Ezekiel 37:21-28

The Lord says this: ‘I am going to take the sons of Israel from the nations where they have gone. I shall gather them together from everywhere and bring them home to their own soil. I shall make them into one nation in my own land and on the mountains of Israel, and one king is to be king of them all; they will no longer form two nations, nor be two separate kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and their filthy practices and all their sins. I shall rescue them from all the betrayals they have been guilty of; I shall cleanse them; they shall be my people and I will be their God. My servant David will reign over them, one shepherd for all; they will follow my observances, respect my laws and practise them. They will live in the land that I gave my servant Jacob, the land in which your ancestors lived. They will live in it, they, their children, their children’s children, for ever. David my servant is to be their prince for ever. I shall make a covenant of peace with them, an eternal covenant with them. I shall resettle them and increase them; I shall settle my sanctuary among them for ever. I shall make my home above them; I will be their God, they shall be my people. And the nations will learn that I am the Lord, the sanctifier of Israel, when my sanctuary is with them for ever.’
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John 11:45-56

Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what Jesus did believed in him, but some of them went to tell the Pharisees what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting. ‘Here is this man working all these signs’ they said ‘and what action are we taking? If we let him go on in this way everybody will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy the Holy Place and our nation.’ One of them, Caiaphas, the high priest that year, said, ‘You do not seem to have grasped the situation at all; you fail to see that it is better for one man to die for the people, than for the whole nation to be destroyed.’ He did not speak in his own person, it was as high priest that he made this prophecy that Jesus was to die for the nation – and not for the nation only, but to gather together in unity the scattered children of God. From that day they were determined to kill him. So Jesus no longer went about openly among the Jews, but left the district for a town called Ephraim, in the country bordering on the desert, and stayed there with his disciples.

The Jewish Passover drew near, and many of the country people who had gone up to Jerusalem to purify themselves looked out for Jesus, saying to one another as they stood about in the Temple, ‘What do you think? Will he come to the festival or not?’
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I shall gather them together from everywhere and bring them home to their own soil

I go to a church in HK where the congregation on a Sunday, is dominated mainly by Filipino domestic help. HK is a fairly “status strata-fied” society, so I often get questions from non-believers, why I continue to go there.

I guess if I was going to think about it, it would be the fervor and the faith of these women. They have only one day off each week and they choose to spend it with God. They bring food and have picnics in the Church grounds. They sing songs, they pray, they witness. They do Bible studies. They’re happy and share their joy with each other. Far away from home, away from their loved ones, they’ve found a ‘family’ in God’s house.

Today’s readings talk about rebuilding the house of God – “They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and their filthy practices and all their sins. I will rescue them from all the betrayals they have been guilty of; I shall cleanse them; they shall be my people and I will be their God”.  (Ezekiel 37: 23). How often have we all made excuses not to attend mass, because we’re busy, because we have deadlines, because we’re chasing down the latest sale somewhere, because we don’t get along with some members of the congregation. Either our pride or our lust for the worldly things in life distract us. These women have one day only in the whole week, which they can call their own – and they choose to spend it with God.

Jesus, was the good sheperd sent to gather all believers unto the house of God. “…Not for the nation only, but also to gather into unity the scattered children of God” (John 11:52). When we reflect on the mission of Jesus’ disciples, we see how with the help of the Holy Spirit, they mobilzed and organized one living body, held together by one belief – that Christ came to set us free.

We see it today as well, when we respond to God’s calling, to spread His word. We see it in ourselves and our friends, when we sit down and commit to writing Reflections, eventhough we already have too much to do at work. Such unity is most tangible though, when we’re seated in church, heads bowed down in prayer, surrounded by other children of God. Christ’ resurrection, as prophesied by Caiaphas was to unite us all – “when I’m lifted up on earth, I shall draw all to myself” (John 12:32).

Our church today in all its diversity, is a forerunner of what will be attained at the end of time – “after this I saw a great crowd, impossible to count, from every nation, race, people and tongue standing before the throne and the Lamb, clothed in white, with palm branches in their hands” (Revelation 7:9). Let’s give thanks for this foretaste.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: We pray for the strength to be more tolerant of the diversity in our churches.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to God, for calling us to be part of His supper and His family.

Upcoming Readings:
Sun, 17 Apr – Isiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27.66; Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Jeremiah 20:10-13

Jeremiah said:
I hear so many disparaging me,
‘“Terror from every side!”
Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’
All those who used to be my friends
watched for my downfall,
‘Perhaps he will be seduced into error.
Then we will master him
and take our revenge!’
But the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero;
my opponents will stumble, mastered,
confounded by their failure;
everlasting, unforgettable disgrace will be theirs.
But you, O Lord of Hosts, you who probe with justice,
who scrutinise the loins and heart,
let me see the vengeance you will take on them,
for I have committed my cause to you.
Sing to the Lord,
praise the Lord,
for he has delivered the soul of the needy
from the hands of evil men.
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John 10:31-42

The Jews fetched stones to stone him, so Jesus said to them, ‘I have done many good works for you to see, works from my Father; for which of these are you stoning me?’ The Jews answered him, ‘We are not stoning you for doing a good work but for blasphemy: you are only a man and you claim to be God.’ Jesus answered:

‘Is it not written in your Law:
I said, you are gods?
So the Law uses the word gods
of those to whom the word of God was addressed,
and scripture cannot be rejected.
Yet you say to someone the Father has consecrated and sent into the world,
“You are blaspheming,”
because he says, “I am the son of God.”
If I am not doing my Father’s work,
there is no need to believe me;
but if I am doing it,
then even if you refuse to believe in me,
at least believe in the work I do;
then you will know for sure
that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’

They wanted to arrest him then, but he eluded them.

He went back again to the far side of the Jordan to stay in the district where John had once been baptising. Many people who came to him there said, ‘John gave no signs, but all he said about this man was true’; and many of them believed in him.
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Even if you refuse to believe in me, believe in the work that I do

How often have we started projects for God, with the best of intentions, only to be derailed partway by doubters, naysayers and critics? It’s hard enough to stand up for our beliefs – even harder if those beliefs are being challenged by a chorus of voices. Crowds can be a scary thing. A heaving mass of people, single-minded in their pursuit of a common goal. How frightening, to have that crowd turn on you.

Both Jeremiah and Jesus had to face the anger of crowds in today’s readings. Both Jeremiah’s mission and Jesus’ mission have similarities. They up-ended the conventions of their day. They were also clarion calls to a new authenticity.

Jeremiah’s mission was to bring an awareness to the Hebrews to repent. Jeremiah’s Hebrews were the children of the Hebrews who had wandered in the desert with Moses. This generation had settled, grown rich on the works of their forefathers and built for themselves comfortable lives. In the midst of their peace and prosperity, they had forgotten about God – “I brought you to a fertile land to eat the choicest fruit. As soon as you came you defiled my land and dishonored my heritage… therefore I contend with you – it is Yahweh who speaks – and I will contend with your children’s children!” (Jeremiah 2: 7-9).

Jesus’ call to the Pharisees was also one of repentance – a call to walk authentically with God again, and to ‘see’ – “I came into this world to carry out a judgment; those who do not see shall see, and those who see shall become blind”. The Pharisees were incensed because he challenged their beliefs, that they were a holy race, descended from Moses and so, priviliged on the basis of their birthright. “We know that God has spoken to Moses but we don’t know where he (Jesus) comes from” (John 9:29).

Sometimes, when we’re trying to do God’s work, we come up against people who tell us all the reasons that something cannot be done. There are always reasons why something cannot be done. There is always a reason to be non-confrontational, to be the ‘nice guy’.  There is always a reason to not rock the boat, a reason not to try.
Jesus and Jeremiah show us a fervor and intensity for their vocation that transcends the difficulty of the task . They also show us what it means to be honest and committed in our vocation. Going up against a mob of angry men, can be a daunting task. Yet both men persevered. Both committed their cause to God. And difficult as the road was for them, they pushed on, knowing that He was in control.

“My God is the rock where I take refuge, my shield, my mighty help, my stronghold”. (Psalm 17).

When we’re doing His work it is often easy to be discouraged and lose sight of our good intentions. Submit your challenges to God – let Him be the voice that speaks for you. Let Him be the strength that keeps you going. Let His message be your message. It is when you do, that you will find your authenticity.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: we pray that in all we do, we do it with fervor, authenticity and honesty. May we be good examples of our Christian faith.

Thanksgiving: we give thanks to God for being our shield, our mighty help, our stronghold and our refuge.

