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

St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. A deacon and a preacher, all we know of him is related in the Acts of the Apostles. While preaching the gospel in the streets, angry Jews who believed his message to be blasphemy dragged him outside the city, and stoned him to death. In the crowd, on the side of the mob, was a man who would later be known as St. Paul.

- Patron Saint Index
_____________________

Acts of the Apostles 6:8-10;7:54-59

Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people. But then certain people came forward to debate with Stephen, some from Cyrene and Alexandria who were members of the synagogue called the Synagogue of Freedmen, and others from Cilicia and Asia. They found they could not get the better of him because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said. They were infuriated when they heard this, and ground their teeth at him.

But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ‘I can see heaven thrown open’ he said ‘and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this all the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they all rushed at him, sent him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses put down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul. As they were stoning him, Stephen said in invocation, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’
_____________________

Matthew 10:17-22

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.

‘Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved.’
_____________________

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Almost everyone is familiar with Transformers. One of the many animated series delves into spirituality, expounding the issue of “sparks” which akin to Transformer souls. It describes how all sparks spring from the Matrix. When a Transformer dies, its spark returns to the Matrix, enriching it with the accumulated its accumulated experiences.

Today’s first reading recounts the stoning of St Stephen. Though appearing only very briefly, Stephen is a significant figure in Christianity. His arrest, trial and execution were a fulfilment of Jesus’ words in the Gospel passage. His courage came from the Spirit of God speaking through him. His last words were reflected those of Christ Himself. In uttering them, Stephen became a model for all Christians through the ages. Rightly is he given the title of Protomartyr.

For the entire month of December people have been soaking up the Christmas spirit. We’ve said it as we took advantage of the deals and shop for presents. We’ve said it as we take in the lights and decorations in town. We’ll say it during the feasts and parties. But what exactly is the Christmas spirit? Is it just those activities or is there something more?

When we reflect deeper, we would probably find that the Christmas spirit is strongest in getting gifts for loved ones and spending time taking in the sights and sharing meals with them. My brothers and sisters, Christ has come into our lives and empowered us. Let us in turn model Him and enrich all God’s children.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Aloysius Ting)
_____________________

Prayer: We pray that we may be inspired by the Holy Spirit to do a kind deed for someone this Christmas season.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for receiving each of us into His loving arms.

Upcoming Readings:
Tue 27 Dec – 1 John 1:1-4; John 20:2-8; Third Day of the Octave of Christmas; Feast of St John, Apostle & Evangelist
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

On this and the following eight days, the Church celebrates, with particular solemnity, the immaculate conception of the ever-blessed Virgin Mary who, from all eternity, was chosen to be the daughter of the heavenly Father, the spouse of the Holy Ghost, the Mother of the Divine Redeemer, and, by consequence, the queen of angels and of men.

The consideration of these prerogatives convinced the most enlightened fathers and teachers of the Catholic Church that she was conceived immaculate, that is, without original sin. It is very remarkable that among the shining hosts of saints who have, in every century, adorned the Church, no one wrote against this belief, while we find it confirmed by the decisions of the holy fathers from the earliest times.

Pope Piux IX forced, as it were, by the faith and devotion of the faithful throughout the world, finally on 8 December 1854, sanctioned, as a dogma of faith falling within the infallible rule of Catholic traditions, this admirable prerogative of the Blessed Virgin.

It is, therefore, now no longer, as formerly, a pious belief, but an article of the faith that Mary, like the purest morning light which precedes the rising of the most brilliant sun, was, from the first instant of her conception, free from original sin.

- Patron Saint Index
_____________________

Genesis 3:9-15.20

After Adam had eaten of the tree the Lord God called to him. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden;’ he replied ‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.’ ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ he asked ‘Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat?’ The man replied, ‘It was the woman you put with me; she gave me the fruit, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God asked the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman replied, ‘The serpent tempted me and I ate.’

Then the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this,

‘Be accursed beyond all cattle,
all wild beasts.
You shall crawl on your belly and eat dust
every day of your life.
I will make you enemies of each other:
you and the woman,
your offspring and her offspring.
It will crush your head
and you will strike its heel.’

