Marcellinus, a priest, and Peter, an exorcist, died in the year 304. According to a legendary account of their martyrdom, the two Romans saw their imprisonment as just one more opportunity to evangelise and managed to convert their jailer and his family. The legend also says that they were beheaded in the forest so that other Christians wouldn’t have a chance to bury and venerate their bodies. Two women found the bodies, however, and had them properly buried.

- http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=77
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Jude 1:17.20-25

Remember, my dear friends, what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ told you to expect. But you, my dear friends, must use your most holy faith as your foundation and build on that, praying in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves within the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you eternal life. When there are some who have doubts reassure them; when there are some to be saved from the fire, pull them out; but there are others to whom you must be kind with great caution, keeping your distance even from outside clothing which is contaminated by vice.

Glory be to him who can keep you from falling and bring you safe to his glorious presence, innocent and happy. To God, the only God, who saves us through Jesus Christ our Lord, be the glory, majesty, authority and power, which he had before time began, now and for ever. Amen.
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Mark 11:27-33

Jesus and his disciples came to Jerusalem, and as Jesus was walking in the Temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, ‘What authority have you for acting like this? Or who gave you authority to do these things?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you a question, only one; answer me and I will tell you my authority for acting like this. John’s baptism: did it come from heaven, or from man? Answer me that.’ And they argued it out this way among themselves: ‘If we say from heaven, he will say, “Then why did you refuse to believe him?” But dare we say from man?’ – they had the people to fear, for everyone held that John was a real prophet. So their reply to Jesus was, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Nor will I tell you my authority for acting like this.’
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Use your most holy faith as your foundation and build on that, praying in the Holy Spirit

Reflecting upon today’s readings, the above line arrested me. The words “praying in the Holy Spirit” prompted me to think about my initial inhibitions towards the gift of tongues.

One of my initial encounters with the gift of tongues was during a confirmation camp. I still recall how the cathechists made us fast our dinner before the actual laying of hands and outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. There was an air of suspense and a lot of us were wondering what was going to happen. Was there going to be tongues of fire hovering above our heads? After forty minutes, the time finally came and the session commenced. Some of us received the gift of tongues, while others received visions, emotional healing, the gift of holy laughter etc. All I knew was that that night made an impact on my life.

Initially, however, after the session ended and we had all gone on home, my daily routine resumed and I wasn’t sure if my encounter with the Holy Spirit had been my own imagination. It took me awhile before I had the courage to actually use the gift, be it to pray over others or for myself. What I learnt from it was this: The Holy Spirit moves powerfully when we trust him to act in the exercise of our gifts (Romans 8:26). When I surrendered my inhibitions and trusted in the Holy Spirit, not only did those whom I prayed for benefitted from the gift – I too was learning to develop my relationship with Him. As a result, every experience becomes an encounter with Him.

All of us have gifts from the Spirit. Some may be manifested in the form of tongues, healing, signs or wonders while others are more intrinsic, such as the gift of wisdom or fortitude which we as believers have all been given. The question is whether are we aware of what we possess?

At Pentecost Mass last Sunday, the priest posed an interesting question during the homily. He asked, “Why does the Spirit give different measures of gifts to different people? Why doesn’t he give the same measure of gifts to everyone?” The reason, he says, is so that we can learn to depend on each other. How do we develop the gifts? By actively listening and becoming aware of the Holy Spirit moving within us.

My brothers and sisters, let us not shy away as a body of Christ from the gifts that the Spirit brings. Rather, let us embrace them as a community so that we may be able to help encourage one another, especially where the powerful touch of God is needed, and build upon the foundation of our faith.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Cassandra Cheong)
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Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to open up our ears and our hearts to your Spirit’s presence in our lives. Grant us the courage to be shaped and moulded as your instrument to one another.

Thanksgiving: Thank you Father for the gift of your Holy Spirit as our personal companion, advisor and navigator in life.

Justin (c.100–165) was a pagan philosopher who converted at the age of 30 by reading the Scriptures and witnessing the heroism and faith of martyrs. He used his philosophical and oratorial skills to dispute with pagans and explain the faith, becoming one of the first great Christian apologists. He opened a school of public debate in Rome, Italy. All this naturally brought him to the attention of the authorities, and he died a martyr.

- Patron Saint Index
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1 Peter 4:7-13

Everything will soon come to an end, so, to pray better, keep a calm and sober mind. Above all, never let your love for each other grow insincere, since love covers over many a sin. Welcome each other into your houses without grumbling. Each one of you has received a special grace, so, like good stewards responsible for all these different graces of God, put yourselves at the service of others. If you are a speaker, speak in words which seem to come from God; if you are a helper, help as though every action was done at God’s orders; so that in everything God may receive the glory, through Jesus Christ, since to him alone belong all glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.

My dear people, you must not think it unaccountable that you should be tested by fire. There is nothing extraordinary in what has happened to you. If you can have some share in the sufferings of Christ, be glad, because you will enjoy a much greater gladness when his glory is revealed.
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Mark 11:11-26

After he had been acclaimed by the crowds, Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple. He looked all round him, but as it was now late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Next day as they were leaving Bethany, he felt hungry. Seeing a fig tree in leaf some distance away, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it, but when he came up to it he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season for figs. And he addressed the fig tree. ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again’ he said. And his disciples heard him say this.

So they reached Jerusalem and he went into the Temple and began driving out those who were selling and buying there; he upset the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who were selling pigeons. Nor would he allow anyone to carry anything through the Temple. And he taught them and said, ‘Does not scripture say: My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples? But you have turned it into a robbers’ den.’ This came to the ears of the chief priests and the scribes, and they tried to find some way of doing away with him; they were afraid of him because the people were carried away by his teaching. And when evening came he went out of the city.

Next morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered to the roots. Peter remembered. ‘Look, Rabbi,’ he said to Jesus, ‘the fig tree you cursed has withered away.’ Jesus answered, ‘Have faith in God. I tell you solemnly, if anyone says to this mountain, “Get up and throw yourself into the sea,” with no hesitation in his heart but believing that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. I tell you therefore: everything you ask and pray for, believe that you have it already, and it will be yours. And when you stand in prayer, forgive whatever you have against anybody, so that your Father in heaven may forgive your failings too.’ But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your failings either.’
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You must not think it unaccountable that you should be tested by fire

The line above struck me as I was going through today’s readings. One of the biggest struggles that I have is being patient with my mother and not letting my anger or irritation get the better of me. Many times, I think to myself that I am already 29 years old and I am grown enough a woman to take care of myself. Yet, there are things that she says sometimes, which grates on my nerves even though I know that she has my well-being at heart. In fact, recently, one of the things that grated me the most, was having to sacrifice my plans of a possible future overseas just so that I could stay in Singapore for her peace of mind or well-being.

