OXYGEN

09 May
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Acts of the Apostles 15:1-6

Some men came down from Judaea and taught the brothers, ‘Unless you have yourselves circumcised in the tradition of Moses you cannot be saved.’ This led to disagreement, and after Paul and Barnabas had had a long argument with these men it was arranged that Paul and Barnabas and others of the church should go up to Jerusalem and discuss the problem with the apostles and elders.

All the members of the church saw them off, and as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria they told how the pagans had been converted, and this news was received with the greatest satisfaction by the brothers. When they arrived in Jerusalem they were welcomed by the church and by the apostles and elders, and gave an account of all that God had done with them.

But certain members of the Pharisees’ party who had become believers objected, insisting that the pagans should be circumcised and instructed to keep the Law of Moses. The apostles and elders met to look into the matter.
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John 15:1-8

Jesus said:

‘I am the true vine,
and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that bears no fruit
he cuts away,
and every branch that does bear fruit
he prunes to make it bear even more.
You are pruned already,
by means of the word that I have spoken to you.
Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.
As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself,
but must remain part of the vine,
neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine,
you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me, with me in him,
bears fruit in plenty;
for cut off from me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
is like a branch that has been thrown away – he withers;
these branches are collected and thrown on the fire,
and they are burnt.
If you remain in me
and my words remain in you,
you may ask what you will
and you shall get it.
It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit,
and then you will be my disciples.’
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Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away

Within the financial services industry, there are four parties of people – the consumer, the field agents, the corporates, and the regulators. As field agents we are often caught in the middle because we want what is best for our consumers yet we must adhere to the restrictions of the corporates which in turn are formulated by the guidelines of the regulators. As such, we regularly come across restrictions that make no sense at all, and we have to speak up to the corporate side to bring about change.

In today’s first reading, we read of the Pharisees turned Christians who imposed on new converts a teaching that made no sense in light of Christ’s teaching. Without opposition, such teachings would continue. But Paul and Barnabas spotted the error in the teaching and spoke up against it. There was no ruling about it in the Church so it was a matter that was brought up to the apostles and elders to discuss and decide.

This is organic growth of the Church. It grows when it encounters situations it has not encountered before. It grows because people argue constructively for and against it. Through the decision of the church leaders, the Holy Spirit acts to prune away teachings in the Church that make no sense or go against the spirit of Christ.

There are many teachings of the Church that have come about in this way. Yet today there still remain many teachings that exist without the church leaders having come to a decision about it. It takes time for the Church to come to a definitive decision of faith regarding any particular important matter. Sometimes there are more than two sides to the matter and all sides have to be carefully weighed and discerned about before a decision can be made.

Not uncommonly, certain matters lack sufficient information for the Church to come to a definitive decision. As such, the decision is sometimes postponed to a later time when more information has come to light. Until then, people will continue to argue for and against (sometimes unconstructively) about these matters that they feel very strongly about.
The most that we can do when faced with a matter of faith that has not yet been decided by the Church leaders is to pray about it, discern, and make a judgement on it to the best of our ability and reason. And let this judgement guide our actions.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Daniel Tay)
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Prayer: We pray for Christians faced with ethical dilemmas which have no clear or good answer. May the Holy Spirit fill them with wisdom to discern a course of action.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks to the Lord for the gift of reason.

08 May
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Acts of the Apostles 14:19-28

Some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium, and turned the people against the apostles. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the town, thinking he was dead. The disciples came crowding round him but, as they did so, he stood up and went back to the town. The next day he and Barnabas went off to Derbe.

Having preached the Good News in that town and made a considerable number of disciples, they went back through Lystra and Iconium to Antioch. They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. ‘We all have to experience many hardships’ they said ‘before we enter the kingdom of God.’ In each of these churches they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.

