Friday, Jun 30 – When You Believe…

30 Jun – First Martyrs of the Church of Rome

EASTER

It was Wednesday of Holy Week in the last year of the Second World War. I saw her kneeling before Our Lady’s statue, tears running down her face. I whispered, “What’s the trouble?” She sniffled, plunged her hand into her black pocketbook and pulled out a crumpled telegram. Then she really sobbed, “I got this only two hours ago.” It read, “The War Department regrets to inform you that your son is missing in action.”

What could I do but mumble a stumbling word of consolation and promise some really earnest prayers?

The next morning, Holy Thursday, I saw that mother kneeling before the decorated altar, her face now sadder than ever. She seemed to have grown old overnight. She was, like Our Lord, in a garden of agony.

On Good Friday I noticed her seated in a front bench, staring fixedly at the blank altar wt its unveiled crucifix. She was like Mary standing beneath the cross. It was Good Friday in her soul.

Then on Easter Saturday night before we started the Easter vigil ceremonies, she came to tell me the good news. This was not the same woman. This was a new woman with new telegram. Her son was safe, a prisoner of war. She did not tell me; she could not talk; she simply thrust the telegram into my hands. She was crying again – but her tears now made a rainbow of joy. When she left, I called out, “Happy Easter!”… but from the radiant smile on her motherly face, I knew I was wasting my breath. She knew what Easter meant much better than I did. Was it not the resurrection of her son?

- Father Manton (1000 Stories You Can Use, Volume Two by Frank Mihalic, SVD)

How real is God’s presence in the world to you?
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2 Kings 25:1-12

Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem, and laid siege to it; they built siegeworks against it all around. So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedikiah. On the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine became so severe in the city that there was no food for they people of the land. Then a breach was made in the city wall; the king with all the soldiers fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the king’s garden, though the Chaldeans were all around the city. They went in the direction of the Arabah. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho; all his army was scattered, deserting him. Then they captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, who passed sentence on him. They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, then put out the eyes of Zedekiah; they bound him in fetters and took him to Babylon.

In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month – which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon – Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He burned the house of the Lord, the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. Al the army of Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried into exile the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon – all the rest of the population. But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest people of the land to be vinedressers and tillers of the soil.
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Matthew 8:1-4

When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose: Be made clean!” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
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[This is just a story with several parallels to the Catholic faith]

“Once upon a time in a distant land, during the last battle of a long war, a righteous King died. After the battle which they won, the King’s troops carried his body back to the castle. As was tradition, the king was placed on a raft and the raft was burned as it went over the sea. However, out of the burning raft came a jewel radiating with a holy light. The jewel floated across the water and came to rest on the sandy shore, at the King’s son’s feet. News of the magic jewel spread across the land in no time and everybody wanted to see it. The Prince decided to use the jewel in the royal crown, but after many unsuccessful attempts by numerous jewelers, he was told in a dream to place the jewel in the centre of the haven, where everybody would be able to see it. Although skeptic about any possible thefts, the Prince still decided to erect a small glass shrine in which the jewel was placed. And in all the years since then, nobody ever thought of stealing that jewel, since it was a treasure that belonged to all in the land.”

“That was a long time ago. It’s just a fairy-tale for many people, although this shrine can still be seen somewhere in town beside the marketplace. I guess nobody decided to remove the shrine to keep that story going, or maybe as a sign of respect for an unknown king that lived hundreds of years ago. However, some folks rumoured that they had gone to the jewel for guidance, and that they had received help after some time. Others said that they had done just that, but that they never got any help whatsoever.”

“Anyway, that is just part of this land’s history. Just a folktale, nothing more, nothing less. Now to think that a jewel could have magical powers..”

After being told the story by his grandfather, the young boy decided to go and take the jewel out of its shrine to see whether it was really magical. He sneaked out at night, unseen, and made for the marketplace, located the shrine, and forced it open. And there it was, the jewel radiating a faint light in the dark, barely perceptible. But as he was about to take it out of the shrine, a voice spoke from nowhere. Or maybe it was from everywhere.

“Boy, this jewel is made to stay in the shrine for all those who still believe in it. I am the King that lived long before and this jewel is my gift to the people of this land. When the shrine was first built, many came to it, thinking it was magic and asked for many things: healing, fortune, happiness, love. And they came thinking the jewel was a gift from their deceased king. In a way, it was just that. And it still is. All the people that live on this land today are still the people I care for, though none of you know me anymore. They came to the jewel, thinking the jewel was magic, but the jewel was only something material they could relate to. Only very few realized that the jewel was only a symbol for the king that was still looking after them after his death. And as years passed, fewer and fewer people believed in me. Nobody had faith anymore. Or if they had faith, they then asked for things that would only harm them. This jewel is a sign, a symbol to say that I am still looking after them, that they are still my people and that I didn’t leave them alone. If they only choose to believe in me, I will help them, just as I did to all those who came to me when I was still in this world. But as their faith dwindles, the light of my presence in their hearts also fades. The people of this land are free, and as such, I can do nothing that goes against their freedom. But now, boy, do not remove the jewel. For it does not belong to you but to all those who are in need..”

The young boy woke up the next day in his bed, not even remembering how he had come back home. After breakfast, he rushed to the shrine but it was no longer there. He rushed back home to ask his grandfather about the shrine, but his grandfather said that such a shrine had never existed, and that he had never told him such a story. But the young boy believed. A king had lived before, a righteous king who was still looking after his people. And the king would help him one day, if he just believed in him.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Lyndley Ah Qune)
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We pray that, as the leper who believed in Jesus and sought out his help when he was preaching to the people, we may still believe in Him and seek out his help today. “There can be miracles, when you believe..”