Overwhelmed with frustration, I just could not understand why life had to be so difficult.  I could not understand why my dreams had to be compromised for the sake of someone I loved. Then one night, as I sat on my bed griping my “loss”, out of the blue, an image entered my mind. It was that of a poor man holding onto his one and only lamb, from the parable spoken by the prophet Nathan to David (2 Samuel 12:3). Then, in my Spirit, I felt God gently convicting me of my mum’s emotions and attachments to me. I was that lamb and she had no one else but me.

I think when God instilled that picture in my head, it wasn’t to force a decision on me. Rather, it was to help me open up my heart and understand where my mum was coming from, so that I could treat her with more patience and love. As a Christian, I think the biggest struggles and tests are that of having love, particularly in areas where it affects us the most. When St Peter said that we must not think it strange that we should be tested by fire, I think he’s reminding us how often we need to face up to the challenges of having to love someone – not just simply the less fortunate in society – but those who are right in our hearts and homes.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Cassandra Cheong)
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Prayer: Dear Father, help us to open our eyes and ears to you, that we may see and hear the people whom you have called us to love. Forgive us our inadequacies and empower us to love, especially when it hurts the most.

Thanksgiving: Thank you Father for your never failing love and faithfulness in our lives.

This day is called the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary because on it Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, whom, as the angel had told her, God had blessed with a son in her old age.

- Patron Saint Index
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Zephaniah 3:14-18

Shout for joy, daughter of Zion,
Israel, shout aloud!
Rejoice, exult with all your heart,
daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has repealed your sentence;
he has driven your enemies away.
The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst;
you have no more evil to fear.

When that day comes, word will come to Jerusalem:
Zion, have no fear,
do not let your hands fall limp.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a victorious warrior.
He will exult with joy over you,
he will renew you by his love;
he will dance with shouts of joy for you
as on a day of festival.
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Isaiah 12

The rejoicing of a redeemed people

Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Truly, God is my salvation,
I trust, I shall not fear.

For the Lord is my strength, my song,
he became my saviour.

With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.

Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Give thanks to the Lord, give praise to his name!
Make his mighty deeds known to the peoples!
Declare the greatness of his name.

Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Sing a psalm to the Lord
for he has done glorious deeds;
make them known to all the earth!

People of Zion, sing and shout for joy,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
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Luke 1:39-56

Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’

And Mary said:

‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit exults in God my saviour;
because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.
Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name,
and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.
He has shown the power of his arm,
he has routed the proud of heart.
He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.
He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy
– according to the promise he made to our ancestors –
of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.
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My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord

I was at a Pentecost rally on Sunday, and the priest giving the talk asked the congregation whether they truly saw themselves as sons and daughters of God. It was a thought-provoking question, as theoretically, we all know that we are children of God. But are we able to grasp and live out the meaning of that? I am certain that we would not want to do things that would embarrass or put to shame our parents and family. But how about God? God’s standards for His children are all laid out in the bible, and well, it does seem like a very tall order to follow all of them so as to give glory to His name.

Today, we celebrate the feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. Imagine the situation that her cousin Elizabeth was in – way beyond child-bearing age, yet with child. She might be already preparing herself for her twilight years, and all of a sudden she finds herself blessed with a child who will need to be loved and taken care of. Would she be able to cope? At a time when she was probably feeling most alone in her unique situation, Mary goes to her, similarly also pregnant through the grace of God in humanly impossible circumstances.

Based on the description of John leaping in Elizabeth’s womb, it would have been apparent to Mary that she has received a most special blessing from God, for there is a miraculous pregnancy just for the one who is to herald the coming of her son. Instead of feeling arrogant about it, she glorifies God through the proclamation of His greatness in the Magnificat. This is her humility, fully aware of her special privilege, and also completely in the Lord’s service.

As children of our parents, it is probably enough that we are obedient to them. As children of God, we are called to serve our community, glorifying God and spreading His word at the same time. Let us look to Mary as our model of discipleship.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
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Prayer: We pray that in building our relationship with God, we will serve others with humility and love.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for the voice and promptings of God within our hearts and minds.

1 Peter 1:18-25

Remember, the ransom that was paid to free you from the useless way of life your ancestors handed down was not paid in anything corruptible, neither in silver nor gold, but in the precious blood of a lamb without spot or stain, namely Christ; who, though known since before the world was made, has been revealed only in our time, the end of the ages, for your sake. Through him you now have faith in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory for that very reason – so that you would have faith and hope in God.

You have been obedient to the truth and purified your souls until you can love like brothers, in sincerity; let your love for each other be real and from the heart – your new birth was not from any mortal seed but from the everlasting word of the living and eternal God. All flesh is grass and its glory like the wild flower’s. The grass withers, the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains for ever. What is this word? It is the Good News that has been brought to you.
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Mark 10:32-45

The disciples were on the road, going up to Jerusalem; Jesus was walking on ahead of them; they were in a daze, and those who followed were apprehensive. Once more taking the Twelve aside he began to tell them what was going to happen to him: ‘Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the pagans, who will mock him and spit at him and scourge him and put him to death; and after three days he will rise again.’

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him. ‘Master,’ they said to him ‘we want you to do us a favour.’ He said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ They said to him, ‘Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.’ ‘You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus said to them. ‘Can you drink the cup that I must drink, or be baptised with the baptism with which I must be baptised?’ They replied, ‘We can.’ Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I must drink you shall drink, and with the baptism with which I must be baptised you shall be baptised, but as for seats at my right hand or my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted.’

When the other ten heard this they began to feel indignant with James and John, so Jesus called them to him and said to them, ‘You know that among the pagans their so-called rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’
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All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, and the flower wilts; but the word of the Lord remains forever

It’s difficult sometimes to remember how short life is sometimes. I still recall how two years ago, I resigned from my job and intentionally avoided committing myself to any financial obligations in Singapore as I wanted the freedom of being mobile – the ability to uproot and move to any other country should the opportunity arise be it for work or for further education. Now having passed the two years, it’s ironic how I’ve tied myself down instead with more financial commitments and obligations – responsibilities that I saw which needed undertaking.

It’s strange how growing older makes a person worry increasingly about the future. Plans are always changing despite how stable we try and make our future to be. Today’s reading however is a stark reminder about the unpredicatibility and instability of human life. As James 4: 14 -15 says, our lives are like a mist that appears for awhile and vanishes away. Rather than clinging onto our own plans and desperately taking steps to secure our future, the Lord reminds us that everything is only possible because of His will in our lives.

Take for instance the example of the two apostles in the Gospel. They too wanted to secure their future in the event that Jesus was gone. They wanted to secure their fate and seal it with a promise from him. However, even Jesus had to highlight to them that what they asked for was not for him to give, but that of his heavenly father’s own discretion – “ [It] is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared”.

My comfort from today’s readings is this: Everything lies in the hands of the Lord. Whatever happens to me now or in the future, I know that I can trust in God – God who knows me so much more than I know myself (Psalm 139:1-16), who knows my every need and desire (Psalm 37:4-5), who is able to protect me in the face of unforeseen danger (Psalm 91:10-11) and surround me with His favour (Jeremiah 19:11). He is the God in whom I can trust.

