Sep 16 – Memorial for Sts. Cornelius, Pope and Martyr; and Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr
St. Cornelius (d. 253) was elected after a year-and-a-half period, during which persecutions were so bad that papal ascension was a quick death sentence. He worked to maintain unity in a time of schism and apostasy. He called a synod of bishops to confirm him as rightful pontiff, as opposed to the anti-pope Novatian. Cornelius was eventually exiled by Roman authorities to punish Christians in general, who were said to have provoked the gods to send plague against Rome.
St. Cyprian (190-258) was baptised when he was 56. By the time he was bishop, he had been a Christian for only 3 years! When the Roman emperor Decius persecuted Christians, Cyprian lived in hiding, covertly ministering to his flock; his enemies condemned him for being a coward and not standing up for his faith. He supported St. Cornelius against the anti-pope Novatian. He too was exiled and martyred when Decius’ successor continued with persecution of Christians.
- Patron Saint Index
1 Tim 1:15-17
Lk 6:43-49
“For a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart.”
If some of you find the header familiar, I can only say it reveals your vintage. In today’s fast-paced world where WhatsApp chats are becoming de rigeur, it is quite understandable if ‘phrases’ like YOLO, FOMO, ICYMI, IMHO seem out of reach. I recall hearing ‘wee-zee-weeg’ in the late 90s, when my ex-boss uttered it in a meeting with a client, in defence of some work we were proposing. When the client furrowed his eyebrows, my ex-boss said, “What you see is what you get.”
And so it was with Jesus, as He preached across Jerusalem and the neighbouring lands. He called it as it was every time, and called out those who spoke with ill intentions in their hearts; for He knew all that was going through their hearts, good or bad. For many of us who have experienced corporate life, we have probably been ‘victims’ of those who have spoken with ‘forked tongues’ at one point or another. I don’t miss those environments where you spend have the time wondering if a colleague is being nice to you because he/she was really sincere; or wanted something out of you.
I was blessed to have attended mass recently, which was celebrated by our spiritual director in CSC (Catholic Spirituality Centre). I shall just call him ‘the smiling priest’ because everytime we see him, he wears a genuine smile that communicates the love of Jesus. Even as he is preaching his homily, the smile is a constant. Truly, Father P is a shining example of how what someone says flows out from his heart. His words of love, encouragement, and gratitude always touch the hearts of the congregation and I could see everyone truly lapping up every word that came from his mouth.
Brothers and sisters, we hurry around so much in our daily lives that we sometimes forget to ‘interact’ with others around us. There was a day I left my phone in the office as I headed out for lunch with a new colleague. We ended up bonding over a simple meal of fish soup in a hawker centre, sharing our experiences. He was surprised that I didn’t have my phone with me and made a passing remark about how rare it was for someone in the communications line to not have his phone. I smiled and said, “It’s because this time was meant for us to communicate with each other.”
So the next time we are at mass or in the adoration chapel/room, try leaving the phone in the car or just turning it off. It may allow you to discern better the words that are touching your heart, coming from the greatest communicator of them all – Jesus.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Desmond Soon)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are sorry that we shut you off and pay more heed to our devices and our distractions. Help us continue to seek your Word in the silence of our hearts.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Father, for always listening to us as we unburden ourselves in your presence.
OXYGEN 
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