Thanks be to God for His presence in the world, in our lives.

Upcoming Readings:
Sat, 01 Jul – Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19; Matthew 8:5-17
Sun, 02 Jul – Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24; 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5:21-43; Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Disclaimer: The reflections expressed in this e-mail are the writer’s own. They may not necessarily reflect the teachings of the Catholic Church. Nonetheless we should all be able to learn something from it.

Thursday, Jun 29 – Presents

29 Jun – Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul

EIGHT GIFTS THAT DON’T COST A CENT

1. THE GIFT OF LISTENING…
But, you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.
2. THE GIFT OF AFFECTION…
Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.

3. THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER…
Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”

4. THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE…
It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

5. THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT…
A simple and sincere, “You look great in red,” “You did a super job”, or “That was a wonderful meal” can make someone’s day.

6. THE GIFT OF A FAVOUR…
Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

7. THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE…
There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

8. THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION…
The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone, really it’s not that hard, to say, “Hello” or “Thank You”.

Which of these gifts can you afford to give today?
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Acts of the Apostles 3:1-10

Once, when Peter and John were going up to the Temple for the prayers at the ninth hour, it happened that there was a man being carried past. He was a cripple from birth; and they used to put him down every day near the Temple entrance called the Beautiful Gate so that he could beg from the people going in. When this man saw Peter and John on their way into the Temple he begged from them. Both Peter and John looked straight at him and said, ‘Look at us.’ He turned to them expectantly, hoping to get something from them, but Peter said, ‘I have neither silver nor gold, but I will give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!’ Peter then took him by the hand and helped him to stand up. Instantly his feet and ankles became firm, he jumped up, stood, and began to walk, and he went with them into the Temple, walking and jumping and praising God. Everyone could see him walking and praising God, and they recognised him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. They were all astonished and unable to explain what had happened to him.
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Galatians 1:11-20

The Good News I preached is not a human message that I was given by men, it is something I learnt only through a revelation of Jesus Christ. You must have heard of my career as a practising Jew, how merciless I was in persecuting the Church of God, how much damage I did to it, how I stood out among other Jews of my generation, and how enthusiastic I was for the traditions of my ancestors.

Then God, who had specially chosen me while i was still in my mother’s womb, called me through his grace and chose to reveal his Son to me, so that I might preach the Good News about him to the pagans. I did not stop to discuss this with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were already apostles before me, but I went off to Arabia at once and later went straight back from there to Damascus. Even when after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him for fifteen days, I did not see any of the other apostles; I only saw James, the brother of the Lord, and I swear before God that what I have just written is the literal truth.
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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 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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Christmas and friends’ birthdays come a close second to studies in activities in which I have to rack my brains over. It is seldom easy to buy that perfect present for someone. This is particularly true for friends who are anything but your best or closest. So I tend to share in the birthday gifts since it is likely I’m not the one making the decision. As for Christmas presents, most of them end up being what I’d call token gifts. I don’t like giving such token gifts though. I myself rather receive something I can use on at least a semi-regular basis and so I try as much as possible to get my friends something like that even if I don’t know what they actually need. Of course, it is always best to get something the person really likes or wants or needs – the smile you see on his/her face is totally worth it. You know you made someone’s day.

Today we celebrate the solemnity of two of the Church’s most prominent individuals. One a minister to his people, the other a missionary to foreign lands, both an inspiration to generations. One the son of a fisherman, the other the son of a Pharisee, both disciples of Christ. It is clear that differences abound between the person of Peter and Paul but what is important is their unity and this unity is shown in the readings for today. Peter and Paul are personally commissioned in their special ministries by Christ Himself, Peter in the Gospel reading and Paul in Acts 9. We see them going about their ministries in the earlier two readings. In the first reading, we see Peter curing a cripple, in the process, bringing the Good News to him and to the spectators. In the second reading, Paul talks about his bringing of the Good News to pagan lands. What is significant is that the acts of Peter and Paul are to give gifts. Not gifts that are token things or unthought buys, but something that is essential to the persons receiving it. This gift is the Good News, something both Peter and Paul were martyred for.

It doesn’t really matter what we give our friends as material gifts, so long as it isn’t something you wouldn’t want to get yourself. What does matter (and this is a question for us to ask ourselves) is whether we are giving or have given to those who matter to us that gift which matters most.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Aloysius Ting)
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Prayer: That we may be like Peter the apostle and Paul the teacher of the Gentiles, who have brought us to know the law of the Lord.

Give Thanks to the Lord for: Ministers and missionaries .

Upcoming Readings:
Fri, 30 Jun – 2 Kings 25:1-12; Matthew 8:1-4; First Martyrs of the Church of Rome
Sat, 01 Jul – Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19; Matthew 8:5-17
Sun, 02 Jul – Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24; 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5:21-43; Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Disclaimer: The reflections expressed in this e-mail are the writer’s own. They may not necessarily reflect the teachings of the Catholic Church. Nonetheless we should all be able to learn something from it.

Wednesday, Jun 28 – Wait and See

28 Jun – Memorial for St. Irenaeus, bishop, martyr

GOSSIP

One day someone ran up to the wise man Socrates and whispered, “Socrates, listen to this bit of gossip about your friend.”

“Wait!” quickly answered Socrates. “Have you fist passed it through the three sieves?”

“What three sieves?”