Rather than clinging onto my own plans and anxieties, I can cling onto the word of God instead and remind myself of his faithfulness.

My brothers and sisters, let us cling onto the word of God this week. Only the word of God can remain as a stronghold or a fortress in our lives. Only the word of God can secure us in the face of an unforeseeable future or any present difficulty. If there is any verse that speaks to you today or in the course of the week – for instance, a verse that speaks to you directly of God’s favour in your life or which reassures you of his love and providence – I invite you to cling onto it. Write it down somewhere and mull on it daily. Read it in the course of your day as many times as you require, until it takes root firmly in your heart and soul. Trust in the goodness of your Father’s providence today.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Cassandra Cheong)
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Prayer: Dear Father, we trust in your providence and favour in our lives. Help us to remember constantly, that no matter how trying our circumstances may be, you are there with us, guiding us, providing us, watching over us and protecting us through every phase of our lives.

Thanksgiving: Thank you Father for your unconditional favour and blessing in our lives.

1 Peter 1:10-16

It was this salvation that the prophets were looking and searching so hard for; their prophecies were about the grace which was to come to you. The Spirit of Christ which was in them foretold the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would come after them, and they tried to find out at what time and in what circumstances all this was to be expected. It was revealed to them that the news they brought of all the things which have now been announced to you, by those who preached to you the Good News through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, was for you and not for themselves. Even the angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.

Free your minds, then, of encumbrances; control them, and put your trust in nothing but the grace that will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Do not behave in the way that you liked to before you learnt the truth; make a habit of obedience: be holy in all you do, since it is the Holy One who has called you, and scripture says: Be holy, for I am holy.
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Mark 10:28-31

‘What about us?’ Peter asked Jesus. ‘We have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land – not without persecutions – now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.

‘Many who are first will be last, and the last first.’
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As he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct

I used to think that holiness was about keeping a set of rules. Even now, it is easy sometimes for me to become legalistic and follow these rules without realising what the main purpose behind these rules are. Take for example, the “rule” of having no sex before marriage. It is easy to follow it blindly without realising what it’s all about.

What I realise from following rules is this: whenever holiness becomes simply a regulatory game about doing what’s right or wrong, I often fall into a vicious cycle of self-condemnation and guilt without realising the benefits of those “rules”. This is because the motivation behind my behaviour is not holiness but sin-avoidance instead. What’s the difference?
I realise that when I desire to be holy, I naturally want to do what is good simply because I know that is how beautiful Jesus is and I want to draw closer in my relationship with Him. However, when I am sin-conscious, I become wary and focus instead on the very sin itself (and how to avoid it) rather than on Jesus or my relationship with him.

Some may argue that both are two sides of the very same coin. For me, it is more about realising what my motivation is. When my focus is on building my relationship with God, rather than on simply following a set of rules, I realise the desire to do what is right, comes strongly and naturally. I guess, just as the desire to kiss or hug someone you love comes naturally – the desire to become pleasing to God also comes naturally when He fills us with love for Him.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Cassandra Cheong)
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Prayer: Father, sanctify our hearts so that we may become holy for you. Fill us with your love that we may learn to love you and grow deeper in our relationship with you.

Thanksgiving: Thank you Father for giving us your Spirit as our spiritual guide and companion in life.

1 Peter 1:3-9

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead, so that we have a sure hope and the promise of an inheritance that can never be spoilt or soiled and never fade away, because it is being kept for you in the heavens. Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold – only it is more precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire – and then you will have praise and glory and honour. You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.
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Mark 10:17-27

Jesus was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, ‘Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You must not kill; You must not commit adultery; You must not steal; You must not bring false witness; You must not defraud; Honour your father and mother.’ And he said to him, ‘Master, I have kept all these from my earliest days.’ Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him, and he said, ‘There is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.

Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!’ The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted, ‘My children,’ he said to them ‘how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ They were more astonished than ever. ‘In that case’ they said to one another ‘who can be saved?’ Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he said ‘it is impossible, but not for God: because everything is possible for God.’
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Go, sell what you have, and give to (the) poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me

When I was reading the Gospel, immediately the above verse jumped at me. Being a sentimental person with a large amount of clutter in my life, I could imagine how difficult it must have been for the young man to actually give up all his belongings or possessions. Much more challenging however, I find, is the ability to surrender not just the physical attachment I have but the emotional attachments I have as well, for instance, to things, such as my dreams and my plans.

Having recently entered into a relationship, I was chatting with a fellow catholic friend on his experience. He was sharing with me about how God had led him to discern about his current relationship. Being inexperienced in the area of “discerned” dating, I asked him to pray for me as I too needed to discern about mine. It struck hard when he asked, “Are you prepared to let go and let God guide you even if the outcome is different from what you want or desire?”

Sometimes, I think it is easier to follow Jesus in the day-to-day things, rather than in the ones that affect us the most. Relationships have always been an area in my life that I guard very sensitively. While it is the area in which I probably pray the hardest, it is also one of the areas that I paradoxically find the toughest to surrender and let him take control. As much as it is about taking a gigantic leap of faith, it is also about trusting that the One I pray to knows me so well and loves me so much, that I know I can rest safely in his personal plan and providence for me.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Cassandra Cheong)
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Prayer: Father, you know us better than we know ourselves and what is it that we need. Help us to trust in your plans for us – plans to prosper us, not to harm us, but to give us a future and a hope.

Thanksgiving: Thank you Father for loving us the way that you do.

The Day of Pentecost

Today we celebrate the great day of Pentecost when Christ filled the Church with the power of his spirit and sent it out into the world to bring his peace, joy and forgiveness to all mankind.

- The Sunday Missal
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Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11

When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.

Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’
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Galatians 5:16-25

If you are guided by the Spirit you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence, since self-indulgence is the opposite of the Spirit, the Spirit is totally against such a thing, and it is precisely because the two are so opposed that you do not always carry out your good intentions. If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you. When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness, orgies and similar things. I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against things like that, of course. You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires.

Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit.
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John 20:19-23

In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.

‘As the Father sent me,
so am I sending you.’

After saying this he breathed on them and said:

‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive,
they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain,
they are retained.’
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If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you

I recall a debate on abortion which I facilitated for a class of 14 year olds. Expectedly, there were two main perspectives, one pro-life, and the other pro-choice. One group spoke about how wrong it was to take away an innocent life. The other countered that it is not fair to let the child be born into circumstances where the mother is unable to look after him/her. At that time, I remembered feeling uncomfortable at the position I was in – unable to tell the class outright that abortion is wrong, and also not experienced enough to guide them to adopt other perspectives.