The man named his wife ‘Eve’ because she was the mother of all those who live.
_____________________

Ephesians 1:3-6.11-12

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ.
Before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ,
to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence,
determining that we should become his adopted sons, through Jesus Christ
for his own kind purposes,
to make us praise the glory of his grace,
his free gift to us in the Beloved,
And it is in him that we were claimed as God’s own,
chosen from the beginning,
under the predetermined plan of the one who guides all things
as he decides by his own will;
chosen to be,
for his greater glory,
the people who would put their hopes in Christ before he came.
_____________________

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.
_____________________

For nothing is impossible to God

One of the most commonly asked questions about God, whether by believers or non-believers, is about the issue of suffering in the world. If God is good, then He should not allow suffering and evil, right? Well, God is good but He is not the puppet master of our lives. We are given the free will to decide and make our own choices, and a lot of times those choices could be selfish ones or could do harm to others.

In today’s first reading, we are brought back to Genesis to the story of Adam and Eve, where Eve, given the choice between an eternity in the Garden of Eden and disobeying God, chose the latter. As a result of that choice, a separation between God and human nature took place, and we constantly struggle between the forces of good and evil.

I am developing an awareness that I can very easily slip into a state where I can live my life buried in work and social activities, and can easily seek out sources of entertainment in my books and music and films. I could be leading a comfortable life without thinking about God. What I find disturbing is that whenever I pause to reflect, or when something reminds me of my faith, I am always confronted by my own sinfulness. I cannot understand why my first response to my mother not feeling well is an unkind thought. Or why I can feel so offended at a friend’s remark which indirectly wounds my pride.

In her Magnificat, Mary recognises in all humility the graces that God has bestowed upon her, and professes herself as the handmaid of God, surrendering her life to Him. In the midst of my struggles with my own sinfulness, I find it hard to let go of them and let God take over. It is difficult for me to discern God’s hand working in my life, and I tend to focus just on the negative aspects. As I write this, I am preparing for a retreat tomorrow, and I pray that I can experience peace and surrender to our Almighty Father.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
_____________________

Prayer: We pray that Mary may be our model in our struggle against the effects of sin in our lives.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to God, for never giving up on us.

Upcoming Readings:
Fri, 09 Dec – Isaiah 48:17-19; Matthew 11:16-19; Memorial for St John Diego Cuahtlatoatzin
Sat, 10 Dec – Sirach 48:1-4.9-11; Matthew 17:10-13
Sun, 11 Dec – Isaiah 61:1-2.10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8.19-28; Third Sunday of Advent

Francis (1506-1552) was a nobleman from the Basque region. He studied and taught philosophy at the University of Paris, and planned a career as a professor. He was a friend of St. Ignatius of Loyola who convinced him to use his talents to spread the Gospel. He was one of the founding Jesuits, and the first Jesuit missionary.

In Goa, India, while waiting to take the ship, he preached in the street, worked with the sick, and taught children their catechism. He would walk through the streets ringing a bell to call the children to their studies. He was said to have converted the entire city.

He scolded his patron, King John of Portugal, over the slave trade: “You have no right to spread the Catholic faith while you take away all the country’s riches. It upsets me to know that at the hour of your death you may be ordered out of paradise.”

He was a tremendously successful missionary for the ten years he was in India, the East Indies, and Japan, baptizing more than 40,000 converts. His epic finds him dining with head hunters, washing the sores of lepers in Venice, teaching catechism to Indian children, baptizing 10,000 in a single month. He tolerated the most appalling conditions on long sea voyages, enduring extremes of heat and cold. Wherever he went he would seek out and help the poor and forgotten. He travelled thousands of miles, most on his bare feet, and he saw the greater part of the Far East. He had the gift of tongues, and was a miracle worker. He raised people from the dead, calmed storms. He was a prophet and a healer.

- Patron Saint Index
_____________________

1 Corinthians 9:16-19.22-23

I do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me; I should be punished if I did not preach it! If I had chosen this work myself, I might have been paid for it, but as I have not, it is a responsibility which has been put into my hands. Do you know what my reward is? It is this: in my preaching, to be able to offer the Good News free, and not insist on the rights which the Gospel gives me.

So though I am not a slave of any man I have made myself the slave of everyone so as to win as many as I could. For the weak I made myself weak. I made myself all things to all men in order to save some at any cost; and I still do this, for the sake of the Gospel, to have a share in its blessings.
_____________________

Mark 16:15-20

Jesus showed himself to the Eleven, and he 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 the 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.
_____________________

It is a responsibility which has been put into my hands

A few years ago, when I was in the university, I was very active in the Catholic Students’ Society there. In my eagerness, I spearheaded a number of initiatives, and was dismayed to find that my successors replaced them with other initiatives of their own the following year. Interestingly however, the vision that my committee painstakingly crafted for the Society still persists to this day. I think it shows that there must be something that successive batches of college students could relate to in that vision.

