonal interactions can be brief. It is in this atmosphere that people who really care about our well-being bring us the most joy. These are the ones who remember when we shared our difficulties and weeks (or even months) later ask about how we are doing. My sisters and brothers, as we continue our Christmas celebrations and kindnesses, may we remember that we are not called to be one-hit wonders but lasting witnesses as John was.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Aloysius Ting)
_____________________

Prayer: We pray for in power, that they will work to bring peace and stability to their people.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for our elders who share with us their wisdom.

Upcoming Readings:
Wed 28 Dec – 1 John 1:5-2:2; Matthew 2:13-18; Fourth Day of the Octave of Christmas; Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martrys
Thu 29 Dec – 1 John 2:3-11; Luke 2:22-35; Fifth Day of the Octave of Christmas; Memorial for St Thomas à Becket, Bishop & Martyr
Fri 30 Dec – Sirach 3:3-7.14-17 or Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2:22-40; Sixth Day of the Octave of Christmas; Feast of the Holy Fmaily
Sat 31 Dec – 1 John 2:18-21; John 1:1-18; Seventh Day of the Octave of Christmas; Memorial for St Sylvester I, Pope
Sun 01 Jan – Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21; Octave Day of Christmas; Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God