What does it mean to live a life led by the Spirit? In the second reading, St Paul writes that self-indulgence is the opposite of the Spirit. The Spirit is centred on God and others, while the opposite is centred on the self. To live a life in the Spirit then, entails a total giving of self. A lot of times, the giving of self seems to be a very painful thing, as it might mean getting hurt, insulted, embarrassed, and so on. So we choose to protect ourselves, and in doing so, end up inflicting what we fear on others. This is why sometimes good intentions are not carried out. Other times, we reason that so long as other people are not harmed, it is alright to do what we want.

We live in an age of instant gratification, hyper-eroticism, and relative morality. It is trying times indeed for people striving to live virtuous lives, for the media and the culture presents many conflicting messages. In a secular society with no absolute moral standards, we will need to constantly turn to the Spirit of truth to guide us in our thoughts, actions and decisions. We will need to let go of our personal fears and doubts and trust in the Spirit completely. “Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit.”

(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
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Prayer: We pray for the grace of leading a life filled with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for the teachings, guidance and empowerment from the Spirit of God.

Philip Neri (1515-1595) came from a poor family, though he was related to Italian nobility. His father, Francisco Neri, worked as a notary. Philip’s brother died in childhood, but his two sisters, Caterina and Elisabetta survived. He was a pious youth, and was taught humanities by the Dominicans.

He moved to San Germano in 1533 to help some family with their business, and while there would escape to a local Dominican chapel in the mountains. He received word in a vision that he had an apostolate in Rome. He cut himself off from his family and went there where he was befriended by Galeotto Caccia who took him in and paid him to tutor his two sons. He wrote poetry in Latin and Italian, and studied philosophy and theology. When he tired of learning, he sold all his books and gave the money to the poor.

He began to visit and care for the sick and impoverished pilgrims. He founded a society of like-minded folk to do the same. He was a friend of St. Ignatius. A layman, he lived in the city as a hermit. During Easter season of 1544, while praying in the catacomb of San Sebastiano, he received a vision of a globe of fire that entered his chest, and he experienced an ecstasy that physically enlarged his heart.

With Persiano Rose, he founded the Confraternity of the Most Holy Trinity. He began to preach, with many converts. In 1550, he considered retiring to the life of a solitary hermit, but received further visions that told him his mission was in Rome. Later he considered missionary work in India, but further visions convinced him to stay in Rome.

He entered the priesthood in 1551, and heard confessions by the hour. He could tell penitents their sins before they confessed, and had the gift of conferring visions. He began working with youth, finding safe places for them to stay, and becoming involved in their lives.

Pope Gregory XIV tried to make him a cardinal, but Philip declined. His popularity was such that he was accused of forming his own sect, but was cleared of this baseless charge. In 1575 he founded the Congregation of the Oratory, a group of priests dedicated to preaching and teaching, but which suffered from accusations of heresy because of the involvement of laymen as preachers. In later years, he was beset with several illnesses, each of which was in turn cured through prayer.

- Patron Saint Index
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Acts of the Apostles 28:16-20.30-31

On our arrival in Rome Paul was allowed to stay in lodgings of his own with the soldier who guarded him.

After three days he called together the leading Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, ‘Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. They examined me and would have set me free, since they found me guilty of nothing involving the death penalty; but the Jews lodged an objection, and I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation to make against my own nation. That is why I have asked to see you and talk to you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear this chain.’

Paul spent the whole of the two years in his own rented lodging. He welcomed all who came to visit him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete freedom and without hindrance from anyone.
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John 21:20-25

Peter turned and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them – the one who had leaned on his breast at the supper and had said to him, ‘Lord, who is it that will betray you?’ Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘What about him, Lord?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to stay behind till I come, what does it matter to you? You are to follow me.’ The rumour then went out among the brothers that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus had not said to Peter, ‘He will not die’, but, ‘If I want him to stay behind till I come.’

This disciple is the one who vouches for these things and has written them down, and we know that his testimony is true.

There were many other things that Jesus did; if all were written down, the world itself, I suppose, would not hold all the books that would have to be written.
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Though I have not done anything against our people or against the traditions of our fathers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans

I’ve had a pretty miserable two weeks. Almost everything that can go wrong has gone wrong these last two weeks. I can’t even begin to describe the stress that has been hanging over me. It feels as if God has abandoned me, and I’m not sure why. It occurred to me when I first committed to writing for Oxygen, that I might meet all kinds of trials that would test my resolve and commitment to this ministry. Chief among all my concerns when I first signed up was how I would manage my time to fit this in. I’ve somehow been able to, by the grace of God and the patience of my editors. But I hadn’t imagined it would test me to quite this degree.

I’m sure this is what most of us face, when we try to commit our time to Him. Somehow, things conspire to thwart our best efforts. Is this the Devil’s doing? I’m sure it is. I refuse to give this ministry up. I refuse to give this ministry up because if I did, I would be letting everyone down. I’d be letting down my editors, the other writers, our readers. Most of all, I’d be letting down God. And if this was a battle for my soul between the Devil and God, then the Devil would’ve gained an inch if I gave this up.

I figure, if our Apostle Paul can find the resolve, if Paul can put all his faith in God’s provision, then I can do the same too. If He came to the aid of Paul, I know He will do the same for me. If Paul can deal with the inscrutable circumstances he had to face, I can as well. If Paul can deal with problem after problem, each one more difficult than the last, well, I can too!

Paul’s resolve is pretty remarkable. For a man who had to endure beatings, floggings, imprisonment, ridicule, failure, all manner of persecution, his hope was unwavering. He never felt sorry for himself. His optimism was beyond reproach. Even being lost at sea did not break his spirit. God chose a giant amongst men to inspire us to reach higher, do better, run harder despite our pain and suffering – “Do everything without grumbling, so that without fault or blame, you will be children of God without reproach among a crooked and perverse generation. You are a light among them, like stars in the universe, holding to the Word of life” (Philippians 2:14-16). Paul walked the walk, even when sometimes things were inscrutable.

Next week is a new week, another week which I’ll commit to God. Whatever is the lesson I’m supposed to learn from this last two weeks’ struggle, I pray He gives me the wisdom to see. I’m beat down at the moment, confused, dejected and unsure how to proceed. But I believe He makes all things happen for a reason and clarity will come eventually. I just need to hold on, with hope and optimism that is unwavering.

“What you endure is in order to correct you… all correction is painful at the moment, rather than pleasant; later it brings the fruit of peace, that is, holiness to those who have been trained by it. Lift up then, your drooping hands, and strengthen your trembling knees”. (Hebrews 12:7-12).

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: I pray for wisdom, clarity and His guidance to help me walk this way. Things have become inscrutable lately and I am lost, but I know He knows all things and sees all things.

Thanksgiving: I give thanks for the prayers of my family, friends and loved ones. I give thanks for their love, their patience and their unwavering support. I couldn’t do this without their help, their encouragement and their belief in me.