St Francis Xavier is famous for establishing long-lasting Christian committees in the places where he evangelised. He not only preached and converted many in lands far away from his home, but also managed to lay down structures and a sufficiently strong legacy to keep the flames of Christianity burning even after he left. Apparently he had tried different strategies in reaching out to the people, some of which led to opposition from the locals. His perseverance and purposefulness in converting pagans is indeed admirable.

Many of us are involved in church ministries, and I sometimes wonder if being involved in a voluntary capacity affects the way people do things. Many think that it is enough to have the heart to serve God in the parish, but without a clear structure and members who are united towards that common purpose, it will be challenging to move ahead.

My dear readers, let us strive to emulate St Francis in using his passion, wit and resources in setting up sustainable Christian communities.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
_____________________

Prayer: We pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in sustaining our Christian communities and in contributing our gifts and talents to their running.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for the love that inspired St Francis Xavier.

Upcoming Readings:
Sun, 04 Dec – Isaiah 40:1-5.9-11; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8; Second Sunday of Advent

Dear readers,

Here is an additional reflection based on the readings for the Saturday in the 1st Week of Advent. It comes to you as a nice cap for this calender year.

- Aloysius for The OXYGEN Team

Francis (1506-1552) was a nobleman from the Basque region. He studied and taught philosophy at the University of Paris, and planned a career as a professor. He was a friend of St. Ignatius of Loyola who convinced him to use his talents to spread the Gospel. He was one of the founding Jesuits, and the first Jesuit missionary.

In Goa, India, while waiting to take the ship, he preached in the street, worked with the sick, and taught children their catechism. He would walk through the streets ringing a bell to call the children to their studies. He was said to have converted the entire city.

He scolded his patron, King John of Portugal, over the slave trade: “You have no right to spread the Catholic faith while you take away all the country’s riches. It upsets me to know that at the hour of your death you may be ordered out of paradise.”

He was a tremendously successful missionary for the ten years he was in India, the East Indies, and Japan, baptizing more than 40,000 converts. His epic finds him dining with head hunters, washing the sores of lepers in Venice, teaching catechism to Indian children, baptizing 10,000 in a single month. He tolerated the most appalling conditions on long sea voyages, enduring extremes of heat and cold. Wherever he went he would seek out and help the poor and forgotten. He travelled thousands of miles, most on his bare feet, and he saw the greater part of the Far East. He had the gift of tongues, and was a miracle worker. He raised people from the dead, calmed storms. He was a prophet and a healer.

- Patron Saint Index
_____________________

Isaiah 30:19-21.23-26

Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

People of Zion, you will live in Jerusalem and weep no more. He will be gracious to you when he hears your cry; when he hears he will answer. When the Lord has given you the bread of suffering and the water of distress, he who is your teacher will hide no longer, and you will see your teacher with your own eyes. Whether you turn to right or left, your ears will hear these words behind you, ‘This is the way, follow it.’ He will send rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the bread that the ground provides will be rich and nourishing. Your cattle will graze, that day, in wide pastures. Oxen and donkeys that till the ground will eat a salted fodder, winnowed with shovel and fork. On every lofty mountain, on every high hill there will be streams and watercourses, on the day of the great slaughter when the strongholds fall. Then moonlight will be bright as sunlight and sunlight itself be seven times brighter – like the light of seven days in one – on the day the Lord dresses the wound of his people and heals the bruises his blows have left.
_____________________

Matthew 9:35-10:1.5.6-8

Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness.

And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’

He summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows: ‘Go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.’
_____________________

This is the way, follow it

This is probably my final Oxygen reflection for 2011 and perhaps a good time for me to share the main event that happened. Therefore, this will be a slightly longer and even more personal sharing than usual (although I am usually quite personal already:P).

I have always been a person that rushes around, busying myself with my studies, projects, appointments, etc. Friends know me as one who is always “busy” and “in a rush”. I strongly identified with Martha. I knew that it wasn’t best, but I did not know how to be a Mary. That is, I did not know how to sit still. How does one just drop everything? It seemed a bit too indulgent and lazy, to be honest. Perhaps no different to how Martha felt about Mary when she complained to Jesus that Mary was not helping (Luke 10: 38-42).