Upcoming Readings:
Sat, 16 Apr – Ezekiel 37:21-28; John 11:45-56
Sun, 17 Apr – Isiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27.66; Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Genesis 17:3-9

Abram bowed to the ground and God said this to him, ‘Here now is my covenant with you: you shall become the father of a multitude of nations. You shall no longer be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I make you father of a multitude of nations. I will make you most fruitful. I will make you into nations, and your issue shall be kings. I will establish my Covenant between myself and you, and your descendants after you, generation after generation, a Covenant in perpetuity, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land you are living in, the whole land of Canaan, to own in perpetuity, and I will be your God.’
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John 8:51-59

Jesus said to the Jews:

‘I tell you most solemnly,
whoever keeps my word
will never see death.’

The Jews said, ‘Now we know for certain that you are possessed. Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead, and yet you say, “Whoever keeps my word will never know the taste of death.” Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? The prophets are dead too. Who are you claiming to be?’ Jesus answered:

‘If I were to seek my own glory
that would be no glory at all;
my glory is conferred by the Father,
by the one of whom you say, “He is our God”
although you do not know him.
But I know him,
and if I were to say: I do not know him,
I should be a liar, as you are liars yourselves.
But I do know him, and I faithfully keep his word.
Your father Abraham rejoiced
to think that he would see my Day;
he saw it and was glad.’

The Jews then said, ‘You are not fifty yet, and you have seen Abraham!’ Jesus replied:

‘I tell you most solemnly,
before Abraham ever was,
I Am.’

At this they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.
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Your father Abraham rejoiced to think that he would see my Day; he saw it and was glad

So here’s a guy, bent with age, likely enjoying his retirement, resigned to the life that he has led… and God booms from beyond – “Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you”. Abraham’s response – “Abram went as Yahweh had told him”. No questions asked, no rebuttals, no ‘what-ifs’ or ‘how cans’.

It wasn’t Abraham’s idea to leave, he was already old and childless. Abraham and Sarah had probably already settled into the gentle rhythm of living out the rest of their days where they were. God had different plans though. And Abraham readily responded despite his old age and the understanding that it would be a difficult journey ahead. They would’ve likely even had to deal with the incredulous stares and jibes from the ‘neighbors’ – “You want to go WHERE? At your age? Can make it or not?!”.

Fast forward to Jesus witnessing to the Jews, appealing to them to see, that he was the Messiah, the Son of God. “Whoever keeps my word will never see death” (John 8:51).

And their response? A chorus of ‘Where can?? Sure or not??’

“You are not fifty yet, and you have seen Abraham!” (John 8:57). They even wanted to stone him, so set were they in their ways.

When God calls us, often He is really saying, let go of your own wisdom and your understanding. He did it with Noah, with Abraham, with Paul. He does it with us. He knocks on our hearts and tests if we are able to do as Abraham did – to trust completely that though the journey is long and hard, He will show us the way. It was not Abraham’s plan to leave his home and his comfortable surroundings. Faith in Scripture, is often accompanied by separation and a journey, whether literally (in the case of Abraham) or figuratively (in the case of the Jews in today’s reading). It is true for us as well. God calls – can we let go of our familiar surroundings, our creature comforts, of what we know, and respond to Him? It’s often a long, hard road but can we look beyond to His promise ahead?

God says to Abraham, “I will make you into nations…I will establish my Covenant between myself and you, and your descendants after you, generation after generation”. The promise that God made to Abraham, is valid for us all believers. Because he got up and responded so readily, he was justified by his faith. When God calls and we respond and let go of our human understanding, and yield our will to God’s, we become a part of the promise that was made so long ago. And we, like Abraham, are also justified.

“Faith is the assurance of what we hope for, being certain of what we cannot see. Because of their fath, our ancestors were approved” – Hebrews 11:1-2

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: We pray for the faith to yield our will and understanding completely to Him.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for our prayers that He answers and prayers that He does not answer because He knew better.

Upcoming Readings:
Fri, 15 Apr – Jeremiah 20:10-13; John 10:31-42
Sat, 16 Apr – Ezekiel 37:21-28; John 11:45-56
Sun, 17 Apr – Isiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27.66; Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Martin (d. 655) was chosen the 74th pope in 649 without imperial approval. He conducted the Lateran Council which condemned the Patriach of Constantinople for Monothelitism, which claimed that Christ had no human will. This put him in opposition to the emperor who had him arrested and tortured. Paul, Patriach of Constantinople, repented of his stance which saved Martin from execution, but the pope died soon after from damage received during his imprisonment, and is considered a martyr, the last martyred pope.

- Patron Saint Index
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Daniel 3:14-20.24-25.28

King Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, is it true that you do not serve my gods, and that you refuse to worship the golden statue I have erected? When you hear the sound of horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, or any other instrument, are you prepared to prostrate yourselves and worship the statue I have made? If you refuse to worship it, you must be thrown straight away into the burning fiery furnace; and where is the god who could save you from my power?’ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘Your question hardly requires an answer: if our God, the one we serve, is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace and from your power, O king, he will save us; and even if he does not, then you must know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the statue you have erected.’ These words infuriated King Nebuchadnezzar; his expression was very different now as he looked at Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He gave orders for the furnace to be made seven times hotter than usual, and commanded certain stalwarts from his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the burning fiery furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar sprang to his feet in amazement. He said to his advisers, ‘Did we not have these three men thrown bound into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Certainly, O king.’ ‘But,’ he went on ‘I can see four men walking about freely in the heart of the fire without coming to any harm. And the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’

Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: he has sent his angel to rescue the servants who, putting their trust in him, defied the order of the king, and preferred to forfeit their bodies rather than serve or worship any god but their own.’
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John 8:31-42

To the Jews who believed in him Jesus said:

‘If you make my word your home
you will indeed be my disciples,
you will learn the truth
and the truth will make you free.’

They answered, ‘We are descended from Abraham and we have never been the slaves of anyone; what do you mean, “You will be made free”?’ Jesus replied:

‘I tell you most solemnly,
everyone who commits sin is a slave.
Now the slave’s place in the house is not assured,
but the son’s place is assured.
So if the Son makes you free,
you will be free indeed.
I know that you are descended from Abraham;
but in spite of that you want to kill me
because nothing I say has penetrated into you.
What I, for my part, speak of
is what I have seen with my Father;
but you, you put into action
the lessons learnt from your father.’

They repeated, ‘Our father is Abraham.’ Jesus said to them:

‘If you were Abraham’s children,
you would do as Abraham did.
As it is, you want to kill me
when I tell you the truth
as I have learnt it from God;
that is not what Abraham did.
What you are doing is what your father does.’

‘We were not born of prostitution,’ they went on ‘we have one father: God.’ Jesus answered:

‘If God were your father, you would love me,
since I have come here from God;
yes, I have come from him;
not that I came because I chose,
no, I was sent, and by him.’
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The slave’s place in the house is not assured

I am a workaholic. There I said it. I work to forget my troubles. I work because I’m insecure. I work because I’m fearful that what I have and all I’ve done isn’t going to be enough. I work because I feel if I don’t, I’ll get left behind. I work because I can sometimes be a perfectionist. Am I a slave? Yes, I think so. Can I break free from it? Not without God’s guiding hand, compassion, forgiveness and deliverance. Do I want to? I know I have to.

I have a new job now and a compassionate new boss. God has blessed me with a “restart” button and set me free from my previous circumstances. God has blessed me with a new beginning.

Yet I feel myself falling into my old habits of long nights and long days. Jesus said, “if the Son makes you free, you will be really free” (John 8:36) but my faith is weak and instead of trusting Him to guide my way, I fall back into micro-managing situations. I do too much, I overwork and leave myself no room for Him or my loved ones.

This is slavery – to persist in holding on to my own judgments and my old ways instead of trusting Him and yielding to a new authenticity. This is slavery – to rely on my puny human efforts instead of trusting Him and letting Him guide my way.

The Hebrews of Jesus’ time were the same – they were ‘sons of Abraham’ and took their lineage and their works as an assurance of security instead of examining the truth about themselves and whether they were being faithful, sincere and authentic to Him.

For those of us who proclaim our faith loudly, then go back to our old ways of living, aren’t we being insincere to our vocation and our beliefs? If we rely on ourselves and our human efforts, where is there room for Him?

And how can we truly be free?

“You will be my true disciples if you keep my word. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”. John 8:30-32.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: we pray to be set free from our insecurity. God has guided us to where we are, we pray for the faith to let Him completely take over.

Thanksgiving: we give thanks for His guidance along this long and winding road.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu, 14 Apr – Genesis 17:3-9; John :51-59
Fri, 15 Apr – Jeremiah 20:10-13; John 10:31-42
Sat, 16 Apr – Ezekiel 37:21-28; John 11:45-56
Sun, 17 Apr – Isiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27.66; Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Numbers 21:4-9

The Israelites left Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Suph, to skirt the land of Edom. On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’

At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. The people came and said to Moses, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede for us with the Lord to save us from these serpents.’ Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord answered him, ‘Make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.’ So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard, and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived.
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John 8:21-30

Again Jesus said to the Pharisees:

‘I am going away;
you will look for me
and you will die in your sin.
Where I am going, you cannot come.’