“Yes, my friend, three sieves. Now let’s see whether what you want to tell me passed through them. The first is truth. Are you sure that what you are going to say is the truth?”

“Well,” stuttered the man, “actually I heard the story secondhand.”

“Hmmm,” answered the wise man. “Well, let’s go on and see whether it can pass through the second sieve. Is what you are going to say, kind?”

“Not exactly,” said the informer. “In fact, it’s the opposite.”

“So that takes care of that. Now tell me: is it necessary?”

“Hardly.”

“Well, if what you want to tell me is neither true nor kind nor necessary, skip it.”

- Christopher Notes (1000 Stories You Can Use, Volume Two by Frank Mihalic, SVD)

What stories today have you heard which do not pass through the three sieves?
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2 Kings 22:8-13, 23:1-3

The high priest Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the Temple of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who read it. Shaphan the secretary went to King Josiah and reported to him as follows. “Your servants,” he said, “have melted down the silver which was in the Temple and have handed it over to the masters of works attached to the Temple of the Lord.” Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book”; and Shaphan read it aloud in the king’s presence.

On hearing the contents of hte Book of the Law, the king tore his garments, and gave the following order to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shapham, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shapan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s minister: “Go and consult the Lord, on behalf of me and the people, about the contents of this book that has been found. Great indeed must be the anger of the Lord blazing out against us because our ancestors did not obey what this book says by practising everything written in it.”

The king then had all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem summoned to him, and the king went up to the Temple of the Lord with all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, priests, prophets and all the people, of high or low degree. In their hearing he read out everything that was said in the book of the covenant found in the Temple of the Lord. The king stood beside the pillar, and in the presence of the Lord he made a covenant to follow the Lord and keep his commandments and decrees and laws with all his heart and soul, in order to enforce the terms of the covenant as written in that book. All the people gave their allegiance to the covenant.
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Matthew 7:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. You will be able to tell them by their fruits. Can people pick grapes from thorns or figs from thistles? In the same way, a sound tree produces good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit. A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit. Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire. I repeat, you will be able to tell them by their fruits.
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I came across an article yesterday about the 25th anniversary of Medjugorje Marian apparitions. It seems that the Church has yet to pass a verdict on it. Some people often criticise the Church for being slow to react. However, the Church is slow only because it is waiting to see the fruits of such occurrences.

In our world, we are constantly being bombarded by advertisements of the latest must-have product. But anyone who has any sense at all would not be the first to buy the product. They would wait for others to buy it, test it out, and give their reviews. A product with good marketing always seems irresistible, but a wise person would wait to see how good a product is and how useful it can be before investing in one for himself.

One good example in Singapore is 3G technology. The service providers put in a lot towards marketing this new technology, and some people actually went to buy handphones with this technology. But till now, it has not taken off mainly because, as good an idea it is, it’s quite useless and doesn’t really add much to our lives.

So, don’t be so quick to obtain the latest of anything. Don’t be so quick to subscribe to ‘new’ teachings, new insights, new religious practices. Wait and see the fruits of such things, pray about it and consult the Lord. If it yields good fruits, you can be sure that God is acting in it in some way, and you can then acquire it. If it yields bad fruit, you have saved yourself a lot of unnecessary trouble and heart ache.

Time is a gift from God. Use it well.
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Prayer: We pray that Christians will consult the Lord before acting on any whim, be it learning the latest teaching, reading the latest bestseller, practising the newest rituals, or marrying the latest person to come into our lives.

Give Thanks to the Lord for: The gift of patience.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu, 29 Jun – Acts 12:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19; Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul; apostles
Fri, 30 Jun – 2 Kings 25:1-12; Matthew 8:1-4; First Martyrs of the Church of Rome
Sat, 01 Jul – Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19; Matthew 8:5-17
Sun, 02 Jul – Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24; 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5:21-43; Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Disclaimer: The reflections expressed in this e-mail are the writer’s own. They may not necessarily reflect the teachings of the Catholic Church. Nonetheless we should all be able to learn something from it.

Tuesday, Jun 27 – Casting Angels Before Swine

27 Jun – Memorial for St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop, doctor

FALSE RESPECT FOR BIBLE

I was once at a Bible translation session when the head of one of our churches pulled me aside to go over his version of his church’s favourite Old Testament book “Daniel”.

As I went through the text, I came upon one particular sentence which was translated just the opposite of what was in six versions before my eyes. I knew the translator was an amateur in Tok Pisin, but I did not think he could make such an error.

So I told him about it and wanted to translate it correctly. Then he told me, “No, we cannot translate it that way, for then it would go against what my church teaches.”

I did not believe my ears. here was the very church that was insisting that they followed the Bible – strictly.

That gave a hollow sound to the favourite Christian text: “The truth shall set you free”.

- Frank Mihalic (1000 Stories You Can Use, Volume Two by Frank Mihalic, SVD)

Are you guilty of interpreting the Bible to suit your own beliefs?
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2 Kings 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-36

Sennacherib, King of the Assyrians, sent messengers to Hezekiah saying, “Tell this to Hezekiah king of Judah, ‘Do not let your God on whom you are relying deceive you, when he says: Jerusalem shall not fall into the power of the king of Assyria. You have learnt by now what the kings of Assyria have done to every country, putting them all under the ban. Are you likely to be spared?’”

Hezekiah took the letter from the hands of the messenger and read it; he then went up to the Temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. Hezekiah said this prayer in the presence of the lord, “Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned on the cherubs, you alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth, you have made heaven and earth.