Bede (672-735) was born around the time England was finally completely Christianized. He was raised from age seven in the abbey of Sts. Peter and Paul at Wearmouth-Jarrow, and lived there the rest of his life. He was a Benedictine monk, and the spiritual student of the founder, St. Benedict Biscop. He was ordained in 702 by St. John of Beverley. He was a teacher and author; he wrote about history, rhetoric, mathematics, music, astronomy, poetry, grammar, philosophy, hagiography, homiletics, and Bible commentary.

He was known as the most learned man of his day, and his writings started the idea of dating this era from the incarnation of Christ. The central theme of Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica is of the Church using the power of its spiritual, doctrinal, and cultural unity to stamp out violence and barbarism. Our knowledge of England before the 8th century is mainly the result of Bede’s writing. He was declared a Doctor of the Church on 13 November 1899 by Pope Leo XIII.

- Patron Saint Index

Gregory (1020-1085) was educated in Rome, Italy. He was a Benedictine monk, and chaplain to Pope Gregory VI. He was in charge of the Patrimony of St. Peter. He was a reformer and an excellent administrator. He was chosen the 152nd pope, but he declined the crown. He was chief counsellor to Pope Victor II, Pope Stephen IX, Pope Benedict X, and Pope Nicholas II. He eventually became the 157th pope.

At the time of his ascension, simony and a corrupt clergy threatened to destroy faith in the Church. Gregory took the throne as a reformer, and Emperor Henry IV promised to support him. Gregory suspended all clerics who had purchased their position, and ordered the return of all purchased church property.

The corrupt clergy rebelled; Henry IV broke his promise, and promoted the rebels. Gregory responded by excommunicating anyone involved in lay investiture. He summoned Henry to Rome, but the emperor’s supporters drove Gregory into exile. Henry installed the anti-pope Guibert of Ravenna, who was driven from Rome by Normans who supported Gregory; the Normans were, themselves, so out of control that the people of Rome drove them out. Gregory then retreated to Salerno, Italy, where he spent the remainder of his papacy.

- Patron Saint Index

Catherine (1566-1607) had a religious upbringing. She was initially sent to a convent at the age of 14, but was taken back home by her family who opposed her religious vocation and wanted her to marry well. They eventually gave in, and Catherine became a Carmelite of the Ancient Observance at 16, taking the name Sister Mary Magdalene. She as a mystic, and led a hidden life of prayer and self-denial, praying particularly for the renewal of the Church and encouraging the sisters in holiness. Her life was marked by many extraordinary graces.

- Patron Saint Index
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Acts of the Apostles 25:13-21

King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus. Their visit lasted several days, and Festus put Paul’s case before the king. ‘There is a man here’ he said ‘whom Felix left behind in custody, and while I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and elders of the Jews laid information against him, demanding his condemnation. But I told them that Romans are not in the habit of surrendering any man, until the accused confronts his accusers and is given an opportunity to defend himself against the charge. So they came here with me, and I wasted no time but took my seat on the tribunal the very next day and had the man brought in. When confronted with him, his accusers did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected; but they had some argument or other with him about their own religion and about a dead man called Jesus whom Paul alleged to be alive. Not feeling qualified to deal with questions of this sort, I asked him if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem to be tried there on this issue. But Paul put in an appeal for his case to be reserved for the judgement of the august emperor, so I ordered him to be remanded until I could send him to Caesar.’
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John 21:15-19

Jesus showed himself to his disciples, and after they had eaten he said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?’ He answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He replied, ‘Yes, Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Look after my sheep.’ Then he said to him a third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was upset that he asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and said, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.

‘I tell you most solemnly,
when you were young
you put on your own belt
and walked where you liked;
but when you grow old
you will stretch out your hands,
and somebody else will put a belt round you
and take you where you would rather not go.’
In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, ‘Follow me.’
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Do you love me more than these?

When I want to annoy my life partner, I like to play this game where I ask him repeatedly, “Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me? How much do you love me?” Usually he humors me by saying yes and yes again. But if I take it too far, he’ll snap back and say, “If I didn’t love you, would I bother spending so much time with you?” Too true!

The scarcest resource we have is not money. It’s not gold, not air, not water, not food, not oil. It’s Time. There is no way to ‘bank’ it or ‘buy’ it. You can’t mine it or store it. It doesn’t replenish, you can’t plant more of it. We’re all given a fixed block of Time, regardless of wealth or stature. And how we use it has tail effects that last, long after Time has passed on. Time is the base ingredient from which our memories are made. Every minute, every second that we’re given is a precious, irreplaceable resource. How we spend our Time and who we spend it with, is a commitment we make anew each day to our priorities in life and to those most important to us.

In today’s reading, we see Peter saddened by Jesus questioning him repeatedly, “Do you love me”. This exchange between Peter and Jesus – the questioning back and forth – expresses what being a Christian is about. If we love Him, does it show in the time we allocate to Him? Being a Christian, we’re asked daily to reaffirm our commitment to Him. We choose every day how we spend the Time we’ve been given. Does our work consume us or do we commit Time each day, to love Him, in a special and exclusive way?

“Do you love me more than these” (John 21:15). Jesus might as well have been asking us, “Do you love me more than your job, your conference calls, your family commitments, your boyfriend, your TV, your gym time, your hot yoga?”

Life is full of distractions. And funnily enough, the moment that we commit a block of Time to Him, is when we find some other distraction to fill it with. It’s up to us to choose and to choose wisely, how we spend our Time.

“Whoever wants to serve me, let him follow me and wherever I am, there shall my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him” (John 12: 26).

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: We pray for the wisdom to manage the time that we’re given here on earth carefully. We pray for the wisdom to prioritize according to His will, not ours. Many things are urgent, but they’re not always important. We pray for the wisdom to discern between what needs our attention, and what is just noise and distraction.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for the people who give us their Time so generously, to help us to grow as Christians. We give thanks for the people who spend their Time choosing to do His work, putting Him first instead of themselves.

Acts of the Apostles 22:30;23:6-11

Since the tribune wanted to know what precise charge the Jews were bringing, he freed Paul and gave orders for a meeting of the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin; then he brought Paul down and stood him in front of them. Now Paul was well aware that one section was made up of Sadducees and the other of Pharisees, so he called out in the Sanhedrin, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees. It is for our hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.’ As soon as he said this a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was split between the two parties. For the Sadducees say there is neither resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, while the Pharisees accept all three. The shouting grew louder, and some of the scribes from the Pharisees’ party stood up and protested strongly, ‘We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?’ Feeling was running high, and the tribune, afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered his troops to go down and haul him out and bring him into the fortress.