The Jews said to one another, ‘Will he kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, “Where I am going, you cannot come”?’ Jesus went on:

‘You are from below; I am from above.
You are of this world; I am not of this world.
I have told you already:
You will die in your sins.
Yes, if you do not believe that I am He,
you will die in your sins.’

So they said to him, ‘Who are you?’ Jesus answered:

‘What I have told you from the outset.
About you I have much to say
and much to condemn;
but the one who sent me is truthful,
and what I have learnt from him
I declare to the world.’

They failed to understand that he was talking to them about the Father. So Jesus said:

‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man,
then you will know that I am He
and that I do nothing of myself:
what the Father has taught me is what I preach;
he who sent me is with me,
and has not left me to myself,
for I always do what pleases him.’

As he was saying this, many came to believe in him.
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You will die in your sins unless you believe that I am He

We all have our stories of coming back to God. Mine centers around my parents. My parents have always been spiritual people. I remember my mother putting talismans in my school bag for protection. I remember lining up for joss sticks during Chinese New Year. And I remember chanting Sanskrit hymns with my father as a child. When I accepted Christ as a teenager – it caused an almighty row at home.

Some years ago, my father was diagnosed of cancer. On one of those lonely nights, while in his cold hospital bed, he said he saw Jesus. That caused a 180 degree turn – and the most devout Taoist I know, became a Christian. While it was a trying time for us as a family, my father’s illness was God’s way of bringing us all home, as a family, back to Him. If my father had not fallen ill and embraced God, us kids who had backslided would not have come back to God. Dad’s conversion saved him – but it also saved us.

Sometimes things happen in life where at the time, we can’t see the connection but on hindsight, we’re able to connect the dots. That ‘hindsight’ usually takes the passage of time – much like in the readings today.

The bronze serpent is like a prophetic sign : the Hebrews would not die but would be healed simply by looking on it with faith. We as sinners, will not die if we believe Christ died for our sins. There is no way for us in our human wisdom to have the foresight that God has and be able to connect the dots forward. It is only in hindsight that we are able to see the links, but by looking backwards.

We just have to have faith that God will guide us and let Him connect the dots for us. “Faith is the assurance of what we hope for, being certain of what we cannot see” – Hebrews 11:1. We just have to yield our human wisdom which can only perceive the near, to God’s way which perceives into the beyond.

When Jesus says, “You will die in your sin”, he was referring to the death that comes from holding on to our human wisdom without opening our hearts and yielding to God’s horizons. It is a sin, to confess our belief and then refuse to allow ourselves to be born again, refuse to allow ourselves to walk with faith.

“Let us hold fast to our hope without wavering, because he who promised is faithful…. If we sin willfully after receiving knowledge of the truth, there is no longer sacrifice for sin, but only the fearful prospect of judgment and of fire which devours the rebellious’ – Hebrews 10:26.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: Lord, I cannot see the road that You have set before me. Help me to still myself and keep walking with full faith that You will connect the dots for me.

Thanksgiving: we give thanks for the blessings and opportunities that God has given to us; please help us to recognize that every day and every turn of the road, is an opportunity for us to do His will.

Upcoming Readings:
Wed, 13 Apr – Daniel 3:14-20.91-92.95; John 8:31-42; Memorial for St Martin I, Pope & Martyr
Thu, 14 Apr – Genesis 17:3-9; John :51-59
Fri, 15 Apr – Jeremiah 20:10-13; John 10:31-42
Sat, 16 Apr – Ezekiel 37:21-28; John 11:45-56
Sun, 17 Apr – Isiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27.66; Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Born to the Polish nobility, son of Belislaus and Bogna, and raised in a pious family. He was educated at Gnesen, Poland, and may have studied at Paris, France. When his parents died, he distributed his inheritence of the poor. Parish priest at Czembocz, Poland. Canon and preacher, and later vicar-general at the Cracow cathedral; he was a noted spiritual director. He became reluctant bishop of Cracow in 1072. Stanislaus was known for his preaching against sinful living, regardless of the sinner’s class. He was killed by King Boleslaus the Cruel after Stanislaus excommunicated him due to his war crimes and attempted theft of land from the Church. Murdered while celebrating Mass. Reaction against Boleslaus was so great that he fled the country, never to return; his guilt led him to become a monk. Stanislaus became a symbol of Polish patriotism and nationlism, and is sometimes considered a martyr.

- Patron Saint Index
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Daniel 13:1-9.15-17.19-30.33-62

In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim. He had married Susanna daughter of Hilkiah, a woman of great beauty; and she was God-fearing, because her parents were worthy people and had instructed their daughter in the Law of Moses. Joakim was a very rich man, and had a garden attached to his house; the Jews would often visit him since he was held in greater respect than any other man. Two elderly men had been selected from the people that year to act as judges. Of such the Lord said, ‘Wickedness has come to Babylon through the elders and judges posing as guides to the people.’ These men were often at Joakim’s house, and all who were engaged in litigation used to come to them. At midday, when everyone had gone, Susanna used to take a walk in her husband’s garden. The two elders, who used to watch her every day as she came in to take her walk, gradually began to desire her. They threw reason aside, making no effort to turn their eyes to heaven, and forgetting its demands of virtue. So they waited for a favourable moment; and one day Susanna came as usual, accompanied only by two young maidservants. The day was hot and she wanted to bathe in the garden. There was no one about except the two elders, spying on her from their hiding place. She said to the servants, ‘Bring me some oil and balsam and shut the garden door while I bathe.’

Hardly were the servants gone than the two elders were there after her. ‘Look,’ they said ‘the garden door is shut, no one can see us. We want to have you, so give in and let us! Refuse, and we will both give evidence that a young man was with you and that was why you sent your maids away.’ Susanna sighed. ‘I am trapped,’ she said ‘whatever I do. If I agree, that means my death; if I resist, I cannot get away from you. But I prefer to fall innocent into your power than to sin in the eyes of the Lord.’ Then she cried out as loud as she could. The two elders began shouting too, putting the blame on her, and one of them ran to open the garden door. The household, hearing the shouting in the garden, rushed out by the side entrance to see what was happening; once the elders had told their story the servants were thoroughly taken aback, since nothing of this sort had ever been said of Susanna.

Next day a meeting was held at the house of her husband Joakim. The two elders arrived, in their vindictiveness determined to have her put to death. They addressed the company: ‘Summon Susanna daughter of Hilkiah and wife of Joakim.’ She was sent for, and came accompanied by her parents, her children and all her relations. All her own people were weeping, and so were all the others who saw ; her. The two elders stood up, with all the people round them, and laid their hands on the woman’s head. Tearfully she turned her eyes to heaven, her heart confident in God. The elders then spoke. ‘While we were walking by ourselves in the garden, this woman arrived with two servants. She shut the garden door and then dismissed the servants. A young man who had been hiding went over to her and they lay down together. From the end of the garden where we were, we saw this crime taking place and hurried towards them. Though we saw them together we were unable to catch the man: he was too strong for us; he opened the door and took to his heels. We did, however, catch this woman and ask her who the young man was. She refused to tell us. That is our evidence.’

Since they were elders of the people, and judges, the assembly took their word: Susanna was condemned to death. She cried out as loud as she could, ‘Eternal God, you know all secrets and everything before it happens; you know that they have given false evidence against me. And now have I to die, innocent as I am of everything their malice has invented against me?’

The Lord heard her cry and, as she was being led away to die, he roused the holy spirit residing in a young boy named Daniel who began to shout, ‘I am innocent of this woman’s death!’ At which all the people turned to him and asked, ‘What do you mean by these words?’ Standing in the middle of the crowd he replied, ‘Are you so stupid, sons of Israel, as to condemn a daughter of Israel unheard, and without troubling to find out the truth? Go back to the scene of the trial: these men have given false evidence against her.’

All the people hurried back, and the elders said to Daniel, ‘Come and sit with us and tell us what you mean, since God has given you the gifts that elders have.’ Daniel said, ‘Keep the men well apart from each other for I want to question them.’ When the men had been separated, Daniel had one of them brought to him. ‘You have grown old in wickedness,’ he said ‘and now the sins of your earlier days have overtaken you, you with your unjust judgements, your condemnation of the innocent, your acquittal of guilty men, when the Lord has said, “You must not put the innocent and the just to death.” Now then, since you saw her so clearly, tell me what tree you saw them lying under?’ He replied, ‘Under a mastic tree.’ Daniel said, ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God has already received your sentence from him and will slash you in half.’ He dismissed the man, ordered the other to be brought and said to him, ‘Spawn of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, lust has led your heart astray! This is how you have been behaving with the daughters of Israel and they were too frightened to resist; but here is a daughter of Judah who could not stomach your wickedness! Now then, tell me what tree you surprised them under?’ He replied, ‘Under a holm oak.’ Daniel said, ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God is waiting, with a sword to drive home and split you, and destroy the pair of you.’