‘Give ear, Lord, and listen.
Open your eyes, Lord, and see.
Hear the words of Sennacherib
who has sent to insult the living God.

“It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have exterminated all the nations, they have thrown their gods on the fire, for these were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, and hence theyhave destroyed them. But now, Lord our God, save us from his hand, I pray you, and let all the kingdoms of the earth know that you alone are God, Lord.”

Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah. “The Lord, the God of Israel,” he said, “says this, “I have heard the prayer you have addressed to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria.’ Here is the oracle that the Lord has pronounced against him:

“‘She despises you, she scorns you,
the virgin daughter of Zion:
she tosses her head behind you,
the daughter of Jerusalem.
A remnant shall go out from Jerusalem,
and survivors from Mount Zion.
The jealous love of the Lord of Hosts shall accomplish this.’

“This, then, is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria:

“‘He will not enter this city,
he will let fly no arrow against it,
confront it with no shield,
throw up no earthwork against it.
By the road that he came on he will return;
he shall not enter this city. It is the Lord who speaks.
I will protect this city and save it
for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.’”

That same night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. Sennacherib struck camp and left; he returned home and stayed in Nineveh.
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Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, or they may trample them and then turn on you and tear you to pieces.

“So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.

“Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to perdition is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
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After reading a book called “What the Bible says about angels”, I have become rather disturbed by images and depictions of angels these days. Very often angels such as cherubim are depicted as infants with wings, small, cute, gentle angels, a far cry from all the description of angels in the Bible.

In today’s first reading, the angel of the Lord swoops down and in one night, struck down 185,000 men. That’s more lives taken in one night than were taken by the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia (168,000). That’s more lives taken at one go than were taken by the atomic bombing at Hiroshima (140,000).

In the book of Genesis, we see the first appearance of cherubim, one of which was placed at the entrance to the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were exiled from it. It had a flaming sword.

Clearly angels are not cutesy, cuddly, flying babies. In every appearance of angels in the Bible, the people who saw them fell at their feet. John, in the book of Revelation, even made the mistake of almost worshipping one before being told not to. Angels strike fear and awe in the hearts of those who see them.

But today, when we talk about angels, people immediately have the image of something harmless, sweet, and innocent. Have we not given what is holy to the dogs? Have we not cast our pearls before swine?

Why do we do it? Because sweet, innocent, baby angels are a lot easier to accept than fiery, luminous, blazing, awe-inspiring angels… just like how a watered-down Christianity that teaches the glory without the cross, resurrection without the death, prosperity without suffering… is easier to accept than the reality that Christ teaches, the true face of God that Jesus came to reveal to us.
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Prayer: Let us pray for those who continue to provide a watered-down version of Christianity in the hope of attracting more followers.

Give Thanks to the Lord for: Not mincing his words during his public ministry.

Upcoming Readings:
Wed, 28 Jun – 2 Kings 22:8-13, 23:1-3; Matthew 7:15-20; Memorial for St. Irenaeus, bishop, martyr
Thu, 29 Jun – Acts 12:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19; Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul; apostles
Fri, 30 Jun – 2 Kings 25:1-12; Matthew 8:1-4; First Martyrs of the Church of Rome
Sat, 01 Jul – Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19; Matthew 8:5-17
Sun, 02 Jul – Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24; 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5:21-43; Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Disclaimer: The reflections expressed in this e-mail are the writer’s own. They may not necessarily reflect the teachings of the Catholic Church. Nonetheless we should all be able to learn something from it.

Monday, Jun 26 – Judgement

26 Jun

Nick Chui is away for two more weeks. In his place, Nicholas Chia (not the archbishop) has volunteered to share for us.

Peace,
Dan
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INFLATION AND PLANNERS

The farmer raised two chickens and sold them to a city man, and with the proceeds bought two shirts. The city man now had two chickens and the farmer two shirts.

A planner advised the farmer to shorten up on supply so as to increase the price. Accordingly, the farmer raised but one chicken and took it to the market, selling it for the price of two – but when he bought a shirt, it cost him twice as much as formerly.

The city man now had one chicken and the farmer one shirt. This is called the more abundant life…

- College Farm Journal (1000 Stories You Can Use, Volume Two by Frank Mihalic, SVD)

What is the more abundant life that you are striving so hard for?
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2 Kings 17:5-18

The king of Assyria invaded the whole country and, coming to Samaria, laid siege to it for three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah on the Habor, a river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

This happened because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the grip of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshipped other gods, they followed the practices of the nations that the Lord had dispossessed for them.

And yet through all the prophets and all the seers, the Lord had given Israel and Judah this warning, ‘Turn from your wicked ways and keep my commandments and my laws in accordance with the entire Law I laid down for your fathers and delivered to them through my servants the prophets’. But they would not listen, they were more stubborn than their ancestors had been who had no faith in the Lord their God.

They despised his laws and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and the warnings he had given them. They pursued emptiness, and themselves became empty through copying the nations round them although the Lord had ordered them not to act as they did. For this, the Lord was enraged with Israel and thrust them away from him. There was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
_____________________

Matthew 7:1-5

Jesus said, ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; because the judgements you give are the judgements you will get, and the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given.

Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How dare you say to your brother, “Let me take the splinter out of your eye”, when all the time there is a plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.’
_____________________

We often ask our superiors, colleagues and friends to forgive us and give a second chance to prove ourselves. And indeed we are often shown that mercy. The Israelites in the first reading were given several chances by God to repent and return to his ways. However, they refused to listen and continued in their own sinful ways.

