Thursday of the 3rd Week of Easter
Acts 8:26-40
Jn 6:44-51
…like these he never opens his mouth.
How many times have we found ourselves in a situation where in order to ‘preserve the peace’, we don’t speak up or offer others our opinions? Or for those of us who work in organisations where ‘groupthink’ rules and there is no avenue for those with good ideas to voice their thoughts? Having flourished in a career where speaking up/out was a necessity, I now find myself in an organisation where slowly but surely, it appears that the less vocal we are, the more we will be ‘valued’.
Of course, this is a totally different context from where Jesus found himself…or is it? Yes, he bore the pain and sufferings out of absolute love for us. There is no doubt about it. He took on the guilt, shame and ignominy of all of our sins out of total love for us. There is no doubt about it. And because of love for us, he never uttered a single word against his tormentors. Nor did he call on anyone else to save him as he hung on the cross. Instead, he asked our heavenly Father to ‘forgive them’. That to me, is the purest form of love one can have – to ask forgiveness for those who torment/slander/harm us.
One other perspective I’d like to share is that Jesus’ silence was also in complete obedience to His Father’s will. As I shared in yesterday’s reflection, if it is truly the will of God that leads us to a situation, then we should discern it and obey in faith. Jesus never opened his mouth because aside from His love for us, He knew fully that His Father loved him deeply, and that whatever he was going through would eventually pass; and lead to His glorious resurrection.
Brothers and sisters, sometimes, we actually may not know better when we express our displeasure or dissatisfaction to our superiors. In fact, we may be jeopardising our position by not toeing the line and showing our support for a particular position/decision. Yes, there is the other side of the coin – the one where we hope people listen to us and accept our perspective. But perhaps, we all need to quieten ourselves more and truly listen to discern what is it that goes against all that we hold true, that those above us want of us. Just like how a man was led to a gruesome death, nailed to a cross and then lifted up for all the world to see.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Desmond Soon)
Prayer: We pray for an outpouring of your love upon us Lord, when we encounter situations that go against our long-held beliefs or don’t sit right with us. Teach us not to walk away but to come to a place where we can discern your voice so that we can embrace what is new.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Lord, for never abandoning us and always nudging us to seek new doors through which you wish to lead us.
OXYGEN 
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