Dear readers, today, we feature reflections from eight of our regular contributors. We hope you enjoy them as we all prepare for Easter.
1st Reading
Gen 1:1-2:2
Ps 103(104):1-2,5-6,10,12-14,24,35
God saw that it was good.
We are all God’s creation, and we are all good. You might be thinking: “Yeah right, definitely not so-and-so who got me upset during lunch at the cafeteria just now!”
But I guess human as we are, you and I forget that it was God who created us. And by nature, we are good. It is perhaps how we have been brought up or the experiences of life that have shaped us to be who we are, good and not so pleasant in some way. Perhaps that is the beauty of it all, we are broken and not so pretty but yet perfect in the way that we all are; in need of God’s healing touch. Imagine a young child who falls at the playground with his or her clothes soaked in mud and dirt running to his or her parents and asking for an embrace. Maybe you and I might shun away if the child is someone we don’t know. But for a parent the child is still beautiful and will instinctively soothe the pain or hurt of the child. And that’s exactly how God sees us — broken yet beautiful and in need of an embrace.
And that might be what is needed to have a change of mindset — to see the ‘ugly’ neighbour with the eyes of God. The person who hurt us, and has consistently caused trouble for us, is but another child of God who is hurting and needs an embrace and the touch of God made tangible through a loving embrace or word of affirmation from us.
Difficult as it may be, may that be a challenge for each of us as we celebrate this Paschal Triduum.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Lee)
Prayer: We pray for the gift to see our brothers and sisters as God’s creations and to embrace those who have hurt us.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Jesus, for creating my fellow brothers and sisters and I, in your image and likeness.
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2nd Reading — Akedah
Gen 22:1-19
Ps 15(16):5, 8-11
God put Abraham to the test. ‘Abraham, Abraham’, he called. ‘Here I am’, he replied.
God commanded Abraham. “Take Isaac, your only son, whom you love; bind and sacrifice him as holocaust (burnt offering) on Mount Moriah.” Without flinching, Abraham built an altar, bound Isaac, and raised his knife to strike. Think about it – God, who made a covenant with Abraham and promised him a son, now wants him to kill this very son. It meant taking everything away from him. Yet Abraham obeyed God totally. He did not know that the angel of the Lord would stop him at the very last moment.
Ancient Jews refer to Genesis 22 as The Akedah or Binding. This event has deep significance to the Jewish faith and people. This story is celebrated in the Rosh Hashanah with the blowing of the Shofar (ram’s horn). This festival marks the start of the Jewish new year, usually in September. For the Jews today, Akedah means the supreme example of self-sacrifice, in obedience to God’s will and the subsequent blessing of God. That blessing meant Abraham was promised descendants as numerous as the stars in heaven and the sands in the seashore. They will also take possession of the land of the enemies. Today, this factor is the reason why the state of Israel is unyielding in its stance that the entire country belongs to the Jews, and complicates the situation with the Palestinian population.
For Christians, Akedah is also significant as it prefigures the death of Jesus on Good Friday. God loved the world so much that he gave his only son to die on the cross for all our sins. His death reconciled us with God and gave us the hope of eternal life.
Yet, Akedah does seem to magnify the contrast between the God of the Abraham and the Christian God. Jews see God as Lord and they, as faithful servant. They must obey or be punished. On the other hand, Christians see God as a loving Father who forgives and they, his sons and daughters. For a long time, I was troubled by Genesis 22. I did not understand why God would put Abraham to such a heart wrenching test just to extract obedience! Fortunately, Bishop Barron’s bible podcast helped me finally understand.
“Do you love God or the benefits of God?” Bishop Barron intoned. This line struck me deeply as I understood his point. Abraham was blessed immensely with the benefits of God. He had material wealth and a son. It was easy to love God then for the benefits. Abraham showed he actually loved God the moment he raised his hand to strike Isaac. Bishop Barron said God knew beforehand and perhaps wanted Abraham to know it too.
Jesus also knew the price to pay for obedience to his father. He was whipped, battered, crucified, suffered immense pain and finally died on the cross. He loved his father while being stripped of every benefit of humanity. I now understand what it means to say that I love my God. Not empty words, but the ability to sacrifice like Jesus and Abraham!
Sadly, I know this is currently beyond me. I realised I love the benefits of God, more than God itself. I will struggle if asked to make an immense sacrifice to love God. Nevertheless, I resolve to do better by praying more sincerely and consistently each day now. Hopefully, it is a small start in the right direction.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Andrew Sia)
Prayer: Lord, for our Lenten journey, help us to love you only and not the benefits of your blessings.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Lord, for the gift of faith and hope.
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3rd Reading – He always has our back
Exodus 14:15-15:1
That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. Israel witnessed the great act that the Lord performed against the Egyptians, and the people venerated the Lord; they put their faith in the Lord and in Moses, his servant.