Our behaviour is similar to theirs, in fact the first reading could be our very own condemnation by God on the day of judgment!

“They despised his laws and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and the warnings he had given them. They pursued emptiness, and themselves became empty through copying the nations round them although the Lord had ordered them not to act as they did.”

How many of us receive Communion worthily, treat our parents with respect, act in a pure and chaste manner and not fall into the sin of pride? How many of us seek comfort and solace in material goods and physical lust only to find a greater emptiness in our lives?

Singapore’s attempt to be a life sciences hub, an entertainment hub, an education hub and information technology hub is a double-edged sword. We end up copying not only the good practices but also the evils of cloning and embryonic stem cell research, gambling and immorality, secular values that often emphasise hedonistic lifestyles and the insatiable lust of cyber pornography.

“Singapore is the financial hub of South East Asia…” Indeed we have become a financial hub but at the expense of us working ourselves till near death to meet impossible deadlines and unreasonable expectations imposed by our superiors or ourselves. Along with this come the increased number of broken families and an absence of family love with our parents and children.

And in doing so, are we as a nation emptying ourselves of the very soul and values that makes us children of God? What values are we transmitting to our children?

Jesus said, ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; because the judgements you give are the judgements you will get, and the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given.

Do you always criticise your people behind their backs?

“The boss is so unreasonable, he sides John more than me just because John bought him his favourite food…”

“Look at Mary, she goes for mass everyday and behaves so holy but she’s the information counter for the latest gossip…”

Please spend some time to reflect on your own lives today, and consider whether you are behaving like a hypocrite or a child of God.

Be in control of yourself if you want others to treat you as you want to be treated.

(Today's OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
____________________

We pray that God grant us humility to acknowledge our failings and strength to seek forgiveness for our faults.

Give Thanks to the Lord for: Opportunities to reflect on our failings and to ask for forgiveness.

Upcoming Readings:
Tue, 27 Jun – 2 Kings 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-36; Matthew 7:6, 12-14; Memorial for St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop, doctor
Wed, 28 Jun – 2 Kings 22:8-13, 23:1-3; Matthew 7:15-20; Memorial for St. Irenaeus, bishop, martyr
Thu, 29 Jun – Acts 12:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19; Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul; apostles
Fri, 30 Jun – 2 Kings 25:1-12; Matthew 8:1-4; First Martyrs of the Church of Rome
Sat, 01 Jul – Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19; Matthew 8:5-17
Sun, 02 Jul – Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24; 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5:21-43; Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Sunday, Jun 25 – Why do bad things happen to good people?

25 Jun – Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Lord of the Storm

Just to know that Christ is with us amid all the turbulence of life is a great cause for celebration and thanksgiving. With Christ the turbulence can become the birth pangs of a new creation.

- the Sunday Missal
_____________________

GOD'S VIEW

One weekend while barnstorming airplane rides, my pilot husband took up a farmer for a 30-minute sightseeing flight. Not a word was spoken during the whole time as they both looked down on the incredibly beautiful summer countryside.

Climbing out of the plane afterward, the man turned to my husband and drawled, "Now I know why the Lord has so much patience with this old world. He has a better view of it than we got."

- Mrs R. L. Weekes (1000 Stories You Can Use, Volume Two by Frank Mihalic, SVD)

Think you know the world better than God does?
_____________________

Job 3:1, 8-11

From the heart of tempest the Lord gave Job his answer. He said:

Who pent up the sea behind closed doors
when it leapt tumultuous out of the womb,
when I wrapped it in a robe of mist
and made black clouds its swaddling bands;
when I marked the bounds it was not to cross
and made it fast with a bolted gate?
Come thus far, I said, and no farther:
here your proud waves shall break.
_____________________

2 Corinthians 5:14-17

The love of Christ overwhelms us when we reflect that if one man has died for all, then all men should be dead; and the reason he died for all was so that living men should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised to life for them.

From now onwards, therefore, we do not judge anyone by the standards of the flesh. Even if we did once know Christ in the flesh, that is not how we know him now. And for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation; the old creation has gone, and now the new one is here.
_____________________

Mark 4:35-41

With the coming of evening, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let us cross over to the other side." And leaving the crowd behind they took him, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. Then it began to blow a gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped. But he was in the stern, his head on the cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, "Master, do you not care? We are going down!" And he woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Quiet now! Be calm!" And the wind dropped, and all was calm again. Then he said to them, "Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?" They were filled with awe and said to one another, "Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him."
_____________________

Why do bad things happen to good people?

I remember Father Bruno St. Girons giving a talk at Cana following the Dec 26, 2004 tsunami. He gave a very good reason which at that time I found unsatisfactory.

When we look at all the major disasters and crises that happen in the world and in our lives, we realise that no one goes through them unaffected. They always affect us in some way or other. Most of the time, we find ourselves asking the above question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Sometimes, we find out why.

For the disciples, a storm happened to them while they were on the water. It happened to make them realise that Jesus was in the midst of them. The storm made them turn to him and ask for help. The storm made them realise that they have no power over what happens in their lives, but they were wise enough to recognise that Jesus had that power. Not only did Jesus have power of what happened to them, he had power over the elements as well. The storm happened so that the disciples could rediscover the person of Christ, the person of God in their lives; to acknowledge God as supreme and to renew their relationship with God.

It is the same with Job as well. A good and religious man, he was put through many trials seemingly unfairly. He felt that he deserved an answer as to why all these things were happening to him, and he got angry with God who seemed to be silent in the midst of his difficulties. But when God did speak, it was to remind him that God was supreme in the universe, and to put Job back in his place. The trials occurred to Job so that he could rediscover his position with God and to renew his relationship with God.

