Friday of the 3rd Week of Advent – 17 December
Gen 49:2,8-10
Mt 1:1-17
“Gather round, sons of Jacob, and listen“
Today’s Gospel is a great joy for me to ponder upon because I identified with certain characters within the story. To some, it may appear to be very boring but for me, it made me realise that God can truly write on crooked lines.
The Gospel mentions four women from the Old Testament – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba. Tamar seduced her father-in-law and became pregnant as a result; Rahab was a prostitute, Ruth was a widow, and Bathsheba had an affair with King David whilst married. Though these four women had very chequered and complex backgrounds, they are an example for each one of us. These situations faced by the four women were very difficult for them and yet through their actions, they responded in a way which allowed God’s plan of salvation to be manifested across to everyone.
We live in very difficult times now. The pandemic has upended all our plans and made us realise how vulnerable and susceptible we are to invisible pathogens. But I believe the situation has also made us realise how important it is to rely on God. There is a saying that goes “Man proposes but God disposes.” I feel this is very true for all of our plans. Life sometimes is very unpredictable and yet only one thing is certain — the love for God for each one of us.
May we then be docile to the message which God has for us and to discover what it means to accept God’s plan for us.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
Prayer: Jesus, let me discover what you have in store for me.
Thanksgiving: We give thanks for the gift of love.
OXYGEN 
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