Then the whole assembly shouted, blessing God, the saviour of those who trust in him. And they turned on the two elders whom Daniel had convicted of false evidence out of their own mouths. As prescribed in the Law of Moses, they sentenced them to the same punishment as they had intended to inflict on their neighbour. They put them to death; the life of an innocent woman was spared that day.
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John 8:1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.

The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in full view of everybody, they said to Jesus, ‘Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?’ They asked him this as a test, looking for something to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As they persisted with their question, he looked up and said, ‘If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then be bent down and wrote on the ground again. When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go away, and do not sin any more.’
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Neither do I condemn you… go away and don’t sin anymore

I turned 36 recently. I am officially ‘middle-aged’ now. I think when you hit ‘middle-age’, you become pensive and reflective. The week that I turned 36, was also the week of the HK Sevens. Every year in March, rugby teams from around the world descend onto our tiny island. We put aside our work angst for the weekend and watch grown men chase a ball around a field, hug out, break bones, dent a few noses, etc. The festivities around the games are part of the fun. HK has its own version of a ‘mardi gras’ around the rugby. People go round to boxes at the stadium and collect flags, beads, Sevens souvenirs. There’s food, drinking, partying, dancing, laughing, Mexican waves.

I’ve been going to the HK Sevens since I was 25. When you’re young, vain, proud and drunk, you can make a lot of… ‘mistakes’ at an event like the Sevens. I’ve made a lot of ‘mistakes’ and all these years on, I’m still trying to live down being judged for them. While I’ve stopped going for some years now, the ‘mistakes of Sevens past’ continue to periodically show up at my door, hoping for some more ‘Sevens souvenirs’. Each time that happens, I feel the sharp pain of judgment. Is that what you think of me still? Really?

The punishment for adultery in the days of Jesus and the Pharisees was to be stoned to death. Stoned to death. Imagine the violence of a mob pelting a young woman to death for her night of passion. Our modern day judgment is a little less bloody, but still painful. You’re labeled, gossiped about, your reputation gets trampled to nothing, people can be mean and unforgiving. People judge.

The poignant thing about today’s reading is that Jesus of all people, was in a place of authority to judge the adulteress yet he did not. Jesus showed respect and compassion to a sinner, not because her sin was not grave but because God uses different ways to turn a sinner – in our suffering for our sins, in our misery, we cry out to Him and turn to repentance.

When we condemn someone and judge them for their ‘mistakes’, we leave them no room for change -  “Oh, she’s a party animal and she’s easy”. When we judge someone and make our minds up about them, we leave ourselves no room for mercy and compassion. Worse yet, when we let the world judge us and agree with them that that’s the way we are, we leave ourselves no room to forgive ourselves, no room to repent, no room to change our ways. We become like the Pharisees – rigid and unyielding.

The reading shows how compassionate is Jesus and how forgiving is God. Maybe we should forgive those, who have sinned against us… and forgive ourselves, for sins past? If He has forgiven us, shouldn’t we do the same too?

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: we pray that we be not so quick to judge based on appearances and gossips. We pray for the wisdom to perceive with an open heart and an open mind.

Thanksgiving: we give thanks for the forgiveness of our sins. We give thanks that God forgave us, so that we could also forgive ourselves, change our ways and move on.

Upcoming Readings:
Tue, 12 Apr – Numbers 21:4-9; John 8:21-30
Wed, 13 Apr – Daniel 3:14-20.91-92.95; John 8:31-42; Memorial for St Martin I, Pope & Martyr
Thu, 14 Apr – Genesis 17:3-9; John :51-59
Fri, 15 Apr – Jeremiah 20:10-13; John 10:31-42
Sat, 16 Apr – Ezekiel 37:21-28; John 11:45-56
Sun, 17 Apr – Isiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27.66; Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Christ Breathes Into Us His Living Spirit
Today we open ourselves to Christ’s life-giving Spirit. We pray too for those who are to be given the new life of the Spirit in baptism this Easter.
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Ezekiel 37:12-14

The Lord says this: I am now going to open your graves; I mean to raise you from your graves, my people, and lead you back to the soil of Israel. And you will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people. And I shall put my spirit in you, and you will live, and I shall resettle you on your own soil; and you will know that I, the Lord, have said and done this – it is the Lord who speaks.
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Romans 8:8-11

People who are interested only in unspiritual things can never be pleasing to God. Your interests, however, are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you. In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him. Though your body may be dead it is because of sin, but if Christ is in you then your spirit is life itself because you have been justified; and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.
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John 11:1-45

There was a man named Lazarus who lived in the village of Bethany with the two sisters, Mary and Martha, and he was ill. – It was the same Mary, the sister of the sick man Lazarus, who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair. The sisters sent this message to Jesus, ‘Lord, the man you love is ill.’ On receiving the message, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will end not in death but in God’s glory, and through it the Son of God will be glorified.’

Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, yet when he heard that Lazarus was ill he stayed where he was for two more days before saying to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judaea.’ The disciples said, ‘Rabbi, it is not long since the Jews wanted to stone you; are you going back again?’ Jesus replied:

‘Are there not twelve hours in the day?
A man can walk in the daytime without stumbling
because he has the light of this world to see by;
but if he walks at night he stumbles,
because there is no light to guide him.’

He said that and then added, ‘Our friend Lazarus is resting, I am going to wake him.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Lord, if he is able to rest he is sure to get better.’ The phrase Jesus used referred to the death of Lazarus, but they thought that by ‘rest’ he meant ‘sleep’, so Jesus put it plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead; and for your sake I am glad I was not there because now you will believe. But let us go to him.’ Then Thomas – known as the Twin – said to the other disciples, ‘Let us go too, and die with him.’

On arriving, Jesus found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days already. Bethany is only about two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to sympathise with them over their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus had come she went to meet him. Mary remained sitting in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘If you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that, even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you.’ ‘Your brother’ said Jesus to her ‘will rise again.’ Martha said, ‘I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said:

‘I am the resurrection.
If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live,
and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?’

‘Yes, Lord,’ she said ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.’

When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in a low voice, ‘The Master is here and wants to see you.’ Hearing this, Mary got up quickly and went to him. Jesus had not yet come into the village; he was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were in the house sympathising with Mary saw her get up so quickly and go out, they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep there.

Mary went to Jesus, and as soon as she saw him she threw herself at his feet, saying, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ At the sight of her tears, and those of the Jews who followed her, Jesus said in great distress, with a sigh that came straight from the heart, ‘Where have you put him?’ They said, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept; and the Jews said, ‘See how much he loved him!’ But there were some who remarked, ‘He opened the eyes of the blind man, could he not have prevented this man’s death?’ Still sighing, Jesus reached the tomb: it was a cave with a stone to close the opening. Jesus said, ‘Take the stone away.’ Martha said to him, ‘Lord, by now he will smell; this is the fourth day.’ Jesus replied, ‘Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus lifted up his eyes and said:

‘Father, I thank you for hearing my prayer.
I knew indeed that you always hear me,
but I speak for the sake of all these who stand round me,
so that they may believe it was you who sent me.’

When he had said this, he cried in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, here! Come out!’ The dead man came out, his feet and hands bound with bands of stuff and a cloth round his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, let him go free.’

Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what he did believed in him.
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Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died

An old friend passed away recently. I first heard that he had fallen ill two years ago but thought nothing of it as I took for granted that he would recover. In my heart, I believed he would get better and life would return to normal. He fought it fearlessly and for awhile, he did recover and life did go back to normal. But his strength was not enough and he succumbed in the end.

I wish I had picked up the phone to just say hello and ask him how he was doing. All those business trips abroad, I wish I had thought of laying over more just so I could drop by if only to say hello. I wish I had not taken for granted, the time that he had left. There is nothing I can do now that will bring him back. All that’s left is to honor the memory of him.

In my memory, he is still the indefatigable, invincible person I first met so many years ago. In my memory, he doesn’t fall ill or grow weak and weary. That’s how I’d like to remember him.

When we read the stories of how Jesus raises the dead and cures the sick, it is difficult to reconcile it to our own experience of sickness and death. “If he could open the eyes of the blind man, could he not have kept this man from dying?” (John 11:37).

It’s hard to remember when we’re grieving, that it isn’t about what we want, what our plans are, what’s convenient for us.

It’s hard to remember that even Jesus submitted his will and power up to God. It’s hard to remember that ‘… this sickness will end not in death but in God’s glory’ (John 11:4).

Death is ‘life’s change agent’ says Steve Jobs. I know how death changed my life. It made me realize how short is my time here on earth, how precious is each hour with the ones I hold dear. When we’re young and healthy, it’s easy to feel immortal and indestructible. As we grow older, the things we took for granted in our youth are taken from us – our friends, our health, even our cherished memories grow hazy. That’s when we realize our human fragility.