Next night, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem, now you must do the same in Rome.’
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John 17:20-26

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

‘Holy Father,
I pray not only for these,
but for those also
who through their words will believe in me.
May they all be one.
Father, may they be one in us,
as you are in me and I am in you,
so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.
I have given them the glory you gave to me,
that they may be one as we are one.
With me in them and you in me,
may they be so completely one
that the world will realise that it was you who sent me
and that I have loved them as much as you loved me.
Father, I want those you have given me
to be with me where I am,
so that they may always see the glory you have given me
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Father, Righteous One,
the world has not known you,
but I have known you,
and these have known that you have sent me.
I have made your name known to them
and will continue to make it known,
so that the love with which you loved me may be in them,
and so that I may be in them.’
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Courage! As you have borne witness to me here in Jerusalem, so must you do in Rome

My home country is about to hold an election. It feels like the day of reckoning is drawing near for the current establishment. While a part of me is fearful of what this might mean, a part of me is also excited.

I’m fearful because I’m not sure the alternatives are any better than what we have right now. It’s likely to be a time of uneasiness, uncertainty, even a time of unrest. I don’t know how prepared we all are for that. Change is rarely a peaceful process. It almost always is a longer journey than we expect. I pray my loved ones will be safe in this time of uncertainty.

But I’m excited because there is a real difference in the people on the ground. We’re finally taking a hard look at ourselves. The old apathy has given way to a genuine concern for the kind of nation we’re building, the kind of nation we’re leaving for our children. I guess we’re finally putting aside our individual interests, discovering our collective conscience and rallying around a need for change.

Change takes courage; courage and a certain selflessness, a willingness to look beyond one’s self and see the bigger picture – “I put no value on my life, if only I can finish my race and complete the service to which I have been assigned by the Lord Jesus, to announce the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).

Paul’s mission was based on a need for change – “I have set you as a light to the pagan nations, so that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:47). Paul’s message from the beginning was one that promised an all-inclusive salvation, for both the Jews and non-Jews. From his conversion on the road to Damascus to his bold witness in front of the council in Rome, Paul fearlessly paved the way for a change of heart within the Church and amongst the non-Jews and Jews of his time. This was a controversial message. The constructs of religion during Paul’s time provided the basis for a web of vested interests to exist and thrive. No one was incentivized to have these undone. It takes great courage to effect change.

Change is hard. It’s disruptive. Why should we try? It’s not our business to rock the boat. It’s not as if we can make a difference, why bother? I used to think like that. This isn’t my fight! I left my home country years ago! I’ve already cast my vote! But if everyone thought like I did, with such apathy, then the old ways would still prevail, there would be no progress, no reform and our nation would really be beyond salvation. If everyone thought like I did, the change which our country so badly needs so we can move forward, won’t happen.

Wouldn’t it be a tragedy, if we failed because of our inertia and apathy?

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: We pray for a peaceful process of transition, in countries where there are elections pending. We pray that both sides exercise restraint, patience and tolerance. We pray for a peaceful process of change.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for the courageous dissenters who put themselves at risk for the service of their nation; who try to change things for the better for all of us. Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.

Acts of the Apostles 20:28-38

Paul addressed these words to the elders of the church of Ephesus:

‘Be on your guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you the overseers, to feed the Church of God which he bought with his own blood. I know quite well that when I have gone fierce wolves will invade you and will have no mercy on the flock. Even from your own ranks there will be men coming forward with a travesty of the truth on their lips to induce the disciples to follow them. So be on your guard, remembering how night and day for three years I never failed to keep you right, shedding tears over each one of you. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace that has power to build you up and to give you your inheritance among all the sanctified.

‘I have never asked anyone for money or clothes; you know for yourselves that the work I did earned enough to meet my needs and those of my companions. I did this to show you that this is how we must exert ourselves to support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.”’

When he had finished speaking he knelt down with them all and prayed. By now they were all in tears; they put their arms round Paul’s neck and kissed him; what saddened them most was his saying they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.
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John 17:11-19

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

‘Holy Father,
keep those you have given me true to your name,
so that they may be one like us.
While I was with them,
I kept those you had given me true to your name.
I have watched over them
and not one is lost
except the one who chose to be lost,
and this was to fulfil the scriptures.
But now I am coming to you
and while still in the world I say these things
to share my joy with them to the full.
I passed your word on to them,
and the world hated them,
because they belong to the world
no more than I belong to the world.
I am not asking you to remove them from the world,
but to protect them from the evil one.
They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth;
your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
I have sent them into the world,
and for their sake I consecrate myself
so that they too may be consecrated in truth.’
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Happiness lies more in giving than receiving

It’s hard to be a cheerful giver, isn’t it, especially when it’s with one’s own family? Family love can be hard love. It’s hardest to be generous with the ones we love, ironic as that may sound. Family love is hard love because it’s the most honest love we’ll get and the most honest love we’ll give. It’s hard because with our family, we are ourselves. There’s no pretense. We’ve known each other for so long, been through so much together, that there is no need for ceremony.

I’m not very good with family love. My family sees my very worst side. I’m impatient, short, sarcastic and dismissive. When I’m tired or stressed, which happens a lot, I say hurtful things, especially to my parents. When they’re tired or stressed, they do the same. We both know not to take the other too seriously when it gets this way. We know to forgive and move on. But it doesn’t make it any easier. Family love is hard love – both ways.

Yet family love is the only kind of love that’s so strong, parents sacrifice themselves for their children, and children in turn sacrifice themselves for their parents. A young couple get married and give up their dreams to raise a family. Their children grow up and in turn, ensure their parents are cared for in their old age. As hard as it is to love one’s family, it is honest, genuine love. Our family will love us in spite of who we are or how flawed we can be. Family love forgives all ills, no matter how painful it might have been at first. Family love is not the sentimental love of the Hallmark channel. Family love is the rock against which we anchor ourselves, against which our characters are shaped. It’s hard love, but it’s good love. It’s faithful love.

The love that Christ felt for us, is like family love. He loved us, in spite of ourselves – “few would accept to die for an upright person; although for a very good person, perhaps someone would dare to die. But see how God manifested his love for us : while we were still sinners, Christ died for us and we became just through his blood” (Romans 5:7-8). The kind of love that Christ feels for us, is the kind of all-forgiving, all-accepting, all-giving love a father feels for his son, and a mother feels for her daughter.

When Jesus prayed his priestly prayer, he asked that we be ‘consecrated in the truth’, that we would be one with him and the Father. Being one with Christ and the Father would mean exhibiting the same capacity to love one another, despite ourselves. If we’re consecrated in the truth, there should be a measure of Christ in us.

Today, take a look at your family members – husbands, wives, mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, sisters and brothers. Have we loved them enough? Or have we held back from loving them? Have we loved them, with a Christ-like love or are we holding on to the grudges of hurts past and present? Can we try to look beyond all that and love our family, as Christ loved us?

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: We pray for the capacity to cherish our loved ones, as Christ cherished us. We pray for the strength to look beyond hurts and wounds, both past and present.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for our family – parents and siblings – who love us so patiently and faithfully despite ourselves.

