Today we celebrate Christ’s twofold giving of Himself.

To His enemies, to die on the cross for the life of the world. He is the paschal victim, whose blood saves His people (see the Old Testament Reading). To His friends and disciples, His Church – that is, to us – in the sacrament of His body and blood (see the reading from St. Paul).

If we want to belong to Christ, we must follow His example of self-giving and of service – ‘washing one another’s feet’ (see Gospel). We must be willing and ready tos ay with Christ, about our own selves: “This is my body which is given up for you.”

- From The Sunday Missal
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Exodus 12:1-8,11-14

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt:

‘This month is to be the first of all the others for you, the first month of your year. Speak to the whole community of Israel and say, “On the tenth day of this month each man must take an animal from the flock, one for each family: one animal for each household. If the household is too small to eat the animal, a man must join with his neighbour, the nearest to his house, as the number of persons requires. You must take into account what each can eat in deciding the number for the animal. It must be an animal without blemish, a male one year old; you may take it from either sheep or goats. You must keep it till the fourteenth day of the month when the whole assembly of the community of Israel shall slaughter it between the two evenings. Some of the blood must then be taken and put on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where it is eaten. That night, the flesh is to be eaten, roasted over the fire; it must be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. You shall eat it hastily: it is a passover in honour of the Lord. That night, I will go through the land of Egypt and strike down all the first-born in the land of Egypt, man and beast alike, and I shall deal out punishment to all the gods of Egypt, I am the Lord! The blood shall serve to mark the houses that you live in. When I see the blood I will pass over you and you shall escape the destroying plague when I strike the land of Egypt. This day is to be a day of remembrance for you, and you must celebrate it as a feast in the Lord’s honour. For all generations you are to declare it a day of festival, for ever.”’
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1 Corinthians 11:23-26

This is what I received from the Lord, and in turn passed on to you: that on the same night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, and thanked God for it and broke it, and he said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this as a memorial of me.’ In the same way he took the cup after supper, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.’ Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death.
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John 13:1-15

It was before the festival of the Passover, and Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. He had always loved those who were his in the world, but now he showed how perfect his love was.

They were at supper, and the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot son of Simon, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, and he got up from table, removed his outer garment and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ ‘Never!’ said Peter ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus replied, ‘If I do not wash you, you can have nothing in common with me.’ ‘Then, Lord,’ said Simon Peter ‘not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!’ Jesus said, ‘No one who has taken a bath needs washing, he is clean all over. You too are clean, though not all of you are.’ He knew who was going to betray him, that was why he said, ‘though not all of you are.’

When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes again he went back to the table. ‘Do you understand’ he said ‘what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.’
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I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you

As I write this reflection, I have 22 more days of singlehood left. Preparing for the wedding and balancing responsibilities at home and at work has me very stressed out and tense. My wife-to-be noticed this, and asked me if I would like to go over to her place for a massage. I asked her why she wanted to do that for me, and she simply said that a massage would make me feel more relaxed afterwards. Her love for me struck me at that point, and her action revealed it.

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus showed His love for His disciples. Jesus’ mission on earth was to reveal to the world the Father’s love, and He did it through service towards others. This example that Jesus gave His disciples, they were meant to copy and show God’s love to others through service.

In the first reading, we read of the instructions of the Passover meal. The second reading shows us how Jesus celebrated His Passover – by taking the most important feast that the Jews had and turning it into the most important feast the Church has – the feast of the Eucharist. It is through the Eucharist that we are reminded of God’s love for us.
But when we celebrate the Eucharist, it cannot end there. The Eucharist is not meant to stay within us. Rather, it is meant for us to be reminded of Jesus’ love for us through service to us, and we, being His disciples, are supposed to go out and do likewise for others, revealing to others God’s love through us.

Do we do that?

This Easter triduum, let us take some time to reflect on how the Eucharist can help us to be a better disciple of Christ through service towards others.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Daniel Tay)
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Prayer: We pray for all Christians who are religious, but do not love. We ask that the Lord bless them with the grace to love as He loves.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for His example of love through service.

Upcoming Readings:
Fri, 02 Apr – Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16;5:7-9; John 18:1-19.42; Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Sat, 03 Apr – Genesis 1:1-2:2 (or 1:1.26-31); Genesis 22:1-18 (or 22:1-2.9-13.15-18); Exodus 14:15-15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15.32-4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-28; Romans 6:3-11; Luke 24:1-12; Easter Vigil
Sun, 04 Apr – Acts of the Apostles 10:34.37-43; Colossians 1-4 (or 5-8) John 20:1-9 (or Luke 24:1-12); Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection

Isaiah 61:1-3,6,8-9

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

to proclaim liberty to captives,
freedom to those in prison;
to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord,
a day of vengeance for our God,

to comfort all those who mourn and to give them
for ashes a garland;
for mourning robe the oil of gladness,
for despondency, praise.

But you, you will be named ‘priests of the Lord’,
they will call you ‘ministers of our God.’
I reward them faithfully
and make an everlasting covenant with them.

Their race will be famous throughout the nations,
their descendants throughout the peoples.
All who see them will admit
that they are a race whom the Lord has blessed.
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Revelations 1:5-8

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the First-born from the dead, the Ruler of the kings of the earth. He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood, and made us a line of kings, priests to serve his God and Father; to him, then, be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. It is he who is coming on the clouds; everyone will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the races of the earth will mourn over him. This is the truth. Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’ says the Lord God, who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
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Luke 4:16-21

Jesus came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written:

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
for he has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives
and to the blind new sight,
to set the downtrodden free,
to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.

He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, ‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’
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This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.

I recently paid a visit to the NEWater visitor centre. NEWater is one of ways by which Singapore meets its water needs. Waste water is reclaimed and purified through a multi-step process. It happens every day and the water produced is already used extensively in industry, with a small amount being fed into our reservoirs for consumption. Many people though are not aware of the nuances involved. There is also a documentary series called “How Do They Do It?” which focuses on the processes behind everyday objects like toothpaste which we use without a second thought. It is very interesting to find out just what is involved in things we take for granted.

Today is Holy Thursday and on this day, the Church celebrates the Chrism Mass. The chrism or oil used at the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders is blessed during this Mass, as are other oils used to bless the sick and catechumens. This Mass has significance to the Church and its members for the rest of the year. In Singapore though, not every Catholic is able to attend this Mass as it takes place during the day, when most are at work or in school. Many are also not aware of the existence of the Chrism Mass. This seems a waste considering its importance.

The readings for the Chrism Mass represent a unique paradox of sorts. The first two readings speak about the rich anointing, kingship and mission of Christ. Despite all the recorded prophecies that were proclaimed every Sabbath and all the signs in Christ’s life that were congruent with those prophecies, many still took Him for granted. His words to the people in the synagogue say it all: “This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen”. Whether you are aware or not, it is happening. That being the case, should we make ourselves aware or continue in ignorance?

With Holy Thursday, Lent is approaching an end. One of the things this season has taught us is to become more aware of lives as Christians and a greater appreciation for the things we have. One of those things in the Catholic tradition is the Chrism Mass. Many of us are unable to take part in it physically but we can certainly find out more about it. This also applies to many other traditions such as liturgical hymns which we take for granted. My brothers and sisters, let us make the effort to find out a little more about how our Church, the Body of Christ works.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Aloysius Ting)
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Prayer: We pray for a deeper awareness and appreciation of the gifts You have given us.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for blessing us through the Chrism Mass.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu, 01 Apr – Exodus 12:1-8.11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15; Maundy Thursday; Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Fri, 02 Apr – Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16;5:7-9; John 18:1-19.42; Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Sat, 03 Apr – Genesis 1:1-2:2 (or 1:1.26-31); Genesis 22:1-18 (or 22:1-2.9-13.15-18); Exodus 14:15-15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15.32-4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-28; Romans 6:3-11; Luke 24:1-12; Easter Vigil
Sun, 04 Apr – Acts of the Apostles 10:34.37-43; Colossians 1-4 (or 5-8) John 20:1-9 (or Luke 24:1-12); Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection

Isaiah 49:1-6

Islands, listen to me,
pay attention, remotest peoples.
The Lord called me before I was born,
from my mother’s womb he pronounced my name.

He made my mouth a sharp sword,
and hid me in the shadow of his hand.
He made me into a sharpened arrow,
and concealed me in his quiver.

He said to me, ‘You are my servant (Israel)
in whom I shall be glorified’;
while I was thinking, ‘I have toiled in vain,
I have exhausted myself for nothing’;

and all the while my cause was with the Lord,
my reward with my God.
I was honoured in the eyes of the Lord,
my God was my strength.

And now the Lord has spoken,
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
to gather Israel to him:

‘It is not enough for you to be my servant,
to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel;
I will make you the light of the nations
so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.’
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John 13:21-33.36-38

While at supper with his disciples, Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, ‘I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, wondering which he meant. The disciple Jesus loved was reclining next to Jesus; Simon Peter signed to him and said, ‘Ask who it is he means’, so leaning back on Jesus’ breast he said, ‘Who is it, Lord?’ ‘It is the one’ replied Jesus ‘to whom I give the piece of bread that I shall dip in the dish.’ He dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. At that instant, after Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him. Jesus then said, ‘What you are going to do, do quickly.’ None of the others at table understood the reason he said this. Since Judas had charge of the common fund, some of them thought Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival’, or telling him to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread he went out. Night had fallen.