They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. Then after proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia and from there sailed for Antioch, where they had originally been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans. They stayed there with the disciples for some time.
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John 14:27-31

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you,
a peace the world cannot give,
this is my gift to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me say: I am going away, and shall return.
If you loved me you would have been glad to know that I am going to the Father,
for the Father is greater than I.
I have told you this now before it happens,
so that when it does happen you may believe.
I shall not talk with you any longer,
because the prince of this world is on his way.
He has no power over me,
but the world must be brought to know
that I love the Father
and that I am doing exactly what the Father told me.’
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Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid

When we focus on our circumstances, we lose sight of the goodness that is happening around us. When faced with disappointments, frustrations, negativity, we allow ourselves to be swept away with worry and anxiety. Our world becomes “Why me? What is it in it for me? Why am I the only one having to endure this situation?” Are we swept away by insecurities and fear?

Indeed for me, there are occasions, having to deal with family situations – my grandmother, the strained relationship between my mother and my uncle, my next business lead, my dreams can be daunting. It feels like a small fish swimming in the deep blue sea. Yet whenever I step into church, adoration room or Catholic Spirituality Centre, I feel the peace in me. The serenity just falls upon me and I feel His presence next to me. Yes, Abba our Father loves us so much. He knows what each of us – His beloved children are going through. We are His children, held in His hands. He will never abandon us and His graces are abounding. These truths supersede the ups and downs of our circumstances.

In the Gospel Jesus reminds us peace is a gift from Him. Peace is not an absence of conflict or fear, yet it depicts God’s presence of love and justice amongst us. Indeed to experience the peace of God requires an attitude of faith and prayers in God in the midst of the challenges we are facing in our lives. Jesus reminds us that we are precious in the eyes of God. We are called to glorify God and be instruments of His glory.

Are we able to surrender our situations to the Jesus? Can we trust that He knows what’s best for us? Can we stretch out our hands and ask God to journey together with us? Do you feel the peace?

(Today’s OXYGEN by Patricia Ang)
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Prayer: Heavenly Father, give us the grace to surrender  and allow us to hold on to your truth. Remove our fears and anxieties. Make us an instrument for your glory.

Thanksgiving: Thank you for your unconditional love. Guide and protect us.

07 May
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Acts of the Apostles 14:5-18

Eventually with the connivance of the authorities a move was made by pagans as well as Jews to make attacks on the apostles and to stone them. When the apostles came to hear of this, they went off for safety to Lycaonia where, in the towns of Lystra and Derbe and in the surrounding country, they preached the Good News.

A man sat there who had never walked in his life, because his feet were crippled from birth; and as he listened to Paul preaching, he managed to catch his eye. Seeing that the man had the faith to be cured, Paul said in a loud voice, ‘Get to your feet – stand up’, and the cripple jumped up and began to walk.

When the crowd saw what Paul had done they shouted in the language of Lycaonia, ‘These people are gods who have come down to us disguised as men.’ They addressed Barnabas as Zeus, and since Paul was the principal speaker they called him Hermes. The priests of Zeus-outside-the-Gate, proposing that all the people should offer sacrifice with them, brought garlanded oxen to the gates. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening they tore their clothes, and rushed into the crowd, shouting, ‘Friends, what do you think you are doing? We are only human beings like you. We have come with good news to make you turn from these empty idols to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that these hold. In the past he allowed each nation to go its own way; but even then he did not leave you without evidence of himself in the good things he does for you: he sends you rain from heaven, he makes your crops grow when they should, he gives you food and makes you happy.’ Even this speech, however, was scarcely enough to stop the crowd offering them sacrifice.
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John 14:21-26

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Anybody who receives my commandments and keeps them
will be one who loves me;
and anybody who loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I shall love him and show myself to him.’

Judas – this was not Judas Iscariot – said to him, ‘Lord, what is all this about? Do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’ Jesus replied:

‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him and make our home with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words.
And my word is not my own:
it is the word of the one who sent me.
I have said these things to you while still with you;
but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all I have said to you.’
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He did not leave you without evidence of himself

Over the past week, I was quite saddened to receive news about the passing of two people. One was local theatre actress Emma Yong, who succumbed to stomach cancer. The other was a church acquaintance, who also lost the battle with cancer. These two women were only in their late thirties. As someone who will soon cross the threshold into the thirty-somethings, I cannot help but feel that it is such a great loss, for they have so many years ahead of them.