Exodus Chapter 14 recounts the Jews’ crossing of the Red Sea. In Hebrew, it is called “Kriat Yam Suph”. This translates as the “Crossing of the Sea of Reeds”. Yet, English translations call this the Rea Sea. It is retold in song in the Torah and the Psalms. Even the Muslims believe that it happened.
Whether it was water or reeds, what stands out to us is God’s supremacy and power. If He has the power to part the sea (or reeds), there is no problem that is too big for Him to handle. He leaves us with seven important lessons:
- From Pharaoh’s pursuit after the Jews, He reveals that Satan seeks to chase after us and place us back into bondage;
- From the Jews’ fear at the sight of Pharaoh’s chariots, He reveals that we must put our faith in Him in times of distress. If we take our eyes off Him and fear those who seek to oppress or oppose us, we may drift off course on our walk with Him;
- From Moses’ instructions to the people to have no fear and be quiet, He reveals that He wants us to trust Him to fight our battles for us;
- From Moses’ instructions to the people to advance towards the sea in faith as the Egyptians approached, He reveals that we are to also press forward and trust Him when we are faced with tribulation. Just as He protected the backs of the Jews, He will protect ours as well;
- Through Paul’s revelation that the Jews were baptized as they crossed the Red Sea, He reveals that we must also be baptized with His living waters to pass over from the land of bondage to the eternal Promised Land;
- From His destruction of Pharaoh’s army at the Red Sea, He reveals that those who seek to harm or enslave His people will one day face His judgment and destruction.
- It is important that we believe that the Jews’ crossing of the Red Sea was a real event. He wants us to believe in the miracle of His parting of the Red Sea to have faith in His power to help us in times of crisis. There is no obstacle, enemy, or bondage that He cannot break when we have faith in Him.
God’s miracle at the Red Sea was not just meant to bolster the faith of the Jews. It was also meant to bolster our faith as well. There is no stranglehold of sin that is too great for Him to break when we cry out in faith for His help.
I have been feeling extremely overwhelmed in my new role at work. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the role but I am extremely stretched and overwhelmed. People tell me that now that my academic studies were completed in November last year, I should be able to rest and spend more time doing things which I enjoy.
Yes, the academic study is over (for now…) but I’m still up at 3.30 most mornings to catch up with paperwork and respond to emails. In the midst of all this craziness, I was working on a transaction. It was large and bespoke and naturally, there was a nice fee to be realised if this came to fruition.
Along the way, there was concerning news that I came across about one of the parties in this transaction, but I was able to explain it away. Then came the next bit of concerning news, which again I explained away. I was spending so much time on this transaction that maybe my objectivity was getting clouded. Mind you, whenever there was concerning news, the others around him got into trouble, but this individual was cleared.
One Friday evening, I had accompanied my daughter for her Catechesis of the Good Shepherd class. It was a rare occasion for me, as my better half drops her off and teaches the class as well. That Friday evening, the CGS catechists’ assigned me to the only task they figured I was appropriate for – arranging furniture! I went about this and in the midst of helping, received a call from a colleague. He had come to hear about my transaction and wanted to share a negative experience he had with this individual. He did end off agreeing that his negative experience was totally unrelated to my transaction. He even agreed that his negative experience did not need to be highlighted when I sought my final approvals.
However, for some reason, I was a bit troubled and headed to the Adoration Room. It was there that it dawned on me that perhaps I was not being objective at all. I was too invested in the transaction to be objective. I was more focused on the time spent and the potential revenue the bank would make. But God was there to guide and protect.
That night, I made the decision to listen to my colleague who had reached out, off the record. He was my angel, sent to warn me. My enthusiasm had gotten the better of me! I eventually told my bosses that I wanted to walk away from the transaction. It was initially met with some reluctance as this was an attractive transaction. But I stood my ground and shared my concerns.
We finally walked away, but I did so with a comfortable peace within me. I thanked God for that colleague that He sent me, totally out of the blue. I thanked Him for placing me in church, where I had quick and easy access to an Adoration Room. But mostly, I thanked Him for guiding me.
Like the Israelites, God guided, guarded and protected.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Gerard Francis)
Prayer: We pray for the grace to continually surrender to His will for us. Not just at work but in our family life and with our social interactions.
Thanksgiving: We give thanks to Our Heavenly Father for His graces to help us discern His will for us.
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4th Reading — God’s unconditional love
Isa 54:5-14
Ps 29(30):2,4-6,11-13
“…my love for you will never leave you and my covenant of peace with you will never be shaken…”
This verse from Isaiah deeply resonated with me. The assurance of enduring love and unwavering peace, coupled with the word ‘never