When he had gone Jesus said:

‘Now has the Son of Man been glorified,
and in him God has been glorified.
If God has been glorified in him,
God will in turn glorify him in himself,
and will glorify him very soon.

‘My little children,
I shall not be with you much longer.
You will look for me,
And, as I told the Jews,
where I am going, you cannot come.’

Simon Peter said, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus replied, ‘Where I am going you cannot follow me now; you will follow me later.’ Peter said to him, ‘Why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ ‘Lay down your life for me?’ answered Jesus. ‘I tell you most solemnly, before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.’
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I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me.

I used to have a very narrow perception of my Christian faith. A few years back, when I was starting out in learning more about the faith, I attended numerous talks, sharing groups and seminars covering a diverse range of topics. Somewhere at the back of my mind I began to form this impression that the more knowledge I gained, the thicker would be my shield against sin. So when I found myself succumbing to temptation and committing the sin that I so often condemned in others, I could not accept it. It is only afterwards, did I realise that everyone is vulnerable to sin, and it does not mean that reading more or learning more would serve as a natural buffer against straying from God.

There is not much mention of Judas in scripture, save for the events leading to the Lord’s passion. The writers of the gospels rarely mentioned him without making some reference to the fact that he was the one who was to betray Jesus. It is naturally a very human reaction among the disciples to perceive Judas in a negative light, since he was the one who betrayed Jesus to the chief priests. The motivation behind Judas’ betrayal is unclear, especially since he only got only thirty silver pieces for his deed.

As one of Jesus’ chosen Twelve, Judas was exposed to the same kind of teachings as the rest of the disciples. With such a benevolent and loving master, we would think that the disciples are very blessed for their privileged positions. Yet, Judas took the initiative to approach the chief priests to offer to betray Jesus to them. We can only guess at whether Judas was aware of what would happen to Jesus after he handed him over.

There are some who would say that the severity of Judas’ betrayal would surely send him straight to hell, and there are others who say that there might be a possibility that he may have been forgiven. Only God would know. Let us remember to not judge others when they sin, since we are all just as likely to do the same, and the important thing is to repent and not commit the sin again.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
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Prayer: Lord, we pray that we will remember our own human frailty when we are tempted to pass judgement on others.

Thanksgiving: Thank You, Lord, for seeing who we really are, and for loving our true selves.

Upcoming Readings:
Wed, 31 Mar – Isaiah 0:4-9; Matthew 26:14-25; Wednesday of Holy Week
Thu, 01 Apr – Isaiah 61: 1-3.6.8-9; Revelations 1:5-8; Luke 4:16-21; Maundy Thursday; Chrism Mass
Thu, 01 Apr – Exodus 12:1-8.11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15; Maundy Thursday; Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Fri, 02 Apr – Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16;5:7-9; John 18:1-19.42; Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Sat, 03 Apr – Genesis 1:1-2:2 (or 1:1.26-31); Genesis 22:1-18 (or 22:1-2.9-13.15-18); Exodus 14:15-15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15.32-4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-28; Romans 6:3-11; Luke 24:1-12; Easter Vigil
Sun, 04 Apr – Acts of the Apostles 10:34.37-43; Colossians 1-4 (or 5-8) John 20:1-9 (or Luke 24:1-12); Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection

Isaiah 42:1-7

Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom my soul delights.
I have endowed him with my spirit
that he may bring true justice to the nations.

He does not cry out or shout aloud,
or make his voice heard in the streets.
He does not break the crushed reed,
nor quench the wavering flame.

Faithfully he brings true justice;
he will neither waver, nor be crushed
until true justice is established on earth,
for the islands are awaiting his law.

Thus says God, the Lord,
he who created the heavens and spread them out,
who gave shape to the earth and what comes from it,
who gave breath to its people
and life to the creatures that move in it:

‘I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right;
I have taken you by the hand and formed you;
I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light of the nations,

‘to open the eyes of the blind,
to free captives from prison,
and those who live in darkness from the dungeon.’
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John 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom he had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there; Martha waited on them and Lazarus was among those at table. Mary brought in a pound of very costly ointment, pure nard, and with it anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair; the house was full of the scent of the ointment. Then Judas Iscariot – one of his disciples, the man who was to betray him – said, ‘Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor?’ He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he was in charge of the common fund and used to help himself to the contributions. So Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone; she had to keep this scent for the day of my burial. You have the poor with you always, you will not always have me.’

Meanwhile a large number of Jews heard that he was there and came not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. Then the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus as well, since it was on his account that many of the Jews were leaving them and believing in Jesus.
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Leave her alone; she had to keep this scent for the day of my burial.

We live in a society where we are constantly encouraged to strive hard in our work in order to achieve more. Such achievements are perceived by some as necessary to make our lives more fulfilling. In my growing up years, I was socially very awkward and shy. I always felt like a failure when it comes to socialising with people, so I always fell back on my academic abilities to prop up my self-esteem. Each time I felt inferior to others in some aspect, I would seek solace in my academic achievements.

Mary’s act of anointing Jesus and also her decision to sit and listen to Jesus during a previous visit reflected her devotion to Jesus, and her desire to let go of material things so as to follow Him. She is a disciple who will go to great lengths to serve Jesus, to the extent to defying social conventions. During a period when Jesus’ Passion was nearing and He was having difficulty communicating the message of His would-be death and resurrection to His disciples, she had no doubt or fear, but reached out to Him with love.

Upon reflection, I see that it will take a lot for me to relinquish the ‘security blanket’ that I have clung on to for most part of my life. In order to be a true follower of Christ, God has to be my only source of security. I cannot claim to be His servant if I am carrying personal baggage. I would need to drop them, and empty myself, so that I can be filled with His love. In this way, I will be able to truly love Him, and others as well.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
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Prayer: We pray that we will be able to love God without reservations.

Thanksgiving: We thank the Lord for His patience and compassion towards His children.

Upcoming Readings:
Tue, 30 Mar – Isaiah 49:1-6; John 13:21-33.36-38; Tuesday of Holy Week
Wed, 31 Mar – Isaiah 0:4-9; Matthew 26:14-25; Wednesday of Holy Week
Thu, 01 Apr – Isaiah 61: 1-3.6.8-9; Revelations 1:5-8; Luke 4:16-21; Maundy Thursday; Chrism Mass
Thu, 01 Apr – Exodus 12:1-8.11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15; Maundy Thursday; Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Fri, 02 Apr – Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16;5:7-9; John 18:1-19.42; Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Sat, 03 Apr – Genesis 1:1-2:2 (or 1:1.26-31); Genesis 22:1-18 (or 22:1-2.9-13.15-18); Exodus 14:15-15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15.32-4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-28; Romans 6:3-11; Luke 24:1-12; Easter Vigil
Sun, 04 Apr – Acts of the Apostles 10:34.37-43; Colossians 1-4 (or 5-8) John 20:1-9 (or Luke 24:1-12); Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection

Hosanna to the Son of David
the King of Israel.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest
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Luke 19:28-40

Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. Now when he was near Bethphage and Bethany, close by the Mount of Olives as it is called, he sent two of the disciples, telling them, ‘Go off to the village opposite, and as you enter it you will find a tethered colt that no one has yet ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” you are to say this, “The Master needs it”.’ The messengers went off and found everything just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owner said, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ and they answered, ‘The Master needs it.’

So they took the colt to Jesus, and throwing their garments over its back they helped Jesus on to it. As he moved off, people spread their cloaks in the road, and now, as he was approaching the downward slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole group of disciples joyfully began to praise God at the top of their voices for all the miracles they had seen. They cried out:

‘Blessings on the King who comes,
in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest heavens!’

Some Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Master, check your disciples,’ but he answered, ‘I tell you, if these keep silence the stones will cry out.’
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Isaiah 50:4-7

The Lord has given me
a disciple’s tongue.
So that I may know how to reply to the wearied
he provides me with speech.
Each morning he wakes me to hear,
to listen like a disciple.
The Lord has opened my ear.

For my part, I made no resistance,
neither did I turn away.
I offered my back to those who struck me,
my cheeks to those who tore at my beard;
I did not cover my face
against insult and spittle.

The Lord comes to my help,
so that I am untouched by the insults.
So, too, I set my face like flint;
I know I shall not be shamed.
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Philippians 2:6-11

Jesus Christ’s state was divine,
yet he did not cling
to his equality with God
but emptied himself
to assume the condition of a slave
and became as men are;
and being as all men are,
he was humbler yet,
even to accepting death,
death on a cross.
But God raised him high
and gave him the name
which is above all other names
so that all beings
in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld,
should bend the knee at the name of Jesus
and that every tongue should acclaim
Jesus Christ as Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
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Luke 22:4-23:56

When the hour came, Jesus took his place at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, ‘I have longed to eat this passover with you before I suffer; because, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’

Then, taking a cup, he gave thanks and said, ‘Take this and share it among you, because from now on, I tell you, I shall not drink wine until the kingdom of God comes.’

