27 June, Monday – Following Jesus

Jun 27 – Memorial for St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop and Doctor of the Church

Cyril (376–444) was the nephew of Theophilus the Patriarch. He was a monk and a priest who became Bishop of Alexandria, Egypt in 412, and later the Patriarch of Alexandria. He suppressed the Novatians. He worked at the Council of Ephesus. He fought against Nestorius who taught the heresy that there were two persons in Christ.

He was a catechetical writer, and wrote a book opposing Julian the Apostate. He is a Greek Father of the Church, and is a Doctor of the Church.

• Patron Saint Index

Amo 2:6-10,13-16
Mt 8:18-22

“Master, I will follow you wherever you go.”

I have learnt to be careful of what I say because sometimes, my words commit me to a course of action which really takes up a lot of time. Sometimes, it also does not have an end-date and I wonder at times how I can extract myself from the situation. The readings of today remind us of the importance to stay faithful to what Jesus has called us to do in our daily lives.

Jesus, in today’s Gospel, reminds us of the importance of staying committed to Him. This means that we will have to bear with some level of discomfort in our lives in order to follow Him closely. It may mean we have to decline a job promotion, or perhaps enter into some level of disagreement with the people who matter to us. Yet, in doing so, we choose to take a position in life which is aligned with what Jesus is calling us to do. This is very important because whilst politics is about the art of compromise, religion is about understanding the purpose and intent of the various precepts.

The first reading looks at the various accusations which God levelled against the Israelites. They all boil down to infidelity to God’s laws and how God has been infinitely patient with the people of Israel. God has given us enough time to ponder and reflect upon our actions.

Brothers and sisters, let us now work towards growing closer to Jesus in our lives and to avoid all occasions of sin.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)

Prayer: Dear Jesus, let us put you in the centre of our lives.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for all our confessors.