Why did the tsunami happen? Why are there natural disasters still occurring today? Why is there so much evil in the world? All these happen so that we, the observers, or we, the involved, may rediscover where Christ is in our lives, where our standing with him is, and to renew our relationship with God.

Is all this necessary, we ask? Is it necessary to sacrifice so many innocent lives just so that God can put me in my place? Just so that I can renew my relationship with God? What evil that happens these days can rival the one that took place 2,000 years ago, when the purest, most innocent Lamb of God was put to death? That was the greatest evil that took place in the history of the world. But from that evil God transformed it into the greatest good, by helping mankind to rediscover its place with God, to discover who the person of Jesus is in the history of mankind, and to renew the relationship between mankind and God.

"Is it necessary?" we ask. God counters our question with: "Are you going to make the sacrifice of innocent lives in vain?" There is not much that we can do to prevent the loss of such lives, because God is ultimately in control of life and death. What we can do is to take charge of our relationship with God, to rediscover where God is in our lives, what he is doing and what we allow him to do, to rediscover who God is in our lives, and where we stand with him… and to renew that relationship with him.

For there is more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance. – Luke 15:7

So when troubles come your way, and you find yourself asking, "Why is this happening to me?" or "Why do bad things happen to good, innocent people?" pray and hear God asking you, "Are you going to make full use of this opportunity that I have given you to rediscover me in your life? Are you going to renew our relationship together?"
_____________________

Prayer: Let us pray for all who are going through difficulties in life now, that they may stop, pause, and reflect on this wonderful opportunity to turn to God, to rediscover him in their lives, to acknowledge him as supreme Lord of their lives, and to renew their relationship with him.

And I thank you Lord
for the trials that come my way
In that way I can grow each day
as I let you lead

'Cause you promised Lord,
that with every testing
that your way of escaping
is easier to bear

And I thank you Lord,
for the victory that growing brings
In surrender of everything,
life is so worthwhile

And I thank you Lord,
that when everything's put in place,
out in front I can see your face
and it's there you belong.

Upcoming Readings:
Mon, 26 Jun – 2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15a; Matthew 7:1-5
Tue, 27 Jun – 2 Kings 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-36; Matthew 7:6, 12-14; Memorial for St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop, doctor
Wed, 28 Jun – 2 Kings 22:8-13, 23:1-3; Matthew 7:15-20; Memorial for St. Irenaeus, bishop, martyr
Thu, 29 Jun – Acts 12:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19; Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul; apostles
Fri, 30 Jun – 2 Kings 25:1-12; Matthew 8:1-4; First Martyrs of the Church of Rome
Sat, 01 Jul – Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19; Matthew 8:5-17
Sun, 02 Jul – Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24; 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5:21-43; Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Saturday, Jun 24 – Close Encounters of Divine Kind

24 Jun – Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist

GOLDEN RULE

The golden rule which Jesus gave to us that bids us to do to others as we would have them do to us actually exists in may other creeds and famous minds, but always in a negative form.

Hillel, one of the greatest Jewish rabbis, said, "What is hateful to thee, do not do to another. That is the whole law; all else is explanation."

Philo, the great Jew of Alexandria, said, "What you hate to suffer, do not do to anyone else."

Socrates, the Greek orator, said, "What things make you angry when you suffer them at the hands of others, do not do to them."

The Greek Stoics had as one of their basic rules, "What you do not wish to be done to yourself, do not do to any other."

When Confucius was asked, "Is there one word which may serve as a rule or practice for all one's life?" he answered: "Is not reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others."

How negative! The Christian ethic is POSITIVE!

- Barclay (1000 Stories You Can Use, Volume Two by Frank Mihalic, SVD)

What do you have in common between your beliefs and your non-Christian friends' beliefs?
____________________

Acts of the Apostles 13:22-26

Paul said: "God made David the king of our ancestors, of whom he approved in these words, 'I have elected David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will carry out my whole purpose.' To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David's descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. Before John ended his career he said, 'I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his sandal.'

"My brothers, sons of Abraham's race, and all you who fear God, this message of salvation is meant for you."
_____________________

I was at Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino's lecture on Thursday evening where leaders of various religions gathered to listen to the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

As I sat there listening to the lecture, it occurred to me that Christ is not Christian, but catholic. What does this mean? A Christian is one who believes in Christ, and is a follower of Christ. The word 'catholic' means 'universal'. Christ is catholic because he came for all men of all religions – hence universality. No one religion can claim to possess Christ for its own, because Christ is God, and God cannot be possessed. What God can be is to be experienced, encountered by people of all faiths.

As Christians, it is our duty to be like John the Baptist, who did not set out to convert people into Christians. What he did was to proclaim a baptism of repentance, to turn away from sin and evil. In so doing, the people who listened and obeyed were prepared for an encounter with Jesus.

John the Baptist converted no souls. John the Baptist saved no souls. But John the Baptist prepared many souls to encounter Christ. This is what we are called to do, for it is not us who converts people, it is not us who saves souls – it is Christ who does that.

Christ came for all men, hence as Christians, it is our duty to prepare all men for an encounter with Christ. We can do this by appealing to universal issues like 'why is there evil in the world?', 'what is the meaning of life?', 'how can I make the most of my life?'

One of the more outstanding programmes available among Christians today is the ALPHA programme that invites people, non-Christians usually, to address these questions in their own life. Like John the Baptist, ALPHA converts no souls. What it does do is to prepare people to encounter God through Christ and through the Holy Spirit.