Then he took some bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which will be given for you; do this as a memorial of me.’ He did the same with the cup after supper, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood which will be poured out for you.

‘And yet, here with me on the table is the hand of the man who betrays me. The Son of Man does indeed go to his fate even as it has been decreed, but alas for that man by whom he is betrayed!’ And they began to ask one another which of them it could be who was to do this thing.

A dispute arose also between them about which should be reckoned the greatest, but he said to them, ‘Among pagans it is the kings who lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are given the title Benefactor. This must not happen with you. No; the greatest among you must behave as if he were the youngest, the leader as if he were the one who serves. For who is the greater: the one at table or the one who serves? The one at table, surely? Yet here am I among you as one who serves!

‘You are the men who have stood by me faithfully in my trials; and now I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father conferred one on me: you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

‘Simon, Simon! Satan, you must know, has got his wish to sift you all like wheat; but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail, and once you have recovered, you in your turn must strengthen your brothers.’ ‘Lord,’ he answered ‘I would be ready to go to prison with you, and to death.’ Jesus replied, ‘I tell you, Peter, by the time the cock crows today you will have denied three times that you know me.’

He said to them, ‘When I sent you out without purse or haversack or sandals, were you short of anything?’ ‘No’ they said. He said to them, ‘But now if you have a purse, take it; if you have a haversack, do the same; if you have no sword, sell your cloak and buy one, because I tell you these words of scripture have to be fulfilled in me: He let himself be taken for a criminal Yes, what scripture says about me is even now reaching its fulfilment.’ ‘Lord,’ they said ‘there are two swords here now.’ He said to them, ‘That is enough!’

He then left to make his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, with the disciples following. When they reached the place he said to them, ‘Pray not to be put to the test.’

Then he withdrew from them, about a stone’s throw away, and knelt down and prayed. ‘Father,’ he said ‘if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, let your will be done, not mine.’ Then an angel appeared to him, coming from heaven to give him strength. In his anguish he prayed even more earnestly, and his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

When he rose from prayer he went to the disciples and found them sleeping for sheer grief. ‘Why are you asleep?’ he said to them. ‘Get up and pray not to be put to the test.’

He was still speaking when a number of men appeared, and at the head of them the man called Judas, one of the Twelve, who went up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said, ‘Judas, are you betraying the son of Man with a kiss?’ His followers, seeing what was happening, said, ‘Lord, shall we use our swords?’ And one of them struck out at the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. But at this Jesus spoke. ‘Leave off!’ he said ‘That will do!’ And touching the man’s ear he healed him.

Then Jesus spoke to the chief priests and captains of the Temple guard and elders who had come for him. ‘Am I a brigand’ he said ‘that you had to set out with swords and clubs? When I was among you in the Temple day after day you never moved to lay hands on me. But this is your hour; this is the reign of darkness.’

They seized him then and led him away, and they took him to the high priest’s house. Peter followed at a distance. They had lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and Peter sat down among them, and as he was sitting there by the blaze a servant-girl saw him, peered at him, and said, ‘This person was with him too.’ But he denied it. ‘Woman,’ he said ‘I do not know him.’ ‘Shortly afterwards someone else saw him and said, ‘You are another of them.’ But Peter replied, ‘I am not, my friend.’ About an hour later another man insisted, saying, ‘This fellow was certainly with him. Why, he is a Galilean.’ ‘My friend,’ said Peter ‘I do not know what you are talking about.’ At that instant, while he was still speaking, the cock crew, and the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered what the Lord had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows today, you will have disowned me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Meanwhile the men who guarded Jesus were mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and questioned him. ‘Play the prophet’ they said. ‘Who hit you then?’ And they continued heaping insults on him.

When day broke there was a meeting of the elders of the people, attended by the chief priests and scribes. He was brought before their council, and they said to him, ‘If you are the Christ, tell us.’ ‘If I tell you,’ he replied ‘you will not believe me, and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the Power of God. Then they all said, ‘So you are the Son of God then?’ He answered, ‘It is you who say I am.’ ‘What need of witnesses have we now?’ they said. ‘We have heard it for ourselves from his own lips.’ The whole assembly then rose, and they brought him before Pilate.

They began their accusation by saying, ‘We found this man inciting our people to revolt, opposing payment of the tribute to Caesar, and claiming to be Christ, a king.’ Pilate put to him this question, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ ‘It is you who say it’ he replied. Pilate then said to the chief priests and the crowd, ‘I find no case against this man.’ But they persisted, ‘He is inflaming the people with his teaching all over Judaea; it has come all the way from Galilee, where he started, down to here.’ When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man were a Galilean; and finding that he came under Herod’s jurisdiction he passed him over to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

Herod was delighted to see Jesus; he had heard about him and had been wanting for a long time to set eyes on him; moreover, he was hoping to see some miracle worked by him. So he questioned him at some length; but without getting any reply. Meanwhile the chief priests and the scribes were there, violently pressing their accusations. Then Herod, together with his guards, treated him with contempt and made fun of him; he put a rich cloak on him and sent him back to Pilate. And though Herod and Pilate had been enemies before, they were reconciled that same day.

Pilate then summoned the chief priests and the leading men and the people. ‘You brought this man before me’ he said ‘as a political agitator. Now I have gone into the matter myself in your presence and found no case against the man in respect of all the charges you bring against him. Nor has Herod either, since is he has sent him back to us. As you can see, the man has done nothing that deserves death, So I shall have him flogged and then let him go.’ But as one man they howled, ‘Away with him! Give us Barabbas!’ (This man had been thrown into prison for causing a riot in the city and for murder.)

Pilate was anxious to set Jesus free and addressed them again, but they shouted back, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ And for the third time he spoke to them, ‘Why? What harm has this man done? I have found no case against him that deserves death, so I shall have him punished and then let him go’ But they kept on shouting at the top of their voices, demanding that he should be crucified. And their shouts were growing louder.

Pilate then gave his verdict: their demand was to be granted. He released the man they asked for, who had been imprisoned for rioting and murder, and handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they pleased.

As they were leading him away they seized on a man, Simon from Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and made him shoulder the cross and carry it behind Jesus. Large numbers of people followed him, and of women too, who mourned and lamented for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep rather for yourselves and for your children. For the days will surely come when people will say, “Happy are those who are barren, the wombs that have never borne, the breasts that have never suckled!” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”; to the hills, “Cover us.” For if men use the green wood like this, what will happen when it is dry?’ Now with him they were also leading out two other criminals to be executed.

When they reached the place called The Skull, they crucified him there and the two criminals also, one on the right, the other on the left. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.’ Then they cast lots to share out his clothing.

The people stayed there watching him. As for the leaders, they jeered at him. ‘He saved others,’ they said ‘let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.’ The soldiers mocked him too, and when they approached to offer vinegar they said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ Above him there was an inscription: ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

One of the criminals hanging there abused him. ‘Are you not the Christ?’ he said. ‘Save yourself and us as well.’ But the other spoke up and rebuked him. ‘Have you no fear of God at all?’ he said. ‘You got the same sentence as he did, but in our case we deserved it: we are paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus,’ he said ‘remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ ‘Indeed, I promise you,’ he replied ‘today you will be with me in paradise.’

It was now about the sixth hour and, with the sun eclipsed, a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. The veil of the Temple was torn right down the middle; and when Jesus had cried out in a loud voice, he said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’ With these words he breathed his last.

When the centurion saw what had taken place, he gave praise to God and said, ‘This was a great and good man.’ And when all the people who had gathered for the spectacle saw what had happened, they went home beating their breasts.

All his friends stood at a distance; so also did the women who had accompanied him from Galilee, and they saw all this happen.

Then a member of the council arrived, an upright and virtuous man named Joseph. He had not consented to what the others had planned and carried out. He came from Arimathaea, a Jewish town, and he lived in the hope of seeing the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. He then took it down, wrapped it in a shroud and put him in a tomb which was hewn in stone in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day and the sabbath was imminent.

Meanwhile the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus were following behind. They took note of the tomb and of the position of the body.

Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. And on the sabbath day they rested, as the Law required.
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Jesus… remember me when you come into your kingdom.

I usually do not make any particular sacrifice during the season of Lent, as I am concerned that I may become complacent when I become fixated on it, and think that I do not need to do much else. The past couple of Lenten experiences have been rather unremarkable, as I did not pray much. This Lent, however, I made more effort, and, to my dismay, I became very troubled when several of my sins became evident to me. I experienced a period of struggle and frustration with myself. I felt better about it when I read from a devotional website that it is not uncommon to become more aware of one’s sinfulness when one is on the path to holiness.