I felt that I was doing a good thing for the Lord by busying myself with never-ending good responsibilities, a few commitments to different church ministries, placements, coursework, research work, to name a few. Yes, I was busy. And whenever I am busy, family time and social events are the first to be sacrificed. I would attend church and sing with the music group, and once mass ended and instruments were packed, I would exchange a few words then “rush” to get lunch before ticking off the next item on my “to-do-list”. Nevertheless, there was a part in me that was constantly restless. I was busy but unfulfilled. I was doing “good things” but unhappy. In spite of everything I had going on for me in my life, I was bored, empty, and life felt rather meaningless.

The emptiness disturbed me so I started to set aside time to spend with Jesus through the help of a spiritual guide. During one of my prayer times, I engaged in an Ignatian Examination exercise where I read a bible passage, closed my eyes, and allowed the scene to freely play out in my mind, without trying to control anything (if I did find myself wanting to control the scene, I was to simply notice this and later ponder why that might be so). It’s little surprise that I chose to reflect on the Mary-Martha passage and what I saw horrified me.

I saw Martha playing the perfect host to Jesus and his disciples. She never sat or joined in conversations because she was “just too busy” serving them. When forced to sit down, however, this is when the pin dropped. Martha suddenly felt lost. She did not know how to participate in conversations. She did not know how to formulate intelligent replies to witty and playful comments made by others. She did not know what they were talking about and this frightened her. Martha had always thought that she was socially confident and competent just that she never had the time for others. But now… what did all these mean? She was awkward? She was not as entertaining/funny/interesting as she (or others) thought? What would others think of her? Martha quickly excused herself and returned to the kitchen and played her hosting duties again. At least, here, she was competent and safe. At least here, no one would know she had these social insecurities and fears.

But Jesus, the one she loved, told Martha that Mary had chosen the better part.

When I opened my eyes, I cried bitterly. I felt so sorry for Martha. She loved Jesus and was trying to please Him by doing what she knew best how to do (i.e., hosting), yet He told her that someone else chose the better part. Did He not realize how hard Martha was trying to please Him? Did He not realize that Martha, too,  wanted to be with people but she was afraid of what they might think of her if they knew that she was not as socially competent as they thought she was? I cried bitterly because I realized that I was no different from Martha. This frightened me as it challenged what I always thought I knew about myself (i.e., I’d always thought that I was perfectly comfortable in social settings). It frightened me because I was afraid that others would think less of me if they saw this “awkward” or “socially struggling” side of me. To top that off, I felt rejected by Jesus and His response.

But upon reading the passage again, I realized that Jesus had never rejected Martha. He had simply told her the truth of life – that certain paths led to life and certain did not. In fact, it was precisely because He loved Martha and wanted her to experience the fullness of life that He was telling her that she was “off-track”. I realized that similarly, Jesus loved me and his heart was probably aching when He told me this, because He knew that the truth would hurt me. Yet, He loved me so much that He allowed Himself to be the one to hurt me, in order to help me walk towards life.

Since then, I have prayed to God to help me become “Jean who grows to have a spirit like Mary”. Over this year, God has done that. As the first reading states, this has brought me “bread of suffering and water of distress”. It has been very painful at times. But I believe in Jesus’ words. I held onto His promise that “You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy” (John 16:20).

Over the year, I have more clearly seen my Lord and teacher showing me the way of life. I have stopped rushing away after events and have learnt to just be around others, even if I had nothing to say or if I appeared awkward. In fact, there have even been times when I have made everyone including myself cringe. But I have learnt to laugh at myself. I have learnt that my mere presence is celebrated by others; they do not need “Jean the entertainer”. I have learnt that I am loved for who I am, not the “service” I provide. I have learnt that I am not as “great” as I used to think that I was, and this has been a very humbling. It has forced me to re-question the meaning of my life and what is most important in life. Is it to look good in the eyes of others? Or is it to care, serve, and empower others’ lives?

These are just a few fruits, among many others, that have been born since the day I decided to let go of my old ways and follow Jesus. As such, I can testify to everything the first reading says today.