A priest in my parish once asked the congregation if the mother whose son died during his army training should be grateful to God. His answer was no, we should not be thanking God for a premature death of a person. Instead, we would be grateful for the times we have spent with the person, precious times granted to us by God. The focus then, is not on what could have been, but on what already is. It is the recognition that all the good things in life come from God. I see this message in the speech given by Saints Barnabas and Paul to their worshipping crowds. With this recognition, we will not need to go looking for false and different gods to follow.

Sometimes I look around me and I ask God why I am still single, lament about my work, my lack of a social life, and even envy other families. These thoughts can consume my mind at times, so that I do not see or appreciate the things that I already have. During last year’s silent retreat, for the first time in my life, I saw God present in everything and in every aspect of my life, and His goodness was so overwhelming that I broke down.
“…the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.” God is always present with us, and for that, we ought to always be thankful.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
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Prayer: We pray that we will always be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our minds and our hearts.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for the provisions in life, big and small, that God has given us.

06 May – Sixth Sunday of Easter

The Spirit of God’s Love

We celebrate the coming of the Spirit of God’s love on the Church. And because God does not have favourites, the Spirit is communicated through the Church to the whole world.

- The Sunday Missal
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Acts of the Apostles 9:26-31

When Saul got to Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him: they could not believe he was really a disciple. Barnabas, however, took charge of him, introduced him to the apostles, and explained how the Lord had appeared to Saul and spoken to him on his journey, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. Saul now started to go round with them in Jerusalem, preaching fearlessly in the name of the Lord. But after he had spoken to the Hellenists, and argued with them, they became determined to kill him. When the brothers knew, they took him to Caesarea, and sent him off from there to Tarsus.

The churches throughout Judaea, Galilee and Samaria were now left in peace, building themselves up, living in the fear of the Lord, and filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit.
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1 John 3:18-24

My children,
our love is not to be just words or mere talk,
but something real and active;
only by this can we be certain
that we are children of the truth
and be able to quieten our conscience in his presence,
whatever accusations it may raise against us,
because God is greater than our conscience and he knows everything.
My dear people,
if we cannot be condemned by our own conscience,
we need not be afraid in God’s presence,
and whatever we ask him,
we shall receive,
because we keep his commandments
and live the kind of life that he wants.
His commandments are these:
that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ
and that we love one another
as he told us to.
Whoever keeps his commandments
lives in God and God lives in him.
We know that he lives in us
by the Spirit that he has given us.
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John 15:1-8

Jesus said:

‘I am the true vine,
and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that bears no fruit
he cuts away,
and every branch that does bear fruit
he prunes to make it bear even more.
You are pruned already,
by means of the word that I have spoken to you.
Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.
As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself,
but must remain part of the vine,
neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine,
you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me, with me in him,
bears fruit in plenty;
for cut off from me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
is like a branch that has been thrown away – he withers;
these branches are collected and thrown on the fire,
and they are burnt.
If you remain in me
and my words remain in you,
you may ask what you will
and you shall get it.
It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit,
and then you will be my disciples.’
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I am the vine and you are the branches

Several friends have asked me how different is my life after knowing God. It’s not about whether we see visions, the number of ministries that we are in or the number of masses that we attend. It’s about how we live our life. Have we been filled with the fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Have we shown compassion and understand to the poor, the marginalized and the people around us? When we encounter difficult situations in our lives, what do we do? Are we able to love not only with the words and with our lips, but in truth and in deed?

In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us He is the vine and we are the branches. To bear fruits, we are to remain in Christ and He in us. It is a reminder of our utter dependence upon God. We are the brunches of the vine, we wither we are cut off from the vine. We can only bear fruit when we attach ourselves to the vines. The pain and sufferings that we endure are the process which God prunes us so that we bear abundant fruits.

How comforting to know that we do not walk alone in this life. No matter how frustrated, weak or isolated we feel, the truth is Jesus will never abandon us and He is there for us. With Jesus as the vine, we know He will sustain and nourish us. With Him as the vine grower, both difficult and pleasant, we become his instruments as He moulds us in his likeness.