When we pray the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, we reflect on the physical and mental anguish Jesus had to endure on the road to Calvary. By relating our own sufferings to that of Christ, we can share in them, and better appreciate the meaning of His sacrifice. In the words of a popular praise and worship song: He took the fall, and thought of us, above all.

Recently I heard a friend speak about punishment from God falling upon sinners. I clarified with him that it is not God who proactively metes out punishment to His people. Rather, it is a natural consequence when we turn away from His ways. God is always reaching out to us in love, but the problem is sometimes we might feel so unworthy and sinful that we are unable to respond to His love. After recognising our sins, the next step would be to pray for forgiveness, and accept that forgiveness and love. Then, we can die to our sins, and rise again to enter a new life with Christ.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
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Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray for the courage to face our sins and to persevere in our struggle against them.

Thanksgiving: Dear Lord, we cannot thank You enough for Your gift and promise of eternal life. Thank You for saving us from the darkness of sin.

Upcoming Readings:
Mon, 29 Mar – Isaiah 42:1-7; John 12:1-11; Monday of Holy Week
Tue, 30 Mar – Isaiah 49:1-6; John 13:21-33.36-38; Tuesday of Holy Week
Wed, 31 Mar – Isaiah 0:4-9; Matthew 26:14-25; Wednesday of Holy Week
Thu, 01 Apr – Isaiah 61: 1-3.6.8-9; Revelations 1:5-8; Luke 4:16-21; Maundy Thursday; Chrism Mass
Thu, 01 Apr – Exodus 12:1-8.11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15; Maundy Thursday; Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Fri, 02 Apr – Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16;5:7-9; John 18:1-19.42; Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Sat, 03 Apr – Genesis 1:1-2:2 (or 1:1.26-31); Genesis 22:1-18 (or 22:1-2.9-13.15-18); Exodus 14:15-15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15.32-4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-28; Romans 6:3-11; Luke 24:1-12; Easter Vigil
Sun, 04 Apr – Acts of the Apostles 10:34.37-43; Colossians 1-4 (or 5-8) John 20:1-9 (or Luke 24:1-12); Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection

Isaiah 52:13-53-12

See, my servant shall prosper,
he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.
Even as many were amazed at him
so marred was his look beyond human semblance
and his appearance beyond that of the sons of man
so shall he startle many nations,
because of him kings shall stand speechless;
for those who have not been told shall see,
those who have not heard shall ponder it.

Who would believe what we have heard?
To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He grew up like a sapling before him,
like a shoot from the parched earth;
there was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him,
nor appearance that would attract us to him.
He was spurned and avoided by people,
a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity,
one of those from whom people hide their faces,
spurned, and we held him in no esteem.

Yet it was our infirmities that he bore,
our sufferings that he endured,
while we thought of him as stricken,
as one smitten by God and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our offences,
crushed for our sins;
upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole,
by his stripes we were healed.
We had all gone astray like sheep,
each following his own way;
but the LORD laid upon him
the guilt of us all.

Though he was harshly treated, he submitted
and opened not his mouth;
like a lamb led to the slaughter
or a sheep before the shearers,
he was silent and opened not his mouth.

Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away,
and who would have thought any more of his destiny?
When he was cut off from the land of the living,
and smitten for the sin of his people,
a grave was assigned him among the wicked
and a burial place with evildoers,
though he had done no wrong
nor spoken any falsehood.
But the LORD was pleased
to crush him in infirmity.

If he gives his life as an offering for sin,
he shall see his descendants in a long life,
and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.

Because of his affliction
he shall see the light in fullness of days;
through his suffering, my servant shall justify many,
and their guilt he shall bear.
Therefore I will give him his portion among the great,
and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty,
because he surrendered himself to death
and was counted among the wicked;
and he shall take away the sins of many,
and win pardon for their offences.
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Hebrews 4:14-16,5:7-9

Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

In the days when Christ was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
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John 18:1 – 19:42

Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.” He said to them, “I AM.” Judas his betrayer was also with them. When he said to them, “I AM,” they turned away and fell to the ground. So he again asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.”

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?”

So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was better that one man should die rather than the people.

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest, went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in. Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm.

The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said.” When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

As Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed.

Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?” They answered and said to him, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” At this, Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” The Jews answered him, “We do not have the right to execute anyone,“ in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die.

So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this one but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly.

Once more Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, “Behold, the man!” When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”

Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews.” Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews’.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be,” in order that the passage of Scripture might be fulfilled that says:

They divided my garments among them,
and for my vesture they cast lots.

This is what the soldiers did.

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said,

“I thirst.”

There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and that they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled:

Not a bone of it will be broken.

And again another passage says:

They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body. Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.
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[T]here was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered.

A few years ago during Lent before Good Friday, I watched “The Passion of Christ”; this made a difference in my experience of praying the Stations of the Cross and the Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary as I would sometimes  vividly recall the images of the movie scenes as I meditated on them.

In my meditation, the image of Jesus’ agony in the garden brought to mind the creation of the world and the Garden of Eden in the book of Genesis; a time when God created the earth and the seas, the plants and the animals, day and night, and He saw that it was good. When he created man in His image, male and female He created them, He saw that it was indeed very good. It was a time when man was in perfect communion with God.  That perfect communion was destroyed when Adam and Eve disobeyed and sinned against God.

When Jesus was in agony in the garden, did he recall his Father’s agony when He had to banish Adam and Eve from the garden? Was the Father in agony as He knew that the only way to restore the broken communion was to send His only Son to die for us.

The scene that moved me the most during “The Passion of Christ” was when Jesus fell, and Mary his mother rushed to his side, as he looked at his mother, Jesus drew strength from her and comforted her with these words; “Look, mother, I make all things new.”

TGIF – Thank God It’s Friday. A phrase I used to exclaim when I used to work a typical five-day work week and had the weekend off when Friday arrives. On Good Friday, Jesus made all things new again, to restore our communion with God and it is GOOD! Indeed we can thank God for Good Friday.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Jarvis Tan)
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Prayer: We pray for all Christians to appreciate what Jesus has done for us through His Passion and death on the cross.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for His sacrifice for our good.

Upcoming Readings:
Sun, 12 Apr – Genesis 1:1-2. 2; Genesis 22:1-18; Exodus 14:15 – 15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15. 32 – 4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-17. 18-28; Romans 6:3-11; Mark 16:1-8; Easter Vigil
Sun, 12 Apr – Acts 10:34. 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; John 20:1-9 or Mark 16:1-8; Easter Day

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in Egypt: “This month is to be the first month in the year for you. Give these instructions to the whole community of Israel: On the tenth day of this month each man must choose either a lamb or a young goat for his household. If his family is too small to eat a whole animal, he ! and his next-door neighbour may share an animal, in proportion to the number of people and the amount that each person can eat. You may choose either a sheep or a goat, but it must be a one-year-old male without any defects. Then, on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, the whole community of Israel will kill the animals. The people are to take some of the blood and put it on the doorposts and above the doors of the houses in which the animals are to be eaten. That night the meat is to be roasted , and eaten with bitter herbs and with bread made without yeast. You are to eat it quickly, for you are to be dressed for travel, with your sandals on your feet and your walking stick in your hand. It is the Passover Festival to honour me, the Lord.

On that night, I will go through the land of Egypt, killing every first-born male, both human and animal, and punishing all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood on the doorposts will be a sign to mark the houses in which you live. When I see the blood, I will pass over you and will not harm you when I punish the Egyptians. You must celebrate this day as a religious festival to remind you of what, I, the Lord, have done. Celebrate it for all time to come.
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1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord the teaching that I passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in memory of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, “This cup is God’s new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memory of me.”

This means that every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
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John 13:1-15

It was now the day before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. He had always loved those in the world who were his own, and he loved them to the very end.

Jesus and his disciples were at supper. The Devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, the thought of betraying Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him complete power; he knew that he had come from God and was going to God. So he rose from the table, took off his outer garment, and tied a towel around his waist. Then he poured some water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Are you going to wash my feet, Lord?”

Jesus answered him, “You do not understand now that I am doing, but you will understand later.”

Peter declared, “Never at any time will you wash my feet!”
“If I do not wash you feet,” Jesus answered, “you will no longer be my disciple.”

Simon Peter answered, “Lord, do not wash only my feet, then! Wash my hands and head, too!”

Jesus said, “Anyone who has taken a bath is completely clean and does not have to wash himself, except for his feet. All of you are clean – all except one.” (Jesus already knew who was going to betray him; that is why he said, “All of you, except one, are clean.”)

After Jesus had washed their feet, he put his outer garment back on and returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I have just done to you?” he asked. “You call me Teacher and Lord, and it is right that you do so, because that is what I am. I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another’s feet. I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you.”
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[D]o this as a memorial of me.

Every year, the readings for this day reflect on the ‘Passover’, ‘Lord’s Supper’ and ‘Washing of Feet’. The theme revolves much about a gathering of people and food. My experiences for tonight’s Mass have been different in Singapore and Australia.