Bernadine (1381-1444) was a Friar Minor, a priest, an itinerant preacher, and a theological writer. His preaching skills were so great, and the conversions so numerous, that he has become associated with all areas of speaking, advertising, public relations, etc.

Bernadine’s charismatic preaching filled the piazze of Italian cities. Thousands of listeners flocked to hear him and to participate in dramatic rituals, which included collective weeping, bonfires of vanities, and exorcisms. He was a renowned peacemaker, in the Franciscan tradition, who tried to calm feuding clans and factions in the turbulent political world of the Renaissance. His preaching visits would often culminate in mass reconciliations, as listeners were persuaded to exchange the bacio di pace, or kiss of peace.

Bernadine was sensitive to the demands of secular life, and tried to negotiate between Christian ethics and a conflicting code of honour that stressed retaining face in a public world. He argued that the catalyst of civil discord in the urban setting was malicious gossip, which led to insults, and, too often, vendetta by aggressive males. His surprising allies in his peacekeeping mission were the women who comprised the majority of his audience.

- Patron Saint Index
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Acts of the Apostles 20:17-27

From Miletus Paul sent for the elders of the church of Ephesus. When they arrived he addressed these words to them:

‘You know what my way of life has been ever since the first day I set foot among you in Asia, how I have served the Lord in all humility, with all the sorrows and trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. I have not hesitated to do anything that would be helpful to you; I have preached to you, and instructed you both in public and in your homes, urging both Jews and Greeks to turn to God and to believe in our Lord Jesus.

‘And now you see me a prisoner already in spirit; I am on my way to Jerusalem, but have no idea what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit, in town after town, has made it clear enough that imprisonment and persecution await me. But life to me is not a thing to waste words on, provided that when I finish my race I have carried out the mission the Lord Jesus gave me – and that was to bear witness to the Good News of God’s grace.

‘I now feel sure that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will ever see my face again. And so here and now I swear that my conscience is clear as far as all of you are concerned, for I have without faltering put before you the whole of God’s purpose.’
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John 17:1-11

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

‘Father, the hour has come:
glorify your Son
so that your Son may glorify you;
and, through the power over all mankind that you have given him,
let him give eternal life to all those you have entrusted to him.
And eternal life is this:
to know you,
the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
I have glorified you on earth
and finished the work that you gave me to do.
Now, Father, it is time for you to glorify me
with that glory I had with you
before ever the world was.
I have made your name known
to the men you took from the world to give me.
They were yours and you gave them to me,
and they have kept your word.
Now at last they know
that all you have given me comes indeed from you;
for I have given them the teaching you gave to me,
and they have truly accepted this, that I came from you,
and have believed that it was you who sent me.
I pray for them;
I am not praying for the world
but for those you have given me,
because they belong to you:
all I have is yours
and all you have is mine,
and in them I am glorified.
I am not in the world any longer,
but they are in the world,
and I am coming to you.’
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Indeed I put no value on my life; if only I can finish my race and complete the service to which I have been assigned by the Lord Jesus

It is my sister’s birthday today. I think God gave me my sister to show me that it is ok to take some risks, even if it means taking a detour along our journey in life. Some years ago, my sister very courageously decided that she wanted to pursue her passion in the culinary arts. At the time, I thought it was a colossally bad idea and told her so. We were in the middle of a global financial crisis. Everyone knows that you hunker down and work hard during a crisis. You don’t quit your job to pursue your dreams. Still, she prayed hard about it and somehow felt it was her calling to go. So she pushed on despite my protests. As it turns out, she had a real flair for it, graduated and got a job at a top restaurant in London. Looking back, I could have been more supportive instead of flying off the handle the way I did. I look at things through the harsh filter of math. Pursuing one’s passion in the culinary arts did not make mathematical sense to me. The way I saw it, when you did the numbers, it simply did not add up.

I’m glad she took time out to do it. She showed me that there are other ‘ways’, besides ‘my way’. She showed me that our journey in life doesn’t just have to follow a single highway to its very end. It’s ok to take some risks, to get off the well-worn road, take a detour and follow your calling. And just because we get off that highway, it doesn’t mean we can’t get back on, or that things will end poorly. She showed me that we just have to have faith that things eventually work themselves out.

In today’s first reading, we see Paul getting ready to set off for Jerusalem again. Paul himself knew through a vision, that this was going to be a colossally bad idea. “But now I am going to Jerusalem, chained by the Spirit, without knowing what will happen to me there. Yet in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that imprisonment and troubles await me” (Acts 20:22). Most of us would’ve just backed out and not bothered. Not Paul. “Indeed I put no value on my life; if only I can finish my race and complete the service to which I have been assigned by the Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:24). Led by the Spirit, Paul made choices that defied logic. Like all the heroes of faith before him – Abraham, Noah, Moses, Gideon, Samson, David, Samuel – Paul was not afraid to follow the prompting of the Spirit, to see through to fulfillment, God’s promises.

In order to know God, it’s sometimes necessary to make choices that open the door to uncertainty, risk and even certain failure. Eternal life starts here on earth, being at one with Him, trusting Him, experiencing the peace, joy and love that come from faith that He will guide our way. It takes courage to walk His way. Often His way can look illogical – Noah building his ark, Abraham leaving his home at his old age, Moses giving up being an Egyptian prince to live a nomadic life – but it all serves a higher purpose, His purpose.

Is there a calling we have not heeded or responded to, that is tugging at our hearts? Do we ignore it because we’re afraid to try, afraid to fail, afraid to get off the comfortable path we have put ourselves on? Maybe we would be happier and more at peace, if we pursued it?

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: I pray for the same courage my sister had, to take the detours along our journey of life. I pray for her faith and courage to follow my heart’s calling and to heed it.

Thanksgiving: I give thanks for the people who are my family. I give thanks for their love, support and tolerance when I am being difficult, bossy and think I know all the answers.

Acts of the Apostles 19:1-8

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul made his way overland as far as Ephesus, where he found a number of disciples. When he asked, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ they answered, ‘No, we were never even told there was such a thing as a Holy Spirit.’ ‘Then how were you baptised?’ he asked. ‘With John’s baptism’ they replied. ‘John’s baptism’ said Paul ‘was a baptism of repentance; but he insisted that the people should believe in the one who was to come after him-in other words Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus, and the moment Paul had laid hands on them the Holy Spirit came down on them, and they began to speak with tongues and to prophesy. There were about twelve of these men.