God is deeply committed to us. Are we able to stay connected with Him? Indeed our lives will never be the same. Does your life bear fruit and fullness of life? How connected with Jesus?

(Today’s OXYGEN by Patricia Ang)
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Prayer: Heavenly Father, make my heart one with you and your Son. Use us as an instrument for your glory.

Thanksgiving: Thank you for the gift of life. Let us appreciate the beauty of the people around us.

05 May
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Acts of the Apostles 13:44-52

The next sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of God. When they saw the crowds, the Jews, prompted by jealousy, used blasphemies and contradicted everything Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. ‘We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans. For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said:

I have made you a light for the nations,
so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.’

It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message; all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread through the whole countryside.

But the Jews worked upon some of the devout women of the upper classes and the leading men of the city and persuaded them to turn against Paul and Barnabas and expel them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in defiance and went off to Iconium; but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
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John 14:7-14

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘If you know me, you know my Father too.
From this moment you know him and have seen him.’

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

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

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

Recently I discovered that I have too much on my plate. I was struggling and I was beginning to find fault with people around me. I realized my own needs were not being met, how could I serve the community. I prayed and seeked for guidance. Two  issues surfaced that I needed to let go. Yet I did not know how to do so.

The first one was the SIM marketing interest group. At the recent AGM, I was supposed to run for the president of the group. I hesitated as I was wondering how to commit to the group and my heart wasn’t there for the group. It felt now more like a job rather than a volunteer. To my amazement, the former past president was voted in, or rather the old guards had the upper hand in the committee. I was upset at the turn of events, yet relieved that I did not have to bear this responsibility. I resigned from the committee that night after the AGM to focus on other aspects of my life.

This year, I was tasked for a few church matters that carried with them high responsibilities – chief editor of church newsletter (Spotlight), being part of the committee for Church commemorative magazine 2013 and to head the Pillar for evangelization. Two weeks ago, I stepped down from the Pillar committee. I told them I will support them through the newsletter and website where my calling is. One of the frustrations I faced was that no decisions were made after attending the meetings. I felt my time could have been better spent with the Lord in prayers and in writing.

It was immense peace that I felt when I made the decisions. Indeed now I am able to spend time with God in prayers, reading the bible, writing and sharing my faith with others. It was such joy reading the recent issue of Spotlight as more parishioners come forth with their articles. There were lots of coordination behind the scene yet it was something I did with joy. I am able to spend time with my family and also time for myself.

Jesus is the image of the unseen God and in him is the fullness of God’s revelation. The works that Jesus carries out are manifestations of the Father’s love. By believing in the divinity of Jesus we can ask for anything in his name which the Father will grant us.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Patricia Ang)
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Prayer: Continue to be the light to shine in our lives. Remove fear and doubt in our lives. Allow us to be still and continue to show us the way.

Thanksgiving: We thank you Lord for always being there for us. Shower us your blessings and love in our journey with you.

04 May
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Acts of the Apostles 13:26-33

Paul stood up in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia, held up a hand for silence and began to speak:

‘My brothers, sons of Abraham’s race, and all you who fear God, this message of salvation is meant for you. What the people of Jerusalem and their rulers did, though they did not realise it, was in fact to fulfil the prophecies read on every sabbath. Though they found nothing to justify his death, they condemned him and asked Pilate to have him executed. When they had carried out everything that scripture foretells about him they took him down from the tree and buried him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had accompanied him from Galilee to Jerusalem: and it is these same companions of his who are now his witnesses before our people.

‘We have come here to tell you the Good News. It was to our ancestors that God made the promise but it is to us, their children, that he has fulfilled it, by raising Jesus from the dead. As scripture says in the second psalm: You are my son: today I have become your father.’
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John 14:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God still, and trust in me.
There are many rooms in my Father’s house;
if there were not, I should have told you.
I am going now to prepare a place for you,
and after I have gone and prepared you a place,
I shall return to take you with me;
so that where I am
you may be too.
You know the way to the place where I am going.’