In Singapore, my family and I would attend evening Eucharistic celebration followed by church-visiting around Singapore. When I was young, the family always had a set itinerary for the whole night. It became like a road trip in itself. What is amazing is that Catholics around the island are doing it all at their own pace. My favourite stop is always the city’s ‘Bermuda Triangle’ which comprises of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Church of Sts. Peter & Paul and St. Joseph’s Church. I remember those days where I had to say a short prayer at every church, watching altar boys change shift and definitely not forgetting the variety of food and drinks organized by the local parishioners. Perhaps someone could tell me the significance of church visiting?

In Australia, my experience of Mass is celebrated around a long table set up in the middle of the church with the congregation gathered around it. The priest re-enacts the washing of the feet for those sitting in front row after the homily.

Reading the verses in Exodus got me really hungry with roasted lamb, unleavened bread and herbs. In Corinthians, the institution was focused not so much about the food we eat, but the spiritual food we need, that is, Jesus himself. And in today’s Gospel, Jesus washes the feet (considered the most unclean part of the body in those times) of his disciples which shows reconciliation and love.

The daily and Sunday Eucharistic celebrations are open invitations to come to his banquet, where there is the gathering of people sharing in the ‘food’ which God has given us. As we enter the Triduum, let us be in remembrance of Jesus’ passion and God’s hope for us, being in the presence of both the solemnity and joyous of it. For our neighbours, let us reconcile and show love to them as we renew our baptismal vows, letting God’s promise working through us.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Austin Leong)
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Prayer: Dear Lord, let me humble myself and wash the feet of my brothers and sisters, because your Son Jesus is the great example to remind us of your mercy.

Thanksgiving: Thank you Lord for sending your Son Jesus to give us meaning to death and eternal life.

Upcoming Readings:
Fri, 10 Apr – Isaiah 52:13-53; Hebrews 4:14-16. 5:7-9; John 18: 1-19, 42; Good Friday
Sun, 12 Apr – Genesis 1:1-2. 2; Genesis 22:1-18; Exodus 14:15 – 15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15. 32 – 4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-17. 18-28; Romans 6:3-11; Mark 16:1-8; Easter Vigil
Sun, 12 Apr – Acts 10:34. 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; John 20:1-9 or Mark 16:1-8; Easter Day

Isaiah 61:1-3, 6, 8-9

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

To proclaim liberty to captives
Freedom to those in prison;
To proclaim a year of favour from the Lord,
A day of vengeance for our God

To comfort all those who mourn and to give them
For ashes a garland;
For mourning robe he oil of gladness,
For despondency, praise

But you, you will be named ‘priests of the Lord’,
They will call you ‘ministers of our God.’
I reward them faithfully
And make an everlasting covenant with them

Their race will be famous throughout the nations,
Their descendants throughout the peoples.
All who see them will admit
That they are a race whom the Lord has blessed.
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Revelation 1:5-8

Grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the First-born from the dead, the Ruler of the kings of the earth. He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood, and made us a line of kings, priests to serve his God and Father; to him, then, be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. It is he who is coming on the clouds; everyone will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the races of the earth will mourn over him. This is the truth. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
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Luke 4:16-21

Jesus came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went in the synagogue on the Sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read, and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written:

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me
for he has anointed me.
He has sent to bring the good news to the poor,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And to the blind new sight;
To set the downtrodden free;
To proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.

He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue was fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, ’This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’
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This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen

Love stories often show the two parties making promises to each other and telling them of their undying love to the other party. One cannot be released from the bond of these promises unless the other party permits this to happen. In the same way, priests throughout the world, renew their promises that they took on their day of ordination.

It is possible for priests to lose the initial fire that they had for God especially in light of the troubles that they may face in carrying out their ministry. Bringing the Good News of the Lord is every Christian’s responsibility but for the priest, the burden is greater because he chose to do this task. Like marriage, the choice was made freely and willingly by the candidate. Thus the expectations will be higher because by making the choice, you accept the consequences that come along with it. The first reading lists out the expectations of what priests need to fulfil. This is not an easy task but then again he does it not with his own effort but with God’s grace and with the support of his fellow priests.

Every time the priest administers the sacraments to the faithful and engages in his pastoral ministry, he is bringing the image of Christ to all around him. I would like to end with the following exhortation that the bishops instruct the soon-to-be deacons and priests on their ordination day:

Share with all mankind the word of God you have received with joy. Meditate on the law of God, believe what you read, teach what you believe and put into practice what you preach.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
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Prayer: Lord we pray for our priests that they may carry on the work in your vineyard.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for all the seminary formators in preparing young man for the priestly ministry.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu, 09 Apr – Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15; Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Fri, 10 Apr – Isaiah 52:13-53; Hebrews 4:14-16. 5:7-9; John 18: 1-19, 42; Good Friday
Sun, 12 Apr – Genesis 1:1-2. 2; Genesis 22:1-18; Exodus 14:15 – 15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15. 32 – 4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-17. 18-28; Romans 6:3-11; Mark 16:1-8; Easter Vigil
Sun, 12 Apr – Acts 10:34. 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; John 20:1-9 or Mark 16:1-8; Easter Day

Isaiah 50:4-9

Lord Yahweh has given me a disciple’s tongue, for me to know how to give a word of comfort to the weary. Morning by morning he makes my ear alert to listen like a disciple. Lord Yahweh has opened my ear and I have not resisted, I have not turned away. I have offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; I have not turned my face away from insult and spitting. Lord Yahweh comes to my help, this is why insult has not touched me, this is why I have set my face like flint and know that I shall not be put to shame. He who grants me saving justice is near! Who will bring a case against me? Let us appear in court together! Who has a case against me? Let him approach me! Look, Lord Yahweh is coming to my help!
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Matthew 26:14-25

Then one of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you prepared to give me if I hand him over to you?’ They paid him thirty silver pieces, and from then onwards he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus to say, ‘Where do you want to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ He said, ‘Go to a certain man in the city and say to him, “The Master says: My time is near. It is at your house that I am keeping Passover with my disciples.”’ The disciples did what Jesus told them and prepared the Passover.

When evening came he was at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating he said, ‘In truth I tell you, one of you is about to betray me.’ They were greatly distressed and started asking him in turn, ‘Not me, Lord, surely?’ He answered, ‘Someone who has dipped his hand into the dish with me will betray me. The Son of man is going to his fate, as the scriptures say he will, but alas for that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! Better for that man if he had never been born!’ Judas, who was to betray him, asked in his turn, ‘Not me, Rabbi, surely?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is you who say it.’
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“The Lord is coming to my help, who dare condemn me?”

Someone once severely condemned me and claimed I was a bad Catholic. I was deeply distressed and asked myself if my attempts to follow Christ were in vain. Was I really a hypocrite as that person claimed? None of us likes to be called a hypocrite, and when we are called that, sometimes we rather give up on what we were pursuing so that we can escape such a label.

I knew that while I was trying to follow Jesus’ ways, I was imperfect and there would be many times when I fell short. Yet, to be condemned completely was not a pleasant experience, to say the least. Thankfully, in that moment, I recalled a verse, “The Lord is coming to my help, who dare condemn me?” This verse surprised me for I was unfamiliar with scripture verses and yet that line entered my mind. I knew at once that God was encouraging me to continue to hold onto Him, and not to let this person’s condemnations separate me from the Lord.

My dear friends, if your faith in the Lord is being condemned by anyone, remember that God never condemns. Any voice of condemnation can never come from the Lord. Therefore, instead of giving up on Christ, I urge you to run to Christ and ask Him what He thinks. Let us also be careful not to condemn others. There may be Christians among us who display uncharitable behaviours, who gossip, hurt others, steal, and so forth, but let us remember that as long as we’re on this earth, no one is perfect. Instead of condemning them, let us pray for the ability to “speak the truth with love” (Ephesians 4:15) so that we can bring others closer to God, and not further from Him.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Jean Cheng)
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Prayer: Lord, may I never soak in condemnations. Instead, help me to soak in your assuring love already. Teach me, dear Lord, to also speak the truth with love always.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to our God who never condemns but is always patient with our growth.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu, 09 Apr – Isaiah 61:1-3, 6, 8-9; Revelation 1:5-8; Luke 4:16-21; Chrism Mass
Thu, 09 Apr – Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15; Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Fri, 10 Apr – Isaiah 52:13-53; Hebrews 4:14-16. 5:7-9; John 18: 1-19, 42; Good Friday
Sun, 12 Apr – Genesis 1:1-2. 2; Genesis 22:1-18; Exodus 14:15 – 15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15. 32 – 4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-17. 18-28; Romans 6:3-11; Mark 16:1-8; Easter Vigil
Sun, 12 Apr – Acts 10:34. 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; John 20:1-9 or Mark 16:1-8; Easter Day

Isaiah 49:1-6

Islands, listen to me,
pay attention, remotest peoples.
The Lord called me before I was born,
from my mother’s womb he pronounced my name.

He made my mouth a sharp sword,
and hid me in the shadow of his hand.
He made me into a sharpened arrow,
and concealed me in his quiver.