Let us remember that if people start to follow us, we must be able to say sincerely and honestly, "I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his sandal."
_____________________

Prayer: Let us pray for all organisers and volunteers who help out with the ALPHA programme in Singapore, and in your own country, that they may continue to do the good work they do in preparing all men and women for an encounter with Christ and with the Holy Spirit.

Give Thanks to the Lord for: Those who give of their time and effort to help ALPHA programmes.

Upcoming Readings:
Sun, 25 Jun – Job 38:1, 8-11; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Mark 4:35-41; Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Friday, Jun 23 – Selflessness

23 Jun – Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

CONVERSION BEGINS WITH ONE PERSON

Telemachus was a hermit in the desert, but something told him – the call of God – that he must go to Rome. He went.

Rome was nominally Christian, but even then the gladiatorial games went on, in which men fought with each other, and crowds roared with the lust for blood.

Telemachus found his way to the games. There he found 80,000 spectators. He was horrified. Were these men slaughtering each other, not also children of God? He leapt from his seat, right into the arena, and stood between the gladiators. He was tossed aside. He came back. The crowd was angry; they began to stone him. Still he struggled back between the gladiators. The prefect's command rang out; a sword flashed in the sunlight, and Telemachus was dead.

Suddenly there was a hush; suddenly the crowd realised what had happened: a holy man lay dead.

Something happened that day to Rome, for there were never again any gladiatorial games. By his death one man had let loose something that cleansed an empire.

Someone must begin a reformation; he need not begin it in a nation; he may begin it in his home or where he works. Once begun, who knows were it will end?

- Barclay (1000 Stories You Can Use, Volume Two by Frank Mihalic, SVD)

What can you do today to change something that you are dissatisfied with in your home or workplace?
______________________

Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9

When Israel was a child, I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called my son.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
I took them up in my arms;
But they did not know that I healed them.

I led them with cords of human kindness,
With bands of love.
I was to them like those
Who lift infants to their cheeks.
I bent down to them and fed them

My heart recoils within me;
My compassion grows warm and tender.
I will not execute my fierce anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
For I am God and no mortal,
The Holy One in your midst,
And I will not come in wrath.
______________________

Ephesians 3:8-12; 14-19

Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
_____________________

John 19:31-37

Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the Sabbath, especially because that Sabbath was a day of great solemnity. Sot they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”
_____________________

We often hear about inspiring stories about people who were in extreme difficulties but who managed things that, literally, inspire others. Like one of the stories that Dan has used before, about the doctors who had condemned a baby, saying he would die within a certain time. That baby grew up and lived, and I forgot the end of the story. There are also movies about teachers who inspired teens to really live out their lives and dream and achieve what they really are capable of, e.g. Dead Poets’ Society, or the newest that I know of – Take the Lead.

Paul is said to have written the letter to the Ephesians while in prison. And still, he chooses to bring good news to others instead of complaining about being in prison for having done the work of God. Even in excruciating circumstances, Paul’s focus is on the people of God, that they may not lose focus on God, that they may be strengthened through God’s spirit. Paul is here an example of selfless giving, thinking about the spiritual wellbeing of the Ephesians before his own physical one. And the perfect example of selfless love is Jesus who died for all of us though he was faultless. We are also called to this act of selfless love to our brothers and sisters. It is going to be extremely difficult, but if we are filled with all the fullness of God, nothing is impossible.

(Today's OXYGEN by Lyndley Ah Qune)
______________________

We pray that: we may be able to give a bit more of us to others.

Thanks for: those who inspired us in any way to strive harder for ourselves and for others.

Upcoming Readings:
Sat, 24 Jun – Isaiah 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66, 80; Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist
Sun, 25 Jun – Job 38:1, 8-11; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Mark 4:35-41; Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Wednesday, Jun 21 – Who’s Got The Power?

21 Jun – Memorial for St. Aloysius Gonzaga

PAY FOR WORK

A veteran supervisor for a building firm was getting more and more irate about building mansions for the rich. So on this particular job, he cut a lot of corners, intending by slipshod work to embarrass the owner of the house, as one thing after another would fall apart within a few years. He used rotten wood, cheap paint, wires which were too thin, wrong cement mixtures, rusty water pipes, and crooked timber.

About the time the house was finished, this supervisor was just finishing his building career. He was retiring, being pensioned off. So the company had a small celebration for him and told him that as a parting gift of gratitude, it was giving him the keys to the grand mansion which he had just built…

- Christopher Notes (1000 Stories You Can Use, Volume Two by Frank Mihalic, SVD)

Does the quality of work you do for God meet the standards you place on the rewards you expect?
____________________

2 Kings 2:1, 6-14

This is what happened when the Lord took Elijah up to heaven in the whirlwind; Elijah and Elisha set out from Gilgal. Elijah said, "Elisha, please stay here, the Lord is only sending me to the Jordan." But he replied, "As the Lord lies and as you yourself live, I will not leave you!" And they went on together.

Fifty of the brotherhood of prophets followed them, halting some distance away as the two of them stood beside the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water; and the water divided to left and right, and the two of them crossed over dry-shod. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Make your request. What can I do for you before I am taken from you?" Elisha answered, "Let me inherit a double share of your spirit." "Your request is a difficult one," Elijah said. "If you see me while I am being taken from you, it shall be as you ask; if not, it will not be so." Now as they walked on, talking as they went, a chariot of fire appeared and horses of fire, coming between the two of them; and Elijah went up to heaven in the whirlwind. Elisha saw it, and shouted, "My father! My father! Chariot of Israel and its chargers!" Then he lot sight of him, and taking hold of his clothes he tore them in half. He picked up the cloak of Elijah which had fallen, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.

