Tuesday of the 5th Week of Easter
Acts 14:19-28
Jn 14:27-31
“Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
I commute to work via train on a daily basis for 45 minutes. Over the years, I have noticed that the level of ambient noise is growing over time. The noise emitting from the handphones is loud and sometimes people engage in conversations with others. There seems to be no quiet available in the carriage. Many associate quiet with peace, and often seek peace in places which are remote or filled with few people. Yet the journey towards inner peace begins with the heart, as the readings of today remind us.
We read, in the Acts of the Apostles, of the tremendous level of suffering which St Paul had to go through in his ministry. The line which struck me the most was — We all have to experience many hardships before we enter the kingdom of God.
Every fellow Christian I have met shares with me the struggles they face in their daily lives. Be it professional differences, personal conflicts or emotional heartbreaks, these are all part and parcel of life. What makes the Christian response difference is the importance of having inner peace in the heart. The ability to stay calm amidst the chaos will allow us to stand out as an oasis of peace to the people around us.
This inner peace comes from the love of God within our lives. We can deepen our love for others by first re-examining the relationship we have with our God. This means to spend time — uninterrupted and dedicated time — with Jesus to ask Him what he desires of us. Only when we discover the purpose of our life which Jesus desires of us, will we be able to draw inner strength from within our lives to minister to his people.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
Prayer: Jesus, I pray for the strength to let go of the things which distract us in my life.
Thanksgiving: We give thanks for all who continue to spread the love of God in their daily interactions with others.
OXYGEN 
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