It isn’t easy for me to write about this because I still do care about how you might perceive me after reading this. But I want to share this because I want you to know that everything you read about in the bible is not abstract. It is real and can happen in your life, as it has in mine. I am no better or “holier” than you. God wants to heal, love, and help you attain the life that your heart desires, in as much as He does for me. I pray that you will say “Yes” to Him, even if you do not know what this entails. I pray you will trust that it will lead to the hope and future your heart truly desires (Jeremiah 29:11).

(Today’s OXYGEN by Jean Cheng)
_____________________

Prayer: I pray for all who are struggling to trust You, Jesus. Please meet them where they are at, and help them to know You for who You really are. Help them to experience Your love for them.

Thanksgiving: Thank You, Jesus, for giving me the graces I needed to sustain during difficult moments, so that I could taste and see the fullness of Your word in John 16:20.

Upcoming Readings:
Sun, 04 Dec – Isaiah 40:1-5.9-11; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8; Second Sunday of Advent

Andrew was the first Apostle of Jesus Christ. He was a fisherman by trade, and the brother of Simon Peter. He was a follower of John the Baptist. Andrew went through life leading people to Jesus, both before and after the Crucifixion. He was a missionary in Asia Minor and Greece, and possibly areas in modern Russia and Poland. He was martyred on a saltire (x-shaped) cross, and is said to have preached for two days from it.

- Patron Saint Index
_____________________

Romans 10:9-18

If your lips confess that Jesus is Lord and if you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved. By believing from the heart you are made righteous; by confessing with your lips you are saved. When scripture says: those who believe in him will have no cause for shame, it makes no distinction between Jew and Greek: all belong to the same Lord who is rich enough, however many ask his help, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

But they will not ask his help unless they believe in him, and they will not believe in him unless they have heard of him, and they will not hear of him unless they get a preacher, and they will never have a preacher unless one is sent, but as scripture says: The footsteps of those who bring good news are a welcome sound. Not everyone, of course, listens to the Good News. As Isaiah says: Lord, how many believed what we proclaimed? So faith comes from what is preached, and what is preached comes from the word of Christ. Let me put the question: is it possible that they did not hear? Indeed they did; in the words of the psalm, their voice has gone out through all the earth, and their message to the ends of the world.
_____________________

Matthew 4:18-22

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ And they left their nets at once and followed him. Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. At once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed him.
_____________________

Let me put the question: is it possible that they did not hear?

It’s amazing how deaf the youth of today have become. Recollections of having to endure blasting music from the earphones of young people oblivious to the discomfort of the people around them and the damage to their eardrums come back to me as I prepare this reflection because in a similar way, we are called to be persistently loud in spreading the message of God to those around us.

St. Paul reminds us in the first reading of today that it is important for us to spread the Word of God to Christians and non-Christians alike. Certainly the message has been spread across to these people for I am sure that most people in the world would have some idea of Christianity since major celebrations such as Christmas, Good Friday, Easter and Whitsunday are often public holidays in countries. Our role in this case is to follow the example of St. Andrew whose feast we celebrate today.

St. Andrew always pointed people towards Jesus. Two incidents should come to mind: the bringing of the child bearing the five loaves and two fishes and introducing the Greek visitors to Jesus together with Philip (John 12:22). I believe that we should also learn to adopt St. Andrew’s example and share with all people the joy of Christianity.

We do not need to be overbearingly loud like the music example in the beginning of today’s sharing but we can share our Christian fervour by being examples of true charity towards others in our family, workplace and parish. It is important that we learn the importance of being humble and acknowledging that we should serve as signposts to those who want to learn more about Jesus. Our lives should not be the same as those in the world but be an anti-thesis to the secular values of the world.

Tradition has it that St. Andrew was crucified on a cross shaped like the letter ‘X’. The ‘X’ marks the spots where the treasure is to be found on maps in children stories and cartoons involving pirates. Let us also be this sign to all whom we meet and point them towards the true Treasure whom we encounter whenever we receive the Holy Eucharist.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
_____________________

Prayer: St. Andrew, pray for us

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to those who patiently bear the faults of others.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu, 01 Dec – Isaiah 26:1-6; Matthew 7:21.24-27
Fri, 02 Dec – Isaiah 29:17-24; Matthew 9:27-31
Sat, 03 Dec – 1 Corinthians 9:16-19.22-23; Mark 16:15-20; Feast of St Francis Xavier, Presbyter Religious (Principal Patron of the Missions)
Sun, 04 Dec – Isaiah 40:1-5.9-11; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8; Second Sunday of Advent

The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral of the church of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope. It is officially named “Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour, St. John Baptist and St. John the Evangelist at the Lateran”.