He said to me, “You are my servant Israel,
in whom I shall be glorified”;
while I was thinking, “I have toiled in vain,
I have exhausted myself for nothing”;

and all the while my cause was with the Lord,
my reward with my God.
I was honoured in the eyes of the Lord,
my God was my strength.

And now the Lord has spoken,
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
to gather Israel to him:

“It is not enough for you to be my servant,
to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel;
I will make you the light of the nations
so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
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John 13:21-33, 36-38

While at supper with his disciples, Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, “I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, wondering which he meant. The disciple Jesus loved was reclining next to Jesus; Simon Peter signed to him and said, “Ask who it is he means”, so leaning back on Jesus’ breast he said, “Who is it, Lord?” “It is the one,” replied Jesus, “to whom I give the piece of bread that I shall dip in the dish.” He dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. At that instant, after Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him. Jesus then said, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” None of the others at table understood the reason he said this. Since Judas had charge of the common fund, some of them thought Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”, or telling him to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread he went out. Night had fallen.

When he had gone Jesus said:

“Now has the Son of Man been glorified,
and in him God has been glorified.
If God has been glorified in him,
God will in turn glorify him in himself,
and will glorify him very soon.
My little children.
I shall not be with you much longer.
You will look for me,
and, as I told the Jews,
where I am going,
you cannot come.

Simon Peter said, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now; you will follow me later.” Peter said to him, “Why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” “Lay down your life for me?” answered Jesus. “I tell you most solemnly, before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.”
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While I was thinking, ‘I have toiled in vain, I have exhausted myself for nothing’.

There are moments in my life when I wish that God would just take me back to Him. Yes, I mean there are times when I just want to die. I admit that it is a defeatist’s mentality and a very cowardly spirit to have. I will make no excuses; suffice to say that I have often grown weary of the daily trials and sufferings that life brings.

These sufferings do not have to be dramatic ones, but can be small ones. For example, I love to eat; yet, I must deny myself the joy of overeating. That self-denial is painful although I know it is good for me. Somehow the things that are really good for us always involve pain and effort. We must exercise (a physically painful task – for many of us at least) in order to keep fit, healthy, and slim. We have to forgive others in order to be at peace. The things that Jesus teaches us in the gospels (e.g. self-denial, being humble, forgiveness, trusting God, and so forth) are not easy and generally involve suffering to varying degrees.

The worst thing, in my opinion, is the fact that when you think you have successfully overcome one obstacle, a new one presents itself to you. I often ask God the question, “When will it all end? I am so tired.” At times, suffering simply does not bring me peace, purpose, or fulfilment.

Yet, I believe that as I tell God, “I want to leave this world now. I am tired of toiling to grow into a better person”, God is probably desperately trying to tell me, “You are my servant, Jean, in whom I shall be glorified.”

Are you like me in that you are at times too caught up with your own weariness and emotions that you fail to hear God telling you that it is through you that the God of this universe will be glorified? Do you also fail to hear that God wants to use you in spite of whatever weaknesses and sins you may have in order to reveal His full glory?

God has never given up on wanting to use you and me for His glory even though we are sinners, weak, ugly, and cowardly. Let us therefore continue to strive towards becoming more like Christ, for we know that each time we suffer, we will become more like Christ, and God will reveal His light and glory through us more and more.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Jean Cheng)
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Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me for giving up so easily. Please help me to hold onto You and to listen to Your words of comfort and encouragement during times if distress and weariness so that I can continue in my journey of becoming more like You.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for we have a God who is all powerful and mighty; yet, chooses to reveal His glory through us who are imperfect, weak, and sinful.

Upcoming Readings:
Wed, 08 Apr – Isaiah 50:4-9; Matthew 26:14-25; Wednesday of Holy Week
Thu, 09 Apr – Isaiah 61:1-3, 6, 8-9; Revelation 1:5-8; Luke 4:16-21; Chrism Mass
Thu, 09 Apr – Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15; Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Fri, 10 Apr – Isaiah 52:13-53; Hebrews 4:14-16. 5:7-9; John 18: 1-19, 42; Good Friday
Sun, 12 Apr – Genesis 1:1-2. 2; Genesis 22:1-18; Exodus 14:15 – 15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15. 32 – 4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-17. 18-28; Romans 6:3-11; Mark 16:1-8; Easter Vigil
Sun, 12 Apr – Acts 10:34. 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; John 20:1-9 or Mark 16:1-8; Easter Day

Isaiah 42:1-7

Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom my soul delights.
I have endowed him with my spirit
that he may bring true justice to the nations.

He does not cry out or shout aloud,
or make his voice heard in the streets.
He does not break the crushed reed,
nor quench the wavering flame.

Faithfully he brings true justice;
he will neither waver, nor be crushed
until true justice is established on earth,
for the islands are awaiting his law.

Thus says God, the Lord,
he who created the heavens and spread them out,
who gave shape to the earth and what comes from it,
who gave breath to its people
and life to the creatures that move in it:

I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right;
I have taken you you by the hand and formed you;
I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light of the nations,
to open the eyes of the blind,
to free captives from prison,
and those who live in darkness from the dungeon.
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John 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom he had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there; Martha waited on them and Lazarus was among those a table. Mary brought in a pound of very costly ointment, pure nard, and with it anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair; the house was full of the scent of the ointment. Then Judas Iscariot – one of his disciples, the man who was to betray him – said, “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he was in charge of the common fund and used to help himself to the contributions. So Jesus said, “Leave her alone; she had to keep this scent for the day of my burial. You have the poor with you always, you will not always have me.”

Meanwhile a large number of Jews heard that he was there and came not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. Then the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus as well, since it was on his account that many of the Jews were leaving them and believing in Jesus.
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He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief.

My company recently hired someone who performs the same role as me at work. Though she is new, she gets along very easily with other colleagues, is friendly, and is therefore well-liked by others at work. Yet, I struggle to like her and often find myself being cynical about her gestures of friendliness towards me. She had done me no wrong, but my heart was full of ugliness. Upon reflection, I realized that I was threatened by her and jealous of her ability to strike up conversation with anyone at anytime, something I fail to do.

In today’s Gospel, Judas was probably not jealous of Mary in the same way that I was of my colleague; however, his heart was also filled with one of the seven capital sins: greed. As a result, he tried to make a good act appear bad and sow discord.

My dear friends, my reason for sharing this ugliness I found in my heart is that I believe that we all struggle with sinfulness and I do not wish to pretend that I am a perfectly holy person. Of course, I run the risk of facing judgment from people. However, I hope that for most people, this reflection will encourage them whenever they are faced with any ugliness/sinfulness in their hearts (e.g. jealousy/envy, greed, lust, gluttony, laziness, anger, and pride).

When confronted with ugly intentions and feelings, do you suppress it and pretend it does not exist? Or do you humbly confess it to the Lord and ask Him to help change your heart? Let us pray for the humility to take the later action.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Jean Cheng)
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Prayer: Lord, I have many sinful desires, intentions, and actions. Please forgive me and encourage me on my road towards holiness with You.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to our merciful God who is always near to us and eager to help us grow into better people.

Upcoming Readings:
Tue, 07 Apr – Isaiah 49:1-6; John 13: 21-33, 36-38; Tuesday of Holy Week
Wed, 08 Apr – Isaiah 50:4-9; Matthew 26:14-25; Wednesday of Holy Week
Thu, 09 Apr – Isaiah 61:1-3, 6, 8-9; Revelation 1:5-8; Luke 4:16-21; Chrism Mass
Thu, 09 Apr – Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15; Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Fri, 10 Apr – Isaiah 52:13-53; Hebrews 4:14-16. 5:7-9; John 18: 1-19, 42; Good Friday
Sun, 12 Apr – Genesis 1:1-2. 2; Genesis 22:1-18; Exodus 14:15 – 15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15. 32 – 4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-17. 18-28; Romans 6:3-11; Mark 16:1-8; Easter Vigil
Sun, 12 Apr – Acts 10:34. 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; John 20:1-9 or Mark 16:1-8; Easter Day

Isaiah 50:4-7

The Lord has given me
a disciple’s tongue.
So that I may know how to reply to the wearied
he provides me with speech.
Each morning he wakes me to hear,
to listen like a disciple.
The Lord has opened my ear.
For my part, I made no resistance,
neither did I turn away.
I offered my back to those who struck me,
my cheeks to those who tore at my beard;
I did not cover my face
against insult and spittle.
The Lord comes to my help,
so that I am untouched by the insults.
So, too, I set my face like flint;
I know I shall not be shamed.

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Philippians 2:6-11

Jesus Christ’s state was divine,
yet he did not cling
to his equality with God
but emptied himself
to assume the condition of a slave
and became as men are;
and being as all men are,
he was humbler yet,
even to accepting death,
death on a cross.
But God raised him high
and gave him the name
which is above all other names
so that all beings
in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld,
should bend the knee at the name of Jesus
and that every tongue should acclaim
Jesus Christ as Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

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Mark 14:1-15. 47

It was two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by some trick and have him put to death. For they said, ‘It must not be during the festivities, or there will be a disturbance among the people.’