He took the cloak of Elijah and struck the water. "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" he cried. He struck the water, and it divided to right and left, and Elisha crossed over.
_____________________

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: "Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men's admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

"And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

"When you fast do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. it ell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face so that no one will know you are fasting except you Father who sees all that is done in secret; and our Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you."
_____________________

Time for a pop quiz: Who parted the Red Sea?

Is your answer Moses? Well, the correct answer would be: It was God who parted the Red Sea.

In today's first reading, we have Elisha following Elijah like the latter was Israel Idol or something. So they reach the Jordan and Elijah slaps the water with his cloak, the water parts, and they cross over. Elisha must have been going, "Woah! This guy as awesome as Moses!" So when Elijah asks him, "Yo, my successor, what do you want from me? Quick, a last request." Elisha goes, "I want twice of your spirit."

So Elijah rubs his chin and says, "Mmm… that might be difficult." But as we later see, Elisha does indeed receive twice Elijah's spirit. After Elijah is gone, Elisha walks back to the Jordan thinking, "I saw him taken up to heaven, that means I have twice Elijah's spirit." So Elisha takes the cloak and slaps the water…. and nothing happens!

Cannot be! Elijah promised! So Elisha thinks and thinks and thinks. Finally he gets it – it's not Elijah with the power to send fire from heaven, to make bread and oil last for years, to part the Jordan; it's God who does that. And when Elisha finally gets that, he calls on God, then he slaps the water, and the river parts for him.

In the gospel reading, Jesus cautions his disciples (and us), that no matter what we do, we should be doing it for God's glory, not our own, because what we have comes from God. When we start thinking that what we have comes from our own capabilities and strength, then we will start to 'parade our good deeds' and lose all reward from our Father in heaven.

Our Father will say, "Since you think that what you have comes from your own strength, then you should be able to reward yourself. You don't need me to reward you."

Which reward do you want? Yours or God's?
_____________________

Prayer: We pray for all Christians to remember that everything we do, we do it for God.

Give Thanks to the Lord for: All that we have, and all that we offer.

Upcoming Readings:
Thu, 22 Jun – Sirach 48:1-15; Matthew 6:7-15; Memorial for St. Paulinus of Nola / Memorial for St. John fisher, bishop, and St. Thomas More, martyr
Fri, 23 Jun – Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9; Ephesians 3:8-12; 14-19; John 19:31-37; Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Sat, 24 Jun – Isaiah 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66, 80; Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist
Sun, 25 Jun – Job 38:1, 8-11; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Mark 4:35-41; Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Tuesday, Jun 20 – Being In Tune

20 Jun

COOPERATION WITHIN THE BODY

All the parts of the body work together and help each other. My eye sees something. I like what I see, and I want to get it. So my feet bring me to where it is.

Another time my ear hears a dog barking, and I get afraid. So this time my feet help me to run away. In this way, my feet helped my ear. Then again maybe my finger hurts me. What happens? I look down to see what is causing the pain. My eye is helping my finger. Perhaps I am sick; I have malaria. what happens? I don't want to get out of bed. My feet and legs won't carry me… so I just lie in bed and do nothing. And that is very good for me; then I don't waste energy running around. I concentrate on overcoming the sickness. So in that case, my feet help me by refusing to work.

- Frank Mihalic (1000 Stories You Can Use, Volume Two by Frank Mihalic, SVD)

What is your specific role in the Body of Christ?
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Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."
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I've always thought that I am very blessed in the sense that I do not bear grudges and am able to forgive easily. Well, I guess one of the important lessons in life is to learn how not to make assumptions, especially good ones, about yourself. It recently dawned on me that I was unable to forgive one of my family members for a long time, but thankfully I've received healing for that during the YISS that has just passed.

Often when I read passages such as the one above, I get the misconception that we Christians have to make extra effort to love our enemies to distinguish ourselves from our non-Christian friends. Well, I guess that is not exactly wrong, but it doesn't mean to say that non-Christians do not aspire towards Christian living. I see Christian virtues in a lot of my non-Christian friends, and that really inspires and humbles me to learn from them. I gained a new bit of knowledge from YISS – that the entire world is like one huge symphony orchestra, with each person playing their own part to create an eternal piece of music. And the important thing is not whether we are playing our piece well or not, but whether we are playing it in tune with everyone else, in tune with the will of God.

(Today's OXYGEN by Koh Hsing Dee)
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We pray for: The grace of humility in leading a Christian way of life.

We give thanks for: The beauty and perfection of our Lord.

Upcoming Readings:
Wed, 21 Jun – 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18; Memorial for St. Aloysius Gonzaga, religious
Thu, 22 Jun – Sirach 48:1-15; Matthew 6:7-15; Memorial for St. Paulinus of Nola / Memorial for St. John fisher, bishop, and St. Thomas More, martyr
Fri, 23 Jun – Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9; Ephesians 3:8-12; 14-19; John 19:31-37; Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Sat, 24 Jun – Isaiah 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66, 80; Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist
Sun, 25 Jun – Job 38:1, 8-11; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Mark 4:35-41; Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Disclaimer: The reflections expressed in this e-mail are the writer's own. They may not necessarily reflect the teachings of the Catholic Church. Nonetheless we should all be able to learn something from it.