It is the oldest and ranks first (being the cathedral of Rome) among the four major basilicas of Rome, and holds the title of ecumenical mother church (mother church of the whole inhabited world). An inscription on the façade, Christo Salvatore, dedicates the Lateran as the Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour, for the cathedrals of all patriarchs are dedicated to Christ Himself. As the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, containing the papal throne, it ranks above all other churches, even above St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

- Wikipedia
_____________________

Ezekiel 47:1-2.8-9.12

The angel brought me to the entrance of the Temple, where a stream came out from under the Temple threshold and flowed eastwards, since the Temple faced east. The water flowed from under the right side of the Temple, south of the altar. He took me out by the north gate and led me right round outside as far as the outer east gate where the water flowed out on the right-hand side. He said, ‘This water flows east down to the Arabah and to the sea; and flowing into the sea it makes its waters wholesome. Wherever the river flows, all living creatures teeming in it will live. Fish will be very plentiful, for wherever the water goes it brings health, and life teems wherever the river flows. Along the river, on either bank, will grow every kind of fruit tree with leaves that never wither and fruit that never fails; they will bear new fruit every month, because this water comes from the sanctuary. And their fruit will be good to eat and the leaves medicinal.’
_____________________

1 Corinthians 3:9-11.16-17

We are fellow workers with God; you are God’s farm, God’s building. By the grace God gave me, I succeeded as an architect and laid the foundations, on which someone else is doing the building. Everyone doing the building must work carefully. For the foundation, nobody can lay any other than the one which has already been laid, that is Jesus Christ. Didn’t you realise that you were God’s temple and that the Spirit of God was living among you? If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy him, because the temple of God is sacred; and you are that temple.
_____________________

John 2:13-22

Just before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon-sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market.’ Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me. The Jews intervened and said, ‘What sign can you show us to justify what you have done?’ Jesus answered, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are you going to raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said.
_____________________

The temple of God is sacred

Some time back, my parish priests came under media spotlight for the dress code requirements put forth by my parish. The message from the priests to the parishioners has always been that since we are in the house of God, we should show due respect by dressing appropriately, and it is also not right to distract others’ attention by skimpy or sloppy dressing.

Jesus is rarely described to be angry in the gospels; normally he seems to be rather calm at dealing with people. This cleansing of the temple stands out as an incident where Jesus’ righteous anger gave rise to strong emotions and actions. Such is the severity of the blasphemy of using God’s house for purposes other than for worship of God.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul says “Didn’t you realise that you were God’s temple and that the Spirit of God was living among you?” Pause for a moment to consider your body as God’s temple. What does that mean for you? When we view something as sacred, we will be very cautious with it. That will mean not treating our bodies and the bodies of others as objects to be used, especially not for self-gratification. It would also mean taking good care of our health, eating right and finding ways to alleviate the stress of daily work.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
_____________________

Prayer: Dear Lord, we lift up our body, mind and spirit to you, that we will use these gifts to carry out your will.

Thanksgiving: Dear Lord, we thank you for being our refuge and strength.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu, 10 Nov – Wisdom 7:22-8:1; Luke 17:20-25; Memorial for St Leo the Great, Pope & Doctor of the Church
Fri, 11 Nov – Wisdom 13:1-9; Luke 17:26-37; Memorial for St Martin of Tours, Bishop
Sat, 12 Nov – Wisdom 18:14-16;19:6-9; Luke 18:1-8; Memorial for St Josaphat, Bishop & Martyr
Sun, 13 Nov – Proverbs 31:10-13.19-20.30-31; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30; Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

All Saints’ Day is celebrated in honour of all the saints, known and unknown. In terms of Roman Catholic theology, the feast commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in heaven. The beatific vision is the eternal and direct perception of God enjoyed by those who are in Heaven, imparting supreme happiness and blessedness. St. Thomas Aquinas defined the beatific vision as the ultimate end of human existence after physical death.