It was now evening, and since it was Preparation Day (that is, the vigil of the sabbath), there came Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent member of the Council, who himself lived in the hope of seeing the kingdom of God, and he boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate, astonished that he should have died so soon, summoned the centurion and enquired if he was already dead. Having been assured of this by the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph who bought a shroud, took Jesus down from the cross, wrapped him in the shroud and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Joset were watching and took note of where he was laid.

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Christ Jesus did not cling to His equality with God but emptied Himself to assume the condition of a slave

Some of my friends have gone overseas to poorer countries to do community work. While I admire them for their courage and love for the poor, I honestly do not ever want to go to a third-world country to personally care for the less fortunate. It is beyond my comfort zone – way beyond my comfort zone. I have clean sheets to sleep in every night, proper toiletries, food to eat, water to drink, I simply cannot imagine living a life of poorer conditions, albeit for a few months.

If even in this world, it is so hard (and impossible) for me to relocate myself to a poorer country, I cannot imagine how God can allow Himself to move from Heaven (a place where there is no suffering involved at all), to earth (a place where there is much suffering). He didn’t just come to Earth for a few months, but for 33 years – to the point where He died in acute suffering of every kind – physical, emotional, mental, and even spiritual (where Jesus asked His Father why His Father abandoned Him).

Yes, this is our God. A God who may fear suffering (e.g. in today’s Gospel, Jesus asked His Father to remove his cup of suffering from Him) yet chooses to suffer in spite of His fear and sorrows. A God who knows how Peter will disown Him, yet does not disown Peter. A God who knows that Judas will betray Him, but allows Judas to exercise his own free will. A God who knows that you and I will make empty promises to Him, that we will not love Him perfectly, that we will reject Him when He tries to correct our wrongdoings, that we will forget Him at our convenience…. yet He cannot help loving us and pursuing our love for Him.

My brothers and sisters, let us repent and strive to follow our God wholeheartedly. Let us seek His forgiveness, do our very best to walk in His ways, love Him with all that we have, and place our faith in His love for us.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Jean Cheng)
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Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, my love for You is so small compared to your love for me. The things I will do for You are nothing compared to what You do for me. Change my heart Lord, and help me to love You and bless You all the days of my life.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to our God who meets us wherever we are at, so that He can take us back to Him.

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Upcoming Readings:

A happy and glorious Easter Vigil to all of you!

Apologies for not being able to send OXYGEN to you on the last two days, and thanks to Aloysius for filling that role for me. My computer died. I had to bring it in for repairs, and it is fitting that I spent the Holy Thursday and Good Friday with a dead computer, only to have it be resurrected in time for the Easter Vigil reflection.

Today’s OXYGEN does not include the scripture text, as I fear including them will make the email too long. It does, however, contain a paragraph reflection by each OXYGEN contributor (or OXYGENator, as we sometimes like to call ourselves).

We are also considering the idea of not including scripture text with our reflections in future. Part of the reason is because I have previously been told that some of you do not read the readings at all and just go straight to the reflections. The other part is the time taken to type out the text from our missals, which we hope to use instead to prepare reflections in advance. If no one reads the scripture text, perhaps it is better for us to leave it out altogether, and just provide the scripture references for you to read on your own.

Please send me your feedback, as to whether you would like to continue to have the scripture text in OXYGEN, or to jump straight to the reflection.

Peace,
Dan
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First Reading
Genesis 1:1-2:2

Let there be light.

When we enter a dark room, the first thing we do is hit the light switch. Without doing so, it would be impossible to find our way around in it and perform the tasks for which we entered it. When God beheld the darkest at the beginning, the first thing He did as well was to turn on the lights. Only after this did He perform the marvel that is the rest of creation. Today, Christ has come from the darkness of the tomb to bring light into our lives. May we do likewise and be bearers of light for Him, that others may be pleased with what they see.
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Second Reading
Genesis 22:1-18

Now I know you fear God.

What is the fear of the Lord? It is reverence of God that helps us to refuse to displease Him. If we have a fear of the Lord, we will be able to sacrifice our most treasured possessions, material or otherwise, when asked by God. Are you able to do that? Imagine putting what you hold dear onto an altar sacrifice and then killing it for God. It feels painful, and I am sure Abraham felt the pain as he was about to strike his son. But he had a fear of the Lord that allowed him to choose to put God first in his life. We may be awed by the great sacrifice demanded from Abraham, but let us be reminded that it is his fear of the Lord that we should ponder on. Do we revere Him?
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Third Reading
Exodus 14:15-15:1

Tell the sons of Israel to march on.

There is a well-known Jewish legend that the sea did not part until the first Israelite stepped into the water. According to the legend, that Israelite was Nashon, the son of Amminadab, an ancestor of King David, and therefore of an ancestor of Jesus the Christ. Because Nashon took the leap of faith and got his feet wet, God rewarded the whole Hebrew people for their faith and parted the waters. Today we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, the one who was the first one to step out of the darkness of the tomb into the light. Let us follow our Leader in faith and step out from the darkness of our own lives into the light.
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Fourth Reading
Isaiah 54:5-14

You will have nothing to fear.

Holy Mother Church, in her kind wisdom and guidance, has chosen this reading from the Prophet Isaiah to comfort her children in a modern time that is filled with much fear and worry. Fear introduces self-doubt and makes us feel that we are unable to fulfil the work that God has given us to fulfil. This was experienced by the apostles immediately after the crucifixion for they felt the fear of having lost Christ. Prophet Isaiah, in this reading, reminds us that God will never abandon us. I invite the reader to remember this passage whenever feelings of fear and self-doubt enter into one’s mind and be assured of God’s presence in their life.
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Fifth Reading
Baruch 3:9-15,32 – 4:4

He gave Wisdom to his servant Israel.

It is often said of gifts that “it is the thought that counts”. With our closest family and friends, we get presents that really show how much they think of us. It may be related to something we like a lot or it may be an item we really need. They give us these because they know us well. God who knows us well too and His gifts to us reflect that knowledge. He gives us wisdom to aid us in our lives. He gave His life for our sins. He gives us a share in His Resurrection. When we are touched by the sincerity of our friends and family when they give us something, we reciprocate that thoughtfulness. Might we not do likewise for God? After all, as Baruch says, we have the advantage of knowing what is pleasing to Him.
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Sixth Reading
Baruch 3:9-15, 32 – 4:4

Hear, O Israel, the commandments of life.

What is this passage doing in an Easter Vigil mass? What has following the commandments got to do with Jesus’ resurrection? When we use the commandments as guidelines to help us deepen our relationship with God, we are using them to help us in our continuous purification, so that when Christ comes again, we are ready to receive Him. The passage also shows us God’s great mercy and patience, ever-ready to show us the way each time we fail in our faith journeys. The greatest show of this mercy is His sending Jesus to live amongst us and sacrifice Himself for us so that we can gain eternal salvation.
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Seventh Reading
Ezekiel 36:16-28

I am not doing this for My sake, but for the sake of My holy name.

It might sound like God is doing what He is doing for His reputation and that might make us think less of God. But when we consider how some Christians (like ourselves at times) give Christianity a bad name, we come to see that maybe there is some good sense in this passage from Ezekiel after all. Knowing that Christianity is the name of a faith that in which people come to know God personally, it makes sense for us not to soil the reputation of Christianity by our bad behaviour. Similarly, it makes sense for God not to want His holy name to be soiled, since this is the name that people all over the world know Him as. Let us resolve not to soil the name of Christianity by unchristian behaviour.
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Epistle
Romans 6:3-11

Death has no power over him anymore

The Epistle reading provides us a summary of the theological meaning of Easter. Through our Baptismal vows, our old sinful bodies are crucified together with Christ and we get to share the new life that the resurrection brings. We are now freed from the slavery of sin which Satan has subjected us and instead have become living witnesses of God’s love. Having merited so great a redeemer, we now have a responsibility to bear the light of Christ to all around us so as to bear testimony to the infinite mercy of God. Let us choose the way that allows us to live a life of sanctity and holiness as children of the Resurrection.
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Gospel Reading
Matthew 28:1-10

Peace be with you.

One need not state how much grief and distress the two Marys must have been after His death and burial. Then when they went to His tomb, they were bombarded with shocking sights. Little wonder the two poor ladies would have been scared witless. Christ knew this and so His first words upon His Resurrection were addressed to these two women. He specifically and specially chose these words to calm and assure them. It was what they needed. Only after this did He task them with bearing His message for the disciples. The two Marys represent us at the end of our Lenten journey. Just as the Lord Jesus Christ calmed and assured them then, He calms and assures us now. The night is over and the light has come. My brothers and sisters, may we be instruments for God to carry out His marvels in the world. Peace be with you!
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(Today’s reflections by Aloysius Ting, Regina Xie, Daniel Tay, and Nick Chia)

Prayer: We pray for all Christians to have a happy and glorious Easter, and that we may all continue to be the light of Christ in an often dark world that is waiting for the Light. Amen.