Thomas said, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus said:

‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one can come to the Father except through me.’
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I am the Way, the Truth and the Life

Life is a mirror reflection. What we give is what we receive. Indeed birds of a feather flock together. As I look at my circle of friends, I have to say I am blessed with steadfast and true friends. They are there with me in this journey, in prayers, encouragement and being there for me. Happiness is when I enjoy their company and spending time with them. Yet with good friends there are times of feedback, unpleasant to the ears, is also a form of growth and improvement. They have my interests at heart. Likewise so does God. I marvel at His graces in life, for the open and close doors.

In the Gospel of today, Jesus reminds us not to be troubled by the things around us. Instead, to surrender all and trust in Him. He is the way to salvation. If our end goal is to be with him in Heaven, then the life we live will be geared towards that direction. Our actions and our words to the people that we meet will be filled with the spirit. The fruits are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. One will be filled with that joy, and always seeking to proclaim the goodness of God.  The truth is found in his word – the bible. As we spend time with Jesus, He will show us the path to embark on. When we encounter his presence, can we proclaim his glory to others through the life we live.

Are we effective witnesses to share the graces that we enjoy to others? Are we just a passer- by observing what’s happening around us instead of being an active participants in leading our lives? Do we trust God? Do we doubt that His ways are better than ours?

When one is filled with the Holy Spirit, we are more aware of the things around us. When we allow our Lord to take charge of our lives, just surrender all to him. Take heed, anything is possible with the Lord. Say a prayer and ask Him to show you the way, if you want to be filled with the holy spirit. You will be amazed what He is able to show and lead you in this journey. Let’s step out in faith to trust God.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Patricia Ang)
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Prayer: Fill us Lord with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Grace us with your abundant love that we overflow with good news of the gospel.  When we surrender the situation that we are facing, may the peace dwell upon us.

Thanksgiving: We thank you for dying on the cross for our sins. May we continue to be filled with the Spirit daily and to testify your works to others.

03 May – Feast of Ss Philip and James, Apostles

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

- Patron Saint Index

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

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

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

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

- Patron Saint Index
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1 Corinthians 15:1-8

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

Well then, in the first place, I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared first to Cephas and secondly to the Twelve. Next he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died; then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles; and last of all he appeared to me too; it was as though I was born when no one expected it.
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John 14:6-14

Jesus said to Thomas:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
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Prayer: We pray for the grace to open our hearts to the love of the Lord, and to keep falling in love with Him.

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

02 May – Memorial for St. Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Athanasius (c. 295) studied the classics and theology in Alexandria, Egypt. He was a deacon, secretary, and student of Bishop Alexander of Alexandria. He attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 where he fought for the defeat of Arianism and the acceptance of the divinity of Jesus. He formulated the doctrine of homo-ousianism which says that Christ is the same substance as the Father; Arianism taught that Christ was different and a creation of the Father, a creature and not part of God.

He became Bishop of Alexandria c. 328; he served for 46 years. When the dispute over Arianism spilled over from theology to politics, Athanasius got exiled five times, spending more than a third of his episcopate in exile.

He was the biographer of St. Anthony the Abbot. Confessor of the faith and Doctor of the Church, he fought for the acceptance of the Nicene Creed.

- Patron Saint Index
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Acts of the Apostles 12:24-13:5

The word of God continued to spread and to gain followers. Barnabas and Saul completed their task and came back from Jerusalem, bringing John Mark with them.

In the church at Antioch the following were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. One day while they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping a fast, the Holy Spirit said, ‘I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them.’ So it was that after fasting and prayer they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

So these two, sent on their mission by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. They landed at Salamis and proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; John acted as their assistant.
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John 12:44-50

Jesus declared publicly:

‘Whoever believes in me
believes not in me
but in the one who sent me,
and whoever sees me,
sees the one who sent me.
I, the light, have come into the world,
so that whoever believes in me
need not stay in the dark any more.
If anyone hears my words and does not keep them faithfully,
it is not I who shall condemn him,
since I have come not to condemn the world,
but to save the world.
He who rejects me and refuses my words has his judge already:
the word itself that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day.
For what I have spoken does not come from myself;
no, what I was to say,
what I had to speak,
was commanded by the Father who sent me,
and I know that his commands mean eternal life.
And therefore what the Father has told me
is what I speak.’
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I, the light, have come to the world

Has your world been clouded with fear, doubt, anger, confusion, frustration and perhaps desperation? Has there been occasion, the more you dwell on the situation by human strength, the worse it becomes? Have you felt darkness in your life?