I know my friend is at peace now. No more pain, no more fighting, the suffering is over and I look forward to the day when we will meet again. I know that ‘though your body may be dead… but if Christ is in you then your spirit is life itself because you have been justified” (Romans 8:10).

“I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day” (John 11:24). I pray that God will keep my friend for awhile until the time when we shall see each other again.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: we pray for all those who are grieving the loss of loved ones. May God give them comfort to help them get through their pain.

Thanksgiving: we give thanks for our loved ones who are still with us; may we always remember that they are here on God’s time, not ours.

Upcoming Readings:
Mon, 11 Apr – Daniel 13:1-9.15-17.19-30.33-62; John 8:1-11; Memorial for St Stanislas, Bishop & Martyr
Tue, 12 Apr – Numbers 21:4-9; John 8:21-30
Wed, 13 Apr – Daniel 3:14-20.91-92.95; John 8:31-42; Memorial for St Martin I, Pope & Martyr
Thu, 14 Apr – Genesis 17:3-9; John :51-59
Fri, 15 Apr – Jeremiah 20:10-13; John 10:31-42
Sat, 16 Apr – Ezekiel 37:21-28; John 11:45-56
Sun, 17 Apr – Isiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27.66; Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Jeremiah 11:18-20

The Lord revealed it to me; I was warned. O Lord, that was when you opened my eyes to their scheming. I for my part was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughter-house, not knowing the schemes they were plotting against me, ‘Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may be quickly forgotten!’

But you, the Lord of Hosts, who pronounce a just sentence,
who probe the loins and heart,
let me see the vengeance you will take on them,
for I have committed my cause to you.
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John 7:40-52

Several people who had been listening to Jesus said, ‘Surely he must be the prophet’, and some said, ‘He is the Christ’, but others said, ‘Would the Christ be from Galilee? Does not scripture say that the Christ must be descended from David and come from the town of Bethlehem?’ So the people could not agree about him. Some would have liked to arrest him, but no one actually laid hands on him.

The police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees who said to them, ‘Why haven’t you brought him?’ The police replied, ‘There has never been anybody who has spoken like him.’ ‘So’ the Pharisees answered ‘you have been led astray as well? Have any of the authorities believed in him? Any of the Pharisees? This rabble knows nothing about the Law – they are damned.’ One of them, Nicodemus – the same man who had come to Jesus earlier – said to them, ‘But surely the Law does not allow us to pass judgement on a man without giving him a hearing and discovering what he is about?’ To this they answered, ‘Are you a Galilean too? Go into the matter, and see for yourself: prophets do not come out of Galilee.’
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Surely the law does not allow us pass judgement without giving him a hearing and discovering what he is about?

Does first impression matter so much? Is it really true that perceptions are formed with just one look at a person? Don’t we want to find out more about the person or do we keep that friend just at a superficial level? I have a friend whose form of communication is just solely via email. He claims to be so busy that his contacts can only contact him via emails. Maybe to his closer friends are able to meet up with him. I realised communicating with him via email has taken a toll on our friendship. Being a person who appreciates a two-way communication in person or via phone, the words via email just loses the tonality and the body language of the recipient. At times there is a lack of clarity which results in misunderstanding. Perceptions are formed over time.

In the Gospel, those who have been listening to Jesus questioned his identity. “He’s the Prophet!” shouted one fraction. “No, he’s the Messiah!” said the other fraction. “Jesus is from Galilee. The Messiah comes from Bethlehem. The debate continued and each side acted on what they assumed and expected to believe it too. They even derided Nicodemus when he tried to bring order to the argument. Suprisingly no one asked Jesus who he was and where he came from.

Who is Jesus to you? Are we content just to listen to other people’s explanation or description of who Jesus is? Seek him out for yourself. Listen to him. Ask him questions. Invite him to teach and direct you, as you learn to listen to his Holy Spirit. All he wants is that we know him better and better. All he wants is that we become more and more convinced that he is our Lord and Saviour. Don’t you want that too?

(Today’s OXYGEN by Patricia Ang)
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Prayer: Jesus, I believe that you are the Messiah. Open my eyes to see you. Help me to walk closely with you today.

Thanksgiving: We thank you Lord for giving us our daily bread and being there for us all the time.

Upcoming Readings:
Sun, 10 Apr – Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45; Fifth Sunday of Lent

Wisdom 2:1.12-22

The godless say to themselves, with their misguided reasoning:

‘Our life is short and dreary,
nor is there any relief when man’s end comes,
nor is anyone known who can give release from Hades.
Let us lie in wait for the virtuous man, since he annoys us
and opposes our way of life,
reproaches us for our breaches of the law
and accuses us of playing false to our upbringing.
He claims to have knowledge of God,
and calls himself a son of the Lord.
Before us he stands, a reproof to our way of thinking,
the very sight of him weighs our spirits down;
his way of life is not like other men’s,
the paths he treads are unfamiliar.
In his opinion we are counterfeit;
he holds aloof from our doings as though from filth;
he proclaims the final end of the virtuous as happy
and boasts of having God for his father.
Let us see if what he says is true,
let us observe what kind of end he himself will have.
If the virtuous man is God’s son, God will take his part
and rescue him from the clutches of his enemies.
Let us test him with cruelty and with torture,
and thus explore this gentleness of his
and put his endurance to the proof.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death
since he will be looked after – we have his word for it.’

This is the way they reason, but they are misled,
their malice makes them blind.
They do not know the hidden things of God,
they have no hope that holiness will be rewarded,
they can see no reward for blameless souls.
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John 7:1-2.10.25-30

Jesus stayed in Galilee; he could not stay in Judaea, because the Jews were out to kill him.

As the Jewish feast of Tabernacles drew near, However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went up as well, but quite privately, without drawing attention to himself. Meanwhile some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, ‘Isn’t this the man they want to kill? And here he is, speaking freely, and they have nothing to say to him! Can it be true the authorities have made up their minds that he is the Christ? Yet we all know where he comes from, but when the Christ appears no one will know where he comes from.

Then, as Jesus taught in the Temple, he cried out:

‘Yes, you know me
and you know where I came from.
Yet I have not come of myself:
no, there is one who sent me
and I really come from him,
and you do not know him,
but I know him because I have come from him
and it was he who sent me.’

They would have arrested him then, but because his time had not yet come no one laid a hand on him.
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Let us lie in wait for the virtuous man, for he annoys me

Do you know of someone whose life seems so perfect that you can’t stand being around him/ her? Beautiful house, nice car, loving family, great career, fantastic holidays? We are just so envious of them. We wonder why is it some of us have to work so hard, yet not being paid enough, not having bosses who emphatise with us? Yet there are people whose lives seem so perfect, life is just so smooth-sailing for them? Does your envy of them make you feel inadequate that it annoys you?

In the first reading of today, Jesus being a virtuous man and having the knowledge of God, is a threat to the godless men. The sight of him weighed their spirits down. Hence the godless men planned to treat Jesus with cruelty and with torture, to test his endurance and also to condemn him to a shameful death. They wanted to test whether Jesus will be rescued from the clutches of his enemies by God his father. Jesus was in Galilee and he was spotted in the temple. Yet he was not being arrested as his time had not yet come hence nobody laid a hand on him.

Why do we constantly challenge Jesus? Have we taken time to reflect on the cross? He hung on the cross in pain and shame so that our sins may be forgiven. Did he raise a word of protest or a promise of revenge? Jesus sees us as his brothers and sisters, children of God who are precious and valuable to his Father. Let us take this Lent period to reflect our actions and also on God’s love for us.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Patricia Ang)
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Prayer: Lord teach us to see you with new eyes. Sustain us in our journey with your grace and love. For the times we doubt you, show us how to be obedient and be still to listen to you.

Thanksgiving: We thank you Lord for loving us despite our faults and weakness.

Upcoming Readings:
Sat, 09 Apr – Jeremiah 11:18-20; John 7:40-53
Sun, 10 Apr – Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45; Fifth Sunday of Lent

John (1651–1719) studied for the priesthood in Paris, France, but quit to care for his brothers and sisters upon the death of his parents. When his siblings were grown, John returned to the seminary. He was canon of Rheims, France in 1667 and was ordained in 1678. He became a doctor of theology in 1680.

He was spiritual director of the Sisters of the Holy Infant who were devoted to teaching poor girls. He founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (Christian Brothers) in 1681, and established and supported academic education for all boys.

He liquidated his personal fortune, and his Brothers expected him to use it to further his education goals, but he surprised them by saying they would have to depend on Providence. The money (about $400,000) was given away to the poor in the form of bread during the great famine of 1683-1684. St. John kept enough to endow a salary for himself similar to that which the Brothers received so that he wouldn’t be a burden on them.

