Dec 6 – Memorial for St. Nicholas, bishop
St. Nicholas (d. 346) was a priest and abbot, and the bishop of Myra, Lycia (modern Turkey). He was generous to the poor, and a special protector of the innocent and wrong. Many stories grew up around him prior to his becoming Santa Claus.
One story is that upon hearing that a local man had fallen on such hard times that he was planning to sell his daughters into prostitution, Nicholas went by night to the house and threw three bags of gold in through the window, saving the girls from an evil life. These three bags, gold generously given in time of trouble, became the three golden balls that indicate a pawn broker’s shop.
Another story is that he raised to life three young boys, who had been murdered and pickled in a barrel of brine to hide the crime. These stories led to his patronage of children in general, and of barrel-makers besides.
Another St. Nicholas story is that he induced some thieves to return their plunder, which led to his protection against theft and robbery, and his patronage of them – he is not helping them to steal, but to repent and change. In the past, thieves have been known as Saint Nicholas’ clerks or Knights of St. Nicholas.
A fourth story is that during a voyage to the Holy Lands, a fierce storm blew up, threatening the ship. He prayed about it, and the storm calmed – hence the patronage of sailors and those like dockworkers who work on the sea.
- Patron Saint Index
Is 25:6-10
Mt 15:29-37
“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit.
He guides me along the right path; he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff;
With these you give me comfort.
You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing.
Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.”
Psalm 23 has always been special to me. Whenever I’m down, the image of Jesus as the shepherd holding or carrying a lamb over his shoulders comforts or soothes me. I’ve learnt how shepherds go out of their way to find their lost sheep, and to tend and care for their sheep when it’s hurt — the same way Jesus loves and cares for us. When I’m worried, frustrated or hurt, Jesus will surely be my go-to to release all those pent-up or unpleasant emotions.
In the past, when I used to be able to go to the adoration room more often, I’d go into this contemplation where I find myself sitting beside Jesus on fresh and green pasture, with a river running alongside. Then we’d have conversations which are usually just me complaining to him, and pouring our my woes. Eventually, that scene is what is most calming for me, and where I find solace and peace.
Yet, sometimes we humans seek resolutions. Don’t we want to hear what Jesus has to say about my struggles, my trials, my problems? Yes! Sometimes I get to hear his assurance, “Don’t worry” or “Do not be afraid” or “I’m with you”. That’s all the peace I need.
In this first week of Advent, the first purple candle to be lit in church signifies Hope. Every day, we live with hope. In all our prayers, answered and unanswered, we always cling on to this hope – hoping for Jesus to hear and answer our prayers. When things don’t go our way, when our struggles remain struggles, we can only wait in hope. In one of Fr Mike Schmidt’s Minute Homilies in the Hallow app, he talked about this waiting which is what purifies us. In our current culture of instant gratification, we forget the concept of waiting. I do remember that sometimes my prayers do take as long as days, months, to even 10 years before I see the magic that is the Lord’s beautiful divine plan.
Brothers and sisters, as we hold on to the light of hope, may we also remember that no matter what happens, in the end, we have the eternal hope of being with our maker in the kingdom of God – for “In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.”
(Today’s OXYGEN by Cynthia Chew)
Prayer: Dear Abba Father, help us to see that everything on earth is just temporal, for we have our eternal home to look forward to. Amen
Thanksgiving: Thank you Jesus, for hearing all our woes, our problems, and even in the silence of our prayers, may we always trust that you are already working on them. Thank you for everything you’ve done, for the things you’re doing and for all that you will be doing.
OXYGEN 
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