Indeed whenever I make decisions in my life, these are some of the feelings I encounter. In the past, I used to rely on human strength, now I pray and surrender the situation to God. When the job lead is meant for me, everything will flow smoothly. If it is not, I will just have to let go of the situation.

Recently, I was invited to do a public relations project for the publicity of an upcoming ghost movie. After meeting the director with my contact, I was nonchalant about the project. Most of the advertisements have been purchased and money has already been invested. I asked my contact why does the client need us for the project. Personally I felt the client had the publicity all covered. The movie was to be scheduled in May. I did up the PR plan and we pitched for the project. However the client was only willing to pay the minimal amount for the project. I prayed about it, and decided to forgo the project, as the time put in, was not worth the amount paid. I felt the peace and went on with my other projects.

Now that I have finally decided to be self-employed, I have to admit it takes great courage to step out in faith and trust God.  There are times when I wonder when is my next business lead coming about and it appears just when I least expected. I have referrals from people who know that I am doing corporate writing, public relations and training. There are times I have to chase for payments which are usually 1-2 months later after the projects have been completed. Yet I am thankful He does provide for my daily bread. It is more fulfilling. I am able to spend time with my family, especially with my grandmother on her final stage of her journey. I am also able to do the Lord’s work, attending mass and writing for his ministry.

What does come into the Light of Jesus mean for you? I have been warmed by the love of Jesus. I need not have to prove how worthy I am to him. By his passion, death and resurrection, He has poured His grace into my heart. His light is pure, holy and true. He will show you his Hopes, plans and dreams that He has for us.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Patricia Ang)
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Prayer: Lord, teach us how to be still and discern your plans for us. Allow us to be open to receive your blessings and also to testify for your glory.

Thanksgiving: We thank you Lord for being the light of the world.  Let your light dispel any darkness in my heart and let us be an instrument for your glory.

01 May – Feast of St Joseph the Worker

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

- Patron Saint Index
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Acts of the Apostles 11:19-26

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

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

Barnabas then left for Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. As things turned out they were to live together in that church a whole year, instructing a large number of people. It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians.’
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John 10:22-30

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Today’s OXYGEN by Patricia Ang)
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Prayer: Lord grant us the childlike faith to see your revelation. When things don’t go our ways, allow us to pray and trust in you for you know best.

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

30 Apr – Memorial for St. Pius V, Pope

Antonio Ghislieri (1504-1572) was born to impoverished Italian nobility, the son of Paolo Ghislieri and Domenica Augeria. He worked as a shepherd as a boy, and received an excellent education in piety and holiness, including a scholastic education from a Dominican friar. He joined the Order in 1518, taking the name Michele. He studied in Bologna, Italy, and was ordained in 1528 in Genoa.

He was appointed teacher of philosophy and divinity in Genoa, and was a professor of theology in Pavia for 16 years. He was the Master of novices and prior of several Dominican houses, and he worked for stricter adherence to the Order’s rule.

He was an inquisitor in Como and Bergamo, and the commissary general of the Roman Inquisition in 1551. On Sep 4, 1556, he was ordained Bishop of Nepi and Sutri against his will. He was Inquisitor in Milan and Lombary in the same year, and created cardinal on Mar 15 the following year, made Grand Inquisitor on Dec 14, 1558, and was part of the conclave of 1559. He was appointed Bishop of Mondovi, Italy on Mar 17, 1560. As bishop, he worked to lead his flock with words and examples, and served as a continual messenger encouraging personal piety and devotion to God.

He became the 225th pope in 1566, and immediately faced the task of enacting the reforms of the Council of Trent. New seminaries were opened, a new breviary, new missal, and new catechism were published. Foundations were established to spread the faith and preserve the doctrine of the Church. He spent much time personally working with the needy. He built hospitals and used the papal treasury to care for the poor. He faced many difficulties in the public forum, both in the implementation of the Tridentine reforms and interaction with other heads of state. He created 21 cardinals. At the time of his death he was working on a Christian European alliance to break the power of the Islamic states.