He instituted the process of dividing students into grades, established the first teachers’ school, started high schools and trade schools, and was proclaimed the patron of all teachers of all youth by Pope Pius XII in 1950.

- Patron Saint Index
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Exodus 32:7-14

The Lord spoke to Moses, ‘Go down now, because your people whom you brought out of Egypt have apostatised. They have been quick to leave the way I marked out for them; they have made themselves a calf of molten metal and have worshipped it and offered it sacrifice. “Here is your God, Israel,” they have cried “who brought you up from the land of Egypt!”’ the Lord said to Moses, ‘I can see how headstrong these people are! Leave me, now, my wrath shall blaze out against them and devour them; of you, however, I will make a great nation.’

But Moses pleaded with the Lord his God. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘why should your wrath blaze out against this people of yours whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with arm outstretched and mighty hand? Why let the Egyptians say, “Ah, it was in treachery that he brought them out, to do them to death in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth”? Leave your burning wrath; relent and do not bring this disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, your servants to whom by your own self you swore and made this promise: I will make your offspring as many as the stars of heaven, and all this land which I promised I will give to your descendants, and it shall be their heritage for ever.’

So the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
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John 5:31-47

Jesus said to the Jews:

‘Were I to testify on my own behalf,
my testimony would not be valid;
but there is another witness who can speak on my behalf,
and I know that his testimony is valid.
You sent messengers to John,
and he gave his testimony to the truth:
not that I depend on human testimony;
no, it is for your salvation that I speak of this.
John was a lamp alight and shining
and for a time you were content to enjoy the light that he gave.
But my testimony is greater than John’s:
the works my Father has given me to carry out,
these same works of mine testify
that the Father has sent me.
Besides, the Father who sent me
bears witness to me himself.
You have never heard his voice,
you have never seen his shape,
and his word finds no home in you
because you do not believe in the one he has sent.

‘You study the scriptures,
believing that in them you have eternal life;
now these same scriptures testify to me,
and yet you refuse to come to me for life!
As for human approval, this means nothing to me.
Besides, I know you too well: you have no love of God in you.
I have come in the name of my Father
and you refuse to accept me;
if someone else comes in his own name
you will accept him.
How can you believe,
since you look to one another for approval
and are not concerned
with the approval that comes from the one God?
Do not imagine that I am going to accuse you before the Father:
you place your hopes on Moses,
and Moses will be your accuser.
If you really believed him
you would believe me too,
since it was I that he was writing about;
but if you refuse to believe what he wrote,
how can you believe what I say?’
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There is another who testifies on my behalf

It is by His grace are we able to see the light of what’s happening in our lives. You could be in love with that special one, yet there are always obstacles. Is it a door that is closed for the relationship – maybe both of you are not ready yet to be together, or it is a relationship not meant to be?  A job search where you could be looking for a job, which matches your work experience, but there is no call for interview. Does it mean that you are not qualified or is it the job is not meant for you? Circumstances that occur in our lives, take lots of faith and trust in God. What are His plans for us? How would we know?

Surrounded by people who were out to destroy him, Jesus names God the father as his defense. Jesus mentions three ways that God testifies on his behalf. The first are signs and wonder of his works. Then there is “direct testimony” of the Father, which John the Baptist received when the Spirit descended on Jesus. And there are the Hebrew Scriptures.

Yet how many of us truly believe in Jesus. So little faith we have. There are so many doubts and fears. So many obstacles in our paths. Some of us believe by ourselves we are able to achieve those achievements that we desire. We feed on our pride and ego. The issue of me comes first before God, which explains why it is so difficult to believe that God knows best and also so difficult to testify for his glory. Many close their hearts to God because they believe they are better than him. For those who try to share their joy being with God, at times it is very disheartening. Yet in his time, if we are open to knowing God, He will show us that peace, love and joy being in his presence.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Patricia Ang)
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Prayer: Lord, teach us how to testify in the power and anointing of your holy spirit. Soften our hearts and remove our ego as we come to you in childlike faith.

Thanksgiving: We thank you Lord for loving us unconditionally and loving us despite of our sins.

Upcoming Readings:
Fri, 08 Apr – Wisdom 2:1.12-22; John 7:1-2.10.25-30
Sat, 09 Apr – Jeremiah 11:18-20; John 7:40-53
Sun, 10 Apr – Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45; Fifth Sunday of Lent

Isaiah 49:8-15

Thus says the Lord:

At the favourable time I will answer you,
on the day of salvation I will help you.
(I have formed you and have appointed you
as covenant of the people.)
I will restore the land
and assign you the estates that lie waste.
I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out’,
to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’

On every roadway they will graze,
and each bare height shall be their pasture.
They will never hunger or thirst,
scorching wind and sun shall never plague them;
for he who pities them will lead them
and guide them to springs of water.
I will make a highway of all the mountains,
and the high roads shall be banked up.

Some are on their way from afar,
others from the north and the west,
others from the land of Sinim.
Shout for joy, you heavens; exult, you earth!
You mountains, break into happy cries!
For the Lord consoles his people
and takes pity on those who are afflicted.

For Zion was saying, ‘The Lord has abandoned me,
the Lord has forgotten me.’
Does a woman forget her baby at the breast,
or fail to cherish the son of her womb?
Yet even if these forget,
I will never forget you.
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John 5:17-30

Jesus said to the Jews, ‘My Father goes on working, and so do I.’ But that only made them even more intent on killing him, because, not content with breaking the sabbath, he spoke of God as his own Father, and so made himself God’s equal.

To this accusation Jesus replied:

‘I tell you most solemnly,
the Son can do nothing by himself;
he can do only what he sees the Father doing:
and whatever the Father does the Son does too.
For the Father loves the Son
and shows him everything he does himself,
and he will show him even greater things than these,
works that will astonish you.
Thus, as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,
so the Son gives life to anyone he chooses;
for the Father judges no one;
he has entrusted all judgement to the Son,
so that all may honour the Son
as they honour the Father.
Whoever refuses honour to the Son
refuses honour to the Father who sent him.
I tell you most solemnly,
whoever listens to my words,
and believes in the one who sent me,
has eternal life;
without being brought to judgement
he has passed from death to life.
I tell you most solemnly,
the hour will come – in fact it is here already –
when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God,
and all who hear it will live.
For the Father, who is the source of life,
has made the Son the source of life;
and, because he is the Son of Man,
has appointed him supreme judge.
Do not be surprised at this,
for the hour is coming when the dead will leave their graves
at the sound of his voice:
those who did good will rise again to life;
and those who did evil, to condemnation.
I can do nothing by myself;
I can only judge as I am told to judge,
and my judging is just,
because my aim is to do not my own will,
but the will of him who sent me.’
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As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to those he choose

Recently I have been asked by my friend to stay out of contact for the month of March. Apparently it has come to a point with any communication, I can sense the frustration from his end. He mentioned that he just needed to feel this peace within him, hence the silence. I wondered what triggered this reaction? Usually when I am upset with someone, I will say my peace and we will forgive each other. The silence is not easy for me. Being someone who loves to motivate others, it is like a restriction of my real self. As much as I want to cheer on my friend, my intention gets misinterpreted for something negative. In a way, it is that feeling of abandonment.

In the gospel of John, Jesus reminds the Jews that the Father loves the son and that it is through his son great works can be seen. Whoever honours the son honours the father. The son does the will of the father. Whoever listens to the words of Jesus, believes in the one who sent him has eternal life.

Have you ever felt the Jesus has abandoned you in this journey? Have we wallowed in despair and forget to turn to him? Yet God is the source of life. In Him we will find peace. Whatever outcome in any situations that we are facing, surrender to God and let him take over. May we may have the faith to accept that whatever the outcome, it will be for his glory.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Patricia Ang)
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Prayer: Lord create in us a pure heart and a steadfast spirit. Even in the darkest times, revive me with your presence.

Thanksgiving: We thank you Lord for loving us and providing us a way in the situations that we face.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu, 07 Apr – Exodus 32:7-14; John 5:31-47; Memorial for St John Baptist de la Salle, Priest
Fri, 08 Apr – Wisdom 2:1.12-22; John 7:1-2.10.25-30
Sat, 09 Apr – Jeremiah 11:18-20; John 7:40-53
Sun, 10 Apr – Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45; Fifth Sunday of Lent

Vincent (1350–1419) was the fourth child of the Anglo-Scottish nobleman William Stewart Ferrer and his Spanish wife, Constantia Miguel. His father is reported to have had a dream in which he was told that Vincent would be a world-famous Dominican friar.

The boy joined the Dominicans in 1367. He received his doctorate of theology from the University of Lleida. He was a priest and a missionary. He taught theology, and was adviser to the King of Aragon. During a severe fever in 1398, Vincent had a vision of Christ, St. Dominic de Guzman, and St. Francis of Assisi. It was a life-changing experience.