He began by going to the synagogue, where he spoke out boldly and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. He did this for three months.
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John 16:29-33

His disciples said to Jesus, ‘Now you are speaking plainly and not using metaphors! Now we see that you know everything, and do not have to wait for questions to be put into words; because of this we believe that you came from God.’ Jesus answered them:

‘Do you believe at last?
Listen; the time will come – in fact it has come already –
when you will be scattered,
each going his own way and leaving me alone.
And yet I am not alone,
because the Father is with me.
I have told you all this
so that you may find peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but be brave: I have conquered the world.’
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I have told you all this, so that in me you may have peace. You will have trouble in the world, but courage! I have overcome the world

I suffer from migraines. Lately, they have become more common and more violent. A migraine is a severe, pulsating headache. Put bluntly, it feels like a large spike is being hammered into the top of your head while the skin on your face is being pulled backwards against itself. A migraine is usually accompanied by nausea, photo-sensitivity and incontinence. You can’t see, hear, eat, sleep or work. You can’t function. You’re powerless to do anything except lie down, turn off all the lights, pray and wait till it passes. Before it happens, a migraine ‘announces’ itself. First you feel tired. Then you start to see shadows and your face gets numb and icy. When the pain finally comes, it pounds down on you, in unrelenting waves.

I had a migraine attack this week. It happened while I was on my way back from Shanghai. I remember praying and scrambling for the holy water my mother had given me and using it to wash down all the drugs I take each time this happens. I don’t know how I endured the journey to the airport, the flight itself or the cab-ride home. My boyfriend tells me I was crumpled over in the bathroom, crying, when he got home. It has passed now and I am fine this morning. But I only have a vague memory of how I got home.

When I am ill, God becomes an almost tangible force. When I am incapacitated, I feel Him taking over. Things happen as if on ‘autopilot’ and somehow, I know to reach for medication, to pull myself together, to keep moving even if all I want to do is throw up. I feel Him in the depths of my pain when I am doubled over on the bathroom floor. I feel Him in the relief between the waves of pain. I feel Him when the pain subsides and I am soaked through with cold sweat. I know He is there, guiding me through it, putting me through the motions of what I have to do. Despite the pain, I feel a kind of peace. I know He will make me well – and He has every single time. It’s when I am ill, that I feel Him the strongest. I know He is the strength that lets me endure whatever it is I have to endure. I know the pain will pass because He overcomes all things.

“I have told you all this, so that in me you may have peace… I have overcome the world” – John 16:33. Jesus, on the eve of his sacrifice, would have known what was in store for him yet he faced it with peace. And so do I. Faith is to hold on fast to the hope you will get well, to hold on without wavering even when you’re in despair and the pain is beyond what you can bear. Faith is to hold on and feel the peace that comes from knowing you will get well and that God is walking with you. When I am ill, is when I feel Him the strongest.

“Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned neither will the flames consume you. For I am your savior, I Yahweh, your God”. – Isaiah 43: 1-3.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: We pray for all those who are sick, who are despairing, we pray that they find peace in the midst of their suffering. We pray that God comes to them, to give them strength, clarity, peace.

Thanksgiving:  We give thanks for those who take care of us, who keep us safe and loved, when we’re ill and can’t take care of ourselves. We give thanks for all the care-givers, for their patience and unwavering love and support.

Christ Forgives Our Sins

Today we say Yes to the Lord who comes to forgive us our sins, and we praise him who shows such mercy to the poor and the weak.

- The Sunday Missal
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Acts of the Apostles 1:15-17.20-26

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

Let someone else take his office.

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

Having nominated two candidates, Joseph known as Barsabbas, whose surname was Justus, and Matthias, they prayed, ‘Lord, you can read everyone’s heart; show us therefore which of these two you have chosen to take over this ministry and apostolate, which Judas abandoned to go to his proper place.’ They then drew lots for them, and as the lot fell to Matthias, he was listed as one of the twelve apostles.
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1 John 4:11-16

My dear people,
since God has loved us so much,
we too should love one another.
No one has ever seen God;
but as long as we love one another
God will live in us
and his love will be complete in us.
We can know that we are living in him
and he is living in us
because he lets us share his Spirit.
We ourselves saw and we testify
that the Father sent his Son
as saviour of the world.
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God lives in him, and he in God.
We ourselves have known and put our faith in
God’s love towards ourselves.
God is love
and anyone who lives in love lives in God,
and God lives in him.
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John 17:11-19

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

‘Holy Father,
keep those you have given me true to your name,
so that they may be one like us.
While I was with them,
I kept those you had given me true to your name.
I have watched over them
and not one is lost
except the one who chose to be lost,
and this was to fulfil the scriptures.
But now I am coming to you
and while still in the world I say these things
to share my joy with them to the full.
I passed your word on to them,
and the world hated them,
because they belong to the world
no more than I belong to the world.
I am not asking you to remove them from the world,
but to protect them from the evil one.
They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth;
your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
I have sent them into the world,
and for their sake I consecrate myself
so that they too may be consecrated in truth.’
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No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love comes to its perfection in us

Two weeks ago, my father had his 70th birthday party. Going home for it gave me a chance to reflect on people’s capacity for love and generosity. My parents have been married for 40yrs. That’s a really long time, in today’s context. I believe marriage is a team event. Building a family is a team event. At my father’s 70th birthday party, all our extended family were present – uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, parish members – everyone showed up. I remember the roles each of them have played in helping my parents stay together and helping us to keep our family together. I remember how everyone held us in their love all the times that he was ill. I remember the compassion with which everyone reached out to us, when we weren’t sure if he was going to make it. I remember all the prayers, the candles lit, the masses offered up, the goodwill and the love everyone extended to us. I remember the people who stopped by just to see if we were ok, sometimes with take-out to make sure we had something to eat while my mother watched over him. I remember the phone calls, the nice SMS messages. I remember every kind gesture offered, the hugs or just the hands clasped around ours when we were frightened he wouldn’t make it.

My father seems to have been ill a lot through the years. I think we’ve soldiered on this long because of the love and generosity of our extended family and the friends we’ve been so blessed to have. Every family has its low points and its high points. Our trials were easier to bear because we had each other and everyone else to hold on to. Our victories were sweeter, because we had each other and everyone else to celebrate them with. It was wonderful to see everyone at my father’s birthday. As much as it was a celebration of him, I think it was also a celebration of the love and generosity that have been extended to our family through the years.

The same it is with our Church. We each have a role to play in God’s plan for His family. And like building a family and keeping it together, building His church is a team event. When Jesus prayed his priestly prayer, he prayed we would all stand together as a family – “I pray not only for these but also for those who through their word will believe in me. May they all be one as you Father are in me and I am in you… I have given them the Glory you have given me that they may be one as we are one. I in them, and you in me. Thus shall they reach perfection in unity and the world shall know that you have sent me and that I have loved them just as you loved me”.

God never promised us the road would be easy. Quite the contrary, “Truly, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices” (John 16:20). He said we would meet with persecution and tribulations – “I have given them your word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world” (John 17:14). But our crosses are easier to bear because we have one another – Our Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and us all together. For that, we give thanks. “No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love comes to its perfection in us” – 1 John 4:12

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)
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Prayer: We pray for those who are ill, lonely, depressed and isolated. We pray God brings them comfort, friendship and solace to get them through their difficult periods.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for the love and support of family, friends and parish members who have helped us to build our family and to keep it together all these years.