- Patron Saint Index
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Acts of the Apostles 11:1-18

The apostles and the brothers in Judaea heard that the pagans too had accepted the word of God, and when Peter came up to Jerusalem the Jews criticised him and said, ‘So you have been visiting the uncircumcised and eating with them, have you?’ Peter in reply gave them the details point by point: ‘One day, when I was in the town of Jaffa,’ he began ‘I fell into a trance as I was praying and had a vision of something like a big sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners. This sheet reached the ground quite close to me. I watched it intently and saw all sorts of animals and wild beasts – everything possible that could walk, crawl or fly. Then I heard a voice that said to me, “Now, Peter; kill and eat!” But I answered: Certainly not, Lord; nothing profane or unclean has ever crossed my lips. And a second time the voice spoke from heaven, “What God has made clean, you have no right to call profane.” This was repeated three times, before the whole of it was drawn up to heaven again.

Just at that moment, three men stopped outside the house where we were staying; they had been sent from Caesarea to fetch me, and the Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going back with them. The six brothers here came with me as well, and we entered the man’s house. He told us he had seen an angel standing in his house who said, “Send to Jaffa and fetch Simon known as Peter; he has a message for you that will save you and your entire household.”

I had scarcely begun to speak when the Holy Spirit came down on them in the same way as it came on us at the beginning, and I remembered that the Lord had said, “John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” I realised then that God was giving them the identical thing he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; and who was I to stand in God’s way?’

This account satisfied them, and they gave glory to God. ‘God’ they said ‘can evidently grant even the pagans the repentance that leads to life.’
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John 10:1-10

Jesus said: ‘I tell you most solemnly, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but gets in some other way is a thief and a brigand. The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the flock; the gatekeeper lets him in, the sheep hear his voice, one by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out. When he has brought out his flock, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice. They never follow a stranger but run away from him: they do not recognise the voice of strangers.’

Jesus told them this parable but they failed to understand what he meant by telling it to them.

So Jesus spoke to them again:

‘I tell you most solemnly,
I am the gate of the sheepfold.
All others who have come
are thieves and brigands;
but the sheep took no notice of them.
I am the gate.
Anyone who enters through me will be safe:
he will go freely in and out
and be sure of finding pasture.
The thief comes
only to steal and kill and destroy.
I have come
so that they may have life and have it to the full.’
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I am the gate of the sheepfold

At the recent Friday growth session at Catholic Spirituality Centre, Fr William Goh spoke of inner healing is a constant process. When we are emotionally wounded, there will be a hole in our fortress. As a result, we will attract the evil spirit. When there is unforgiveness in our hearts, we will be filled with anger, hatred, jealously, fear and suspicion. The evil spirit will tempt us to sin and will work on our existing weakness. When we place Jesus in every area of our lives and surrender completely to Him, the Holy Spirit lives with us.

During the Lent period, I felt the spiritual warfare going within me. There were moments of darkness, self doubt and fatigue. It seemed there was so much on my plate and my own needs were not met. Indeed I really struggled. Yet when time permits I attend daily mass, praying in the adoration room and the peace lives within me. It was only on Easter I felt the joy. It was like dying to old self and rising to new self with His resurrection.

In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us He is the gate of the sheepfold.  As the sheep hear His voice, they follow him. He is the shepherd of the flock. His sheep do not follow the voice of strangers. Anyone who enters the gate through Him will be safe. Because of Jesus, we are able to experience the fullness of life.

Where is Jesus in your life? Do you hear his voice? Do you believe that He is the shepherd that loves us conditionally and knows what is best for us?  Are you willing to surrender all aspects of your life to follow Him?

(Today’s OXYGEN by Patricia Ang)
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Prayer: Forgive us for the times we were disobedient and insisted of doing things our own ways.  Dwell in us Lord, and strengthen us in our faith journey.

Thanksgiving: Lord we give you thanks for all the blessings you have given us in our lives. Continue to guide and protect us.