Vincent received supernatural gifts and believed that he was a messenger of penance, an “angel of the apocalypse” sent to prepare humankind for the Judgement of Christ.

He was a great preacher who converted thousands in Spain, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Scotland, and Ireland. He was invited to preach in Muslim Granada. He was counsellor to Pope Benedict XIII. He travelled through Spain, France, Switzerland, and Italy, working to end the Western Schism.

He slept on the floor, had the gift of tongues (he spoke only Spanish, but all listeners understood him), lived an endless fast, celebrated Mass daily, and was known as a miracle worker. He was reported to have brought a murdered man back to life to prove the power of Christianity to the onlookers, and he would heal people throughout a hospital just by praying in front of it.

He worked so hard to build up the Church that he became the patron of people in building trades.

- Patron Saint Index
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Ezekiel 47:1-9.12

The angel brought me to the entrance of the Temple, where a stream came out from under the Temple threshold and flowed eastwards, since the Temple faced east. The water flowed from under the right side of the Temple, south of the altar. He took me out by the north gate and led me right round outside as far as the outer east gate where the water flowed out on the right-hand side. The man went to the east holding his measuring line and measured off a thousand cubits; he then made me wade across the stream; the water reached my ankles. He measured off another thousand and made me wade across the stream again; the water reached my knees. He measured off another thousand and made me wade across again; the water reached my waist. He measured off another thousand; it was now a river which I could not cross; the stream had swollen and was now deep water, a river impossible to cross. He then said, ‘Do you see, son of man?’ He took me further, then brought me back to the bank of the river. When I got back, there were many trees on each bank of the river. He said, ‘This water flows east down to the Arabah and to the sea; and flowing into the sea it makes its waters wholesome. Wherever the river flows, all living creatures teeming in it will live. Fish will be very plentiful, for wherever the water goes it brings health, and life teems wherever the river flows. Along the river, on either bank, will grow every kind of fruit tree with leaves that never wither and fruit that never fails; they will bear new fruit every month, because this water comes from the sanctuary. And their fruit will be good to eat and the leaves medicinal.’
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John 5:1-3.5-16

There was a Jewish festival, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now at the Sheep Pool in Jerusalem there is a building, called Bethzatha in Hebrew, consisting of five porticos; and under these were crowds of sick people – blind, lame, paralysed – waiting for the water to move; One man there had an illness which had lasted thirty-eight years, and when Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had been in this condition for a long time, he said, ‘Do you want to be well again?’ ‘Sir,’ replied the sick man ‘I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is disturbed; and while I am still on the way, someone else gets there before me.’ Jesus said, ‘Get up, pick up your sleeping-mat and walk.’ The man was cured at once, and he picked up his mat and walked away.

Now that day happened to be the sabbath, so the Jews said to the man who had been cured, ‘It is the sabbath; you are not allowed to carry your sleeping-mat.’ He replied, ‘But the man who cured me told me, “Pick up your mat and walk.”’ They asked, ‘Who is the man who said to you, “Pick up your mat and walk”?’ The man had no idea who it was, since Jesus had disappeared into the crowd that filled the place. After a while Jesus met him in the Temple and said, ‘Now you are well again, be sure not to sin any more, or something worse may happen to you.’ The man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had cured him. It was because he did things like this on the sabbath that the Jews began to persecute Jesus.
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“Wherever the river flows, every son of living creature…shall live”

Whenever there are doubts or anxieties in our lives, who do we turn to? How often have we vented our frustrations on our love ones when we are unable to handle the stress in our lives? Have we ever turned to our Lord in prayers and in discernment?

I recalled I was having this cough that lasted for over a month. It first started out as flu, with bad cough phlegm. I was on antibiotics and I was certainly feeling weak after taking medication. When I thought I had recovered, there started the dry cough. Hence every morning and evening, there would be this dryness in the throat and somehow I could feel the phlegm that is stuck from within. It was uncomfortable and irritating. I prayed for the recovery, and it certainly took over a month to heal. Thank you Lord for your healing grace.

In the reading of Ezekiel, the river which Ezekiel describes can be seen as the image of the Holy Spirit. Picture yourself taking a dip into the river where the water reaches the ankle. As we wandered deeper into the water, the water reaches your waist. As we proceed to the bank of the river, we see the river of abundance. There is life in the river – fishes plentiful and so are the growth of fruits. The river never dries up, as it is none other than the eternal God himself.

Compare this to dwelling in HIS presence. We can begin to experience the Spirit’s presence and grace as a tiny trickle that grows deeper and wider as we yield to it. As we wade more deeply into his life, we can experience the Spirit nourishing us and healing us. The spirit always produces abundance and growth. Through the Holy Spirit, we are able to be in presence of the Father and the Son. Given to us through the new and everlasting covenant of Christ’s blood, the Holy Spirit is ever faithful, ever trust-worthy, ever flowing.

Why not step into this river today? Ask Jesus to lead you. We may be stepping into the river with fears and doubts, yet He will be walking beside you all the time. May He bring you to ever-deepening waters that can empower, heal, forgive and restore you. Are you ready to follow his lead?

(Today’s OXYGEN by Patricia Ang)
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Prayer: Lord, lead me deeper into the life of your Spirit today. We want your love to flow over us

Thanksgiving: Lord, we thank you for being with us all the time. Sustain us with our grace, love and peace.

Upcoming Readings:
Wed, 06 Apr – Isaiah 49:8-15; John 5:17-30
Thu, 07 Apr – Exodus 32:7-14; John 5:31-47; Memorial for St John Baptist de la Salle, Priest
Fri, 08 Apr – Wisdom 2:1.12-22; John 7:1-2.10.25-30
Sat, 09 Apr – Jeremiah 11:18-20; John 7:40-53
Sun, 10 Apr – Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45; Fifth Sunday of Lent

Isidore (560-636) was the son of Severianus and Theodora, people known for their piety. He was the brother of Sts. Fulgentius, Florentina, and Leander of Seville, who raised him after their father’s death. Initially, he was a poor student, but after giving the problem over to God, he became one of the most learned men of his time. After he was ordained a priest, he helped his brother Leander, Archbishop of Seville, in the conversion of the Visigoth Arians. He was a hermit.

He became Archbishop of Seville in 601, succeeding his brother to the position. He was a teacher and was called ‘Schoolmaster of the Middle Ages’. He was a founder and a reformer. He required seminaries in every diocese, and wrote a rule for religious orders. He was a prolific writer whose works include a dictionary, an encyclopedia, a history of Goths, and a history of the world beginning with creation. He completed the Mozarabic liturgy which is still in use in Toledo, Spain. He presided at the Second Council of Seville, and the Fourth Council of Toledo. He introduced the works of Aristotle to Spain.

He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIV in 1722, and became the leading candidate for patron of computer users and the Internet in 1999.

- Patron Saint Index
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Isaiah 65:17-21

Thus says the Lord: Now I create new heavens and a new earth, and the past will not be remembered, and will come no more to men’s minds. Be glad and rejoice for ever and ever for what I am creating, because I now create Jerusalem ‘Joy’ and her people ‘Gladness.’ I shall rejoice over Jerusalem and exult in my people. No more will the sound of weeping or the sound of cries be heard in her; in her, no more will be found the infant living a few days only, or the old man not living to the end of his days. To die at the age of a hundred will be dying young; not to live to be a hundred will be the sign of a curse. They will build houses and inhabit them, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
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John 4:43-54

Jesus left Samaria for Galilee. He himself had declared that there is no respect for a prophet in his own country, but on his arrival the Galileans received him well, having seen all that he had done at Jerusalem during the festival which they too had attended.

He went again to Cana in Galilee, where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a court official there whose son was ill at Capernaum and, hearing that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judaea, he went and asked him to come and cure his son as he was at the point of death. Jesus said, ‘So you will not believe unless you see signs and portents!’ ‘Sir,’ answered the official ‘come down before my child dies.’ ‘Go home,’ said Jesus ‘your son will live.’ The man believed what Jesus had said and started on his way; and while he was still on the journey back his servants met him with the news that his boy was alive. He asked them when the boy had begun to recover. ‘The fever left him yesterday’ they said ‘at the seventh hour.’ The father realised that this was exactly the time when Jesus had said, ‘Your son will live’; and he and all his household believed.

This was the second sign given by Jesus, on his return from Judaea to Galilee.
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I create new heavens and a new earth

As I journey through Lent, I want to be recreated – to grow more to be a child of God. To walk a closer path with the Lord and to spread the joy to others. At this point of my life, there are lots of anxieties and uncertainties. Issues such as – will my grandmother end up in a nursing home due to bitterness among her children? Will I find a job that I am able to contribute and grow or do I embark on my dream of being self-employed? What’s the outcome with my friend whose friendship I cherish but we are giving ourselves 1 month break to be in self-reflection? So many questions on my mind, and no clear directions where to go. Have faith He tells me, but it is not easy to trust that He knows best.