Thanksgiving: For the Resurrection, which is the fate of all of us.

Upcoming Readings:
Sun, 23 Mar – Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8; John 20:1-9 or Luke 24:1-12; Easter Sunday
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Isaiah 52:13-53-12

See, my servant shall prosper,
he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.
Even as many were amazed at him
so marred was his look beyond human semblance
and his appearance beyond that of the sons of man
so shall he startle many nations,
because of him kings shall stand speechless;
for those who have not been told shall see,
those who have not heard shall ponder it.

Who would believe what we have heard?
To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He grew up like a sapling before him,
like a shoot from the parched earth;
there was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him,
nor appearance that would attract us to him.
He was spurned and avoided by people,
a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity,
one of those from whom people hide their faces,
spurned, and we held him in no esteem.

Yet it was our infirmities that he bore,
our sufferings that he endured,
while we thought of him as stricken,
as one smitten by God and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our offences,
crushed for our sins;
upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole,
by his stripes we were healed.
We had all gone astray like sheep,
each following his own way;
but the LORD laid upon him
the guilt of us all.

Though he was harshly treated, he submitted
and opened not his mouth;
like a lamb led to the slaughter
or a sheep before the shearers,
he was silent and opened not his mouth.

Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away,
and who would have thought any more of his destiny?
When he was cut off from the land of the living,
and smitten for the sin of his people,
a grave was assigned him among the wicked
and a burial place with evildoers,
though he had done no wrong
nor spoken any falsehood.
But the LORD was pleased
to crush him in infirmity.

If he gives his life as an offering for sin,
he shall see his descendants in a long life,
and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.

Because of his affliction
he shall see the light in fullness of days;
through his suffering, my servant shall justify many,
and their guilt he shall bear.
Therefore I will give him his portion among the great,
and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty,
because he surrendered himself to death
and was counted among the wicked;
and he shall take away the sins of many,
and win pardon for their offences.
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Hebrews 4:14-16,5:7-9

Brothers and sisters:
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

In the days when Christ was in the flesh,
he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears
to the one who was able to save him from death,
and he was heard because of his reverence.
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered;
and when he was made perfect,
he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
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John 18:1 – 19:42

Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley
to where there was a garden,
into which he and his disciples entered.
Judas his betrayer also knew the place,
because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.
So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards
from the chief priests and the Pharisees
and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him,
went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?”
They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.”
He said to them, “I AM.”
Judas his betrayer was also with them.
When he said to them, “I AM,”
they turned away and fell to the ground.
So he again asked them,
“Whom are you looking for?”
They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.”
Jesus answered,
“I told you that I AM.
So if you are looking for me, let these men go.”
This was to fulfill what he had said,
“I have not lost any of those you gave me.”
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it,
struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear.
The slave’s name was Malchus.
Jesus said to Peter,
“Put your sword into its scabbard.
Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?”

So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus,
bound him, and brought him to Annas first.
He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas,
who was high priest that year.
It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews
that it was better that one man should die rather than the people.

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus.
Now the other disciple was known to the high priest,
and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus.
But Peter stood at the gate outside.
So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest,
went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in.
Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter,
“You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?”
He said, “I am not.”
Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire
that they had made, because it was cold,
and were warming themselves.
Peter was also standing there keeping warm.

The high priest questioned Jesus
about his disciples and about his doctrine.
Jesus answered him,
“I have spoken publicly to the world.
I have always taught in a synagogue
or in the temple area where all the Jews gather,
and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me?
Ask those who heard me what I said to them.
They know what I said.”
When he had said this,
one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said,
“Is this the way you answer the high priest?”
Jesus answered him,
“If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong;
but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?”
Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm.
And they said to him,
“You are not one of his disciples, are you?”
He denied it and said,
“I am not.”
One of the slaves of the high priest,
a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said,
“Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”
Again Peter denied it.
And immediately the cock crowed.

Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium.
It was morning.
And they themselves did not enter the praetorium,
in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover.
So Pilate came out to them and said,
“What charge do you bring against this man?”
They answered and said to him,
“If he were not a criminal,
we would not have handed him over to you.”
At this, Pilate said to them,
“Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.”
The Jews answered him,
“We do not have the right to execute anyone,“
in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled
that he said indicating the kind of death he would die.
So Pilate went back into the praetorium
and summoned Jesus and said to him,
“Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered,
“Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?”
Pilate answered,
“I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?”
Jesus answered,
“My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”
So Pilate said to him,
“Then you are a king?”
Jesus answered,
“You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

When he had said this,
he again went out to the Jews and said to them,
“I find no guilt in him.
But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover.
Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
They cried out again,
“Not this one but Barabbas!”
Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged.
And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head,
and clothed him in a purple cloak,
and they came to him and said,
“Hail, King of the Jews!”
And they struck him repeatedly.
Once more Pilate went out and said to them,
“Look, I am bringing him out to you,
so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.”
So Jesus came out,
wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak.
And he said to them, “Behold, the man!”
When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out,
“Crucify him, crucify him!”

Pilate said to them,
“Take him yourselves and crucify him.
I find no guilt in him.”
The Jews answered,
“We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die,
because he made himself the Son of God.”
Now when Pilate heard this statement,
he became even more afraid,
and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus,
“Where are you from?”
Jesus did not answer him.
So Pilate said to him,
“Do you not speak to me?
Do you not know that I have power to release you
and I have power to crucify you?”
Jesus answered him,
“You would have no power over me
if it had not been given to you from above.
For this reason the one who handed me over to you
has the greater sin.”
Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out,
“If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar.
Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”

When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out
and seated him on the judge’s bench
in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha.
It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon.
And he said to the Jews,
“Behold, your king!”
They cried out,
“Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!”
Pilate said to them,
“Shall I crucify your king?”
The chief priests answered,
“We have no king but Caesar.”
Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself,
he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull,
in Hebrew, Golgotha.
There they crucified him, and with him two others,
one on either side, with Jesus in the middle.
Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross.
It read,
“Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews.”
Now many of the Jews read this inscription,
because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city;
and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.
So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate,
“Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’
but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews’.”
Pilate answered,
“What I have written, I have written.”

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus,
they took his clothes and divided them into four shares,
a share for each soldier.
They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless,
woven in one piece from the top down.
So they said to one another,
“Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be,”
in order that the passage of Scripture might be fulfilled that says:
They divided my garments among them,
and for my vesture they cast lots.
This is what the soldiers did.
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved
he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple,
“Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

After this, aware that everything was now finished,
in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
Jesus said, “I thirst.”
There was a vessel filled with common wine.
So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop
and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
“It is finished.”
And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Now since it was preparation day,
in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,
for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,
the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken
and that they be taken down.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first
and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
they did not break his legs,
but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,
and immediately blood and water flowed out.
An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true;
he knows that he is speaking the truth,
so that you also may come to believe.
For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled:
Not a bone of it will be broken.
And again another passage says:
They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

After this, Joseph of Arimathea,
secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews,
asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus.
And Pilate permitted it.
So he came and took his body.
Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night,
also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes
weighing about one hundred pounds.
They took the body of Jesus
and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices,
according to the Jewish burial custom.
Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden,
and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried.
So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.
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We have a great High Priest who has gone into the very presence of God

It’s safe to say that almost everyone has heard of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of The Christ. Many who watched the film expressed how horrifying the torture scenes were. So it may seem odd that the adjective “good” is attached to a day where someone suffered like that. However, it is not sadism that gives today its name. The “Good” on this “Friday” comes from what was done on it. Again, weird that dying in such a way is a good thing. But it is, though not the manner but the purpose.

We greet someone good morning/afternoon/ evening without knowing whether it will actually be good. The word “good” carries our desire that the person will indeed have a good time. Good Friday is an expression of God’s desire for us; that our lives will henceforth be filled with goodness. This goodness runs contrary with our sinful nature. Therefore, for that expression to be made, Christ had to become the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Movies and television series frequently show dying for another as something parents do for their children or something one does for a lover. This is not far from the truth. To cut your own life short so that another’s may be prolonged implies the greatness of your love for that person. How great and good then is the death of Christ for every single one of us?

“Thank God for Friday” is probably the most uttered catchphrase we have. We all look forward to the end of the work or school week. On Friday we meet up with friends and chill out. It heralds the rest and relaxation of the weekend. Just as every other Friday holds something special for us, so does Good Friday. It is holds the promise of Easter Sunday.

My sisters and brothers, we have no obligation to attend the Good Friday service today. But I encourage you to go and witness just what TGIF means. A Good Friday to you all!

(Today’s reflection by Aloysius Ting)
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Prayer: We pray for good things to be done through us each and every day.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for Good Friday.

Upcoming Readings:
Sat, 22 Mar – Genesis 1:1 – 2:2; Genesis 22:1-18; Exodus 14:15 – 15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15, 32 – 4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28; Romans 6:3-11; Luke 24:1-12; The Easter Vigil}
Sun, 23 Mar – Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8; John 20:1-9 or Luke 24:1-12; Easter Sunday
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