The origin of this feast as celebrated in the West dates to 13 May 609 or 610, when Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon at Rome to the Blessed Virgin and all the martyrs; the feast of the dedication Sanctae mariae ad Martyres has been celebrated at Rome ever since. The chosen day, May 13, was a pagan observation of great antiquity, the culmination of three days of the Feast of the Lemures, in which the malevolent and restless spirits of the dead were propitiated.

The feast of All Saints, on its current date, is traced to the foundation by Pope Gregory III (731-741) of an oratory in St. Peter’s for the relics “of the holy apostles and of all saints, martyrs and confessors, of all the just made perfect who are at rest throughout the world”, with the day moved to Nov 1.

- Wikipedia
_____________________

Revelations 7:2-4.9-14

I, John, saw another angel rising where the sun rises, carrying the seal of the living God; he called in a powerful voice to the four angels whose duty was to devastate land and sea, ‘Wait before you do any damage on land or at sea or to the trees, until we have put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.’ Then I heard how many were sealed: a hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel.

After that I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands. They shouted aloud, ‘Victory to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ And all the angels who were standing in a circle round the throne, surrounding the elders and the four animals, prostrated themselves before the throne, and touched the ground with their foreheads, worshipping God with these words, ‘Amen. Praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen.’

One of the elders then spoke, and asked me, ‘Do you know who these people are, dressed in white robes, and where they have come from?’ I answered him, ‘You can tell me, my lord.’ Then he said, ‘These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb.’
_____________________

1 John 3:1-3

Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,
by letting us be called God’s children;
and that is what we are.
Because the world refused to acknowledge him,
therefore it does not acknowledge us.
My dear people, we are already the children of God
but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed;
all we know is, that when it is revealed
we shall be like him
because we shall see him as he really is.
Surely everyone who entertains this hope
must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ.
_____________________

Matthew 5:1-12

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

‘How happy are the poor in spirit;
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:
they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you
and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.’
_____________________

Surely everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ.

A couple of weeks ago, one of our Ministers of Parliament (MP) criticised our government as being too focused on gross domestic product (GDP) growth at the expense of Singaporeans’ happiness. She wanted to know what measures the Singapore government planned to put in place to measure happiness and how its policies over the next five years would be guided by such indicators.

It’s tough, but not impossible, to measure happiness. In order to measure it, a great deal of thought needs to be done first to try to define what is happiness which seems rather subjective. What makes you happy might not make another person happy, we tend to think. But that is actually quite far from the true for the simple fact that we are all human beings. We all laugh, we all cry. I may not experience happiness in the way that another person does, but when I see another person is happy, I know how he feels, because I too am human, I too have felt happiness.

In today’s first reading, we see a multitude of saints rejoicing in heaven before the Lamb of God. Though they be different in nationality, tribe, race and language, there is one thing that all have in similarity – they have all been purified through the blood of Christ. It is this purification that John writes in the second reading that we must all strive for. Not simply striving to be pure, because how does one measure the purity of the human being? What measures are there for us as Christians to measure purity of the human person?

Our KPI (key performance indicator) is to be like Christ Himself, who is the purest of the pure. And the policies that Christ has put in place for us are listed out in the gospel reading. They are the Beatitudes, and they are what guides us Christians to strive to be as pure as Christ. These are our KPI, friends:

To be poor in spirit
To be gentle as Christ is
To mourn for those who pass without anyone to mourn for them
To hunger and thirst for what is right
To be merciful as Christ is
To be pure in heart
To make peace
To pursue the cause of right and be persecuted for it
To suffer persecution and abuse on account of our faith in Jesus Christ

Let us take some time today to reflect on what measures we are going to put in place in our lives to measure our performance towards achieving these KPI.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Daniel Tay)
_____________________

Prayer: We pray for those who pursue the cause of right and are persecuted for it, may they find happiness in Christ.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to those who voice out what is wrong in our society.

Upcoming Readings:
Wed, 02 Nov – Wisdom 3:1-9 or Isaiah 25:6-9; Romans 5:5-11; Matthew 11:25-30; Memorial of All Souls
Thu, 03 Nov – Romans 14″7-12; Luke 15:1-10; Memorial for St Martin de Porres, Religious
Fri, 04 Nov – Romans 15:14-21; Luke 16:1-8; Memorial for St Charles Borromeo, Bishop
Sat, 05 Nov – Romans 16:3-9; Luke 16:9-15
Sun, 06 Nov – Wisdom 6:12-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13; Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time