In the Gospel of John, the people of Galilee saw the 2 signs that Jesus has given. He changed water into wine. And He cured the son of the court official who was at the point of dying. It was because the miracles that Jesus had performed did they believe in him. Yet the court official just believed the word that his son will live when Jesus spoke to him. True enough the fever left the son the exact moment Jesus spoke the words ‘your son will live’. His faith in Jesus was so strong.

If you were in the court official’s position, would you have done the same? Just trust in God’s words? In life, many times we have to make decisions on several matters. Are we able to let go and let God take control of the situation? Are we humble enough to spend time with the Lord in prayers to seek His Will? Are we able to read the bible daily to hear his word? Have faith. God knows what each of us are going through. Whatever situation that you are facing, trust God that the outcome will be for His glory.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Patricia Ang)
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Prayer: Lord walk together with us and empower us. Sustain us with your love and grace. Pour out the fullest of life on earth.

Thanksgiving: Father, you have given us so much through the cross of your Son. May we grow in faith to love and serve you.

Upcoming Readings:
Tue, 05 Apr – Ezekiel 47:1-9.12; John 5:1-16; Memorial for St Vincent Ferrer, Priest
Wed, 06 Apr – Isaiah 49:8-15; John 5:17-30
Thu, 07 Apr – Exodus 32:7-14; John 5:31-47; Memorial for St John Baptist de la Salle, Priest
Fri, 08 Apr – Wisdom 2:1.12-22; John 7:1-2.10.25-30
Sat, 09 Apr – Jeremiah 11:18-20; John 7:40-53
Sun, 10 Apr – Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45; Fifth Sunday of Lent

Our Shepherd-King In This Valley of Darkness
We walk in the darkness of this world, often assailed by fear and misgiving. But Christ, the Shepherd-King, the second David, lights up our way for us and cures our congenital blindness as he leads us to his kingdom.
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1 Samuel 16:1.6-7.10-13

The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen myself a king among his sons.’ When Samuel arrived, he caught sight of Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands there before him,’ but the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Take no notice of his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him: God does not see as man sees: man looks at appearances but the Lord looks at the heart.’ Jesse presented his seven sons to Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen these.’ He then asked Jesse, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’ He answered, ‘There is still one left, the youngest; he is out looking after the sheep.’ Then Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send for him; we will not sit down to eat until he comes.’ Jesse had him sent for, a boy of fresh complexion, with fine eyes and pleasant bearing. The Lord said, ‘Come, anoint him, for this is the one.’ At this, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him where he stood with his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord seized on David and stayed with him from that day on.
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Ephesians 5:8-14

You were darkness once, but now you are light in the Lord; be like children of light, for the effects of the light are seen in complete goodness and right living and truth. Try to discover what the Lord wants of you, having nothing to do with the futile works of darkness but exposing them by contrast. The things which are done in secret are things that ashamed even to speak of; but anything exposed by the light will be illuminated and anything illuminated turns into light. That is why it is said:

Wake up from your sleep,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.
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John 9:1-41

As Jesus went along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, for him to have been born blind?’ ‘Neither he nor his parents sinned,’ Jesus answered ‘he was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
‘As long as the day lasts
I must carry out the work of the one who sent me;
the night will soon be here when no one can work.

As long as I am in the world
I am the light of the world.’
Having said this, he spat on the ground, made a paste with the spittle, put this over the eyes of the blind man, and said to him, ‘Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (a name that means ‘sent’). So the blind man went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored.

His neighbours and people who earlier had seen him begging said, ‘Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some said, ‘Yes, it is the same one.’ Others said, ‘No, he only looks like him.’ The man himself said, ‘I am the man.’ So they said to him, ‘Then how do your eyes come to be open?’ ‘The man called Jesus’ he answered ‘made a paste, daubed my eyes with it and said to me, “Go and wash at Siloam”; so I went, and when I washed I could see.’ They asked, ‘Where is he?’ ‘I don’t know’ he answered.

They brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. It had been a sabbath day when Jesus made the paste and opened the man’s eyes, so when the Pharisees asked him how he had come to see, he said, ‘He put a paste on my eyes, and I washed, and I can see.’ Then some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man cannot be from God: he does not keep the sabbath.’ Others said, ‘How could a sinner produce signs like this?’ And there was disagreement among them. So they spoke to the blind man again, ‘What have you to say about him yourself, now that he has opened your eyes?’ ‘He is a prophet’ replied the man. However, the Jews would not believe that the man had been blind and had gained his sight, without first sending for his parents and asking them, ‘Is this man really your son who you say was born blind? If so, how is it that he is now able to see?’ His parents answered, ‘We know he is our son and we know he was born blind, but we do not know how it is that he can see now, or who opened his eyes. He is old enough: let him speak for himself.’ His parents spoke like this out of fear of the Jews, who had already agreed to expel from the synagogue anyone who should acknowledge Jesus as the Christ. This was why his parents said, ‘He is old enough; ask him.’

So the Jews again sent for the man and said to him, ‘Give glory to God! For our part, we know that this man is a sinner.’ The man answered, ‘I don’t know if he is a sinner; I only know that I was blind and now I can see.’ They said to him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ He replied, ‘I have told you once and you wouldn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it all again? Do you want to become his disciples too?’ At this they hurled abuse at him: ‘You can be his disciple,’ they said ‘we are disciples of Moses: we know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’ The man replied, ‘Now here is an astonishing thing! He has opened my eyes, and you don’t know where he comes from! We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but God does listen to men who are devout and do his will. Ever since the world began it is unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man who was born blind; if this man were not from God, he couldn’t do a thing.’ ‘Are you trying to teach us,’ they replied ‘and you a sinner through and through, since you were born!’ And they drove him away.

Jesus heard they had driven him away, and when he found him he said to him, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied ‘tell me who he is so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said, ‘You are looking at him; he is speaking to you.’ The man said, ‘Lord, I believe’, and worshipped him.

Jesus said:

‘It is for judgement
that I have come into this world,
so that those without sight may see
and those with sight turn blind.’

Hearing this, some Pharisees who were present said to him, ‘We are not blind, surely?’ Jesus replied:

‘Blind? If you were,
you would not be guilty,
but since you say, “We see,”
your guilt remains.
_____________________

I was blind now I see.

Do we have blind spots? If someone presses your hot buttons, what would instantly create a reaction? For me one of my blind spot is I need recognition, which is a hidden value of mine. It is only recently that I realised why I feel so unfulfilled at work, especially when I have done a great job. However bosses just take it for granted that it is part of my job. Not a note of thanks or a pat on the back. In a way, it is that feeling of being taken for granted and not being cherished. On the contrary for the past week, I had 3 friends sending me different sms, thanking me for my advice or being a friend. It was certainly affirmative and heart warming. It was personally touching for me.

In today’s Gospel, the people had different reactions to the blind man. The disciples saw his blindness as a result of sin. His neighbours saw him as a beggar. The Pharisees saw that he had been healed on the Sabbath. The Jewish people couldn’t believe that he was healed until they question his parents. His parents acted in ignorance for fear of offending the Jews.

We may not be physically blind, but we all face a certain degree of spiritual blindness. We have a tendency to self-centredness and sin. Let us bring our “blind spots” to the Lord. Ask him to open our eyes to the hidden darkness. To remove obstacles that prevents us from drawing closer to him. As we receive his body and blood at communion in the penitential rite, ask God to fill us with his wonderful light. Every mass gives us the opportunity to repeat the words of the blind man, “I was blind and now I see” (John 9:25)

(Today’s OXYGEN by Patricia Ang)
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Prayer: Jesus, open our eyes to see you, our ears to hear you, our mouth to testify for you and our hearts to receive you. You are our all in all. Fill us with you grace and show us the way.

Thanksgiving: We thank you Lord for healing us. Bless us abundantly so that we can be a blessing to others.

Upcoming Readings:
Mon, 04 Apr – Isaiah 65:17-21; John 4:43-45; Memorial for St Isidore, Bishop and & Doctor of the Church
Tue, 05 Apr – Ezekiel 47:1-9.12; John 5:1-16; Memorial for St Vincent Ferrer, Priest
Wed, 06 Apr – Isaiah 49:8-15; John 5:17-30
Thu, 07 Apr – Exodus 32:7-14; John 5:31-47; Memorial for St John Baptist de la Salle, Priest
Fri, 08 Apr – Wisdom 2:1.12-22; John 7:1-2.10.25-30
Sat, 09 Apr – Jeremiah 11:18-20; John 7:40-53
Sun, 10 Apr – Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45; Fifth Sunday of Lent