Jul 11 – Memorial for St. Benedict, abbot, religious founder
Born to Roman nobility, Benedict (c. 480–547) was the twin brother of St. Scholastica. He studied in Rome, Italy, but was dismayed at the lack of discipline and lackadasical attitude of his fellow students. He fled to the mountains near Subiaco, living as a hermit in a cave for three years. He was reported to have been fed by a raven.
The virtues that St. Benedict (480-547) demonstrated as a hermit prompted an abbey to request that he lead them. His discipline was such that an attempt was made on his life; some monks tried to poison him, but he blessed the cup and rendered it harmless. He destroyed pagan statues and altars, and drove demons from groves sacred to pagans.
At one point there were over 40,000 monasteries guided by the Benedictine Rule that he wrote, which can be summed up as “Pray and work”.
- Patron Saint Index
Gen 32:23-33
Mt 9:32-37
“I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
When I was a child, I wondered that if I prayed for something (and did not receive it), whether it was because my faith was not strong enough? It was clear that God’s answer to my request was a big, resounding “No”.
In today’s first reading, we read about Jacob sending his family and property ahead of him, and staying to wrestle with God to obtain his blessings. Interestingly, while Jacob proved to be strong enough to last the night in the match, God struck him in the socket of his hip, causing it to be dislocated, before giving him the blessing he had been seeking.
This left me wondering — why had God chosen to wrestle with Jacob, rather than just giving him the blessing? Surely God, being God, could have easily defeated Jacob in such a contest. What if the objective in this wrestling match was not the final result in itself, but the process? Could God have intended for Jacob to learn from his struggles in wrestling with Him? Would what Jacob learn help him, as he built a whole nation as Israel?
I had this realisation last evening as I watched my daughter put together a cupboard she had bought. It was a time-consuming process, and she was struggling through it. When she turned to me for help, I managed to solve the issues. This, however, did not come from me being cleverer than her. Instead, it was through years of working through such builds. Over time, she, too, will gain experience and knowledge.
When we do not receive what we seek from God, it may not be a case of “No”. Instead, God could be preparing us for our future challenges. Let us continue to trust and believe in Him.
(Today’s Oxygen by Paul Wee)
Prayer: Dear Lord, let us continue to trust and believe in You. Help us remember that everything works in Your time. Help us remember not to look at You as a mere dispenser of our desires.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Father, for Your many blessings. Thank you for loving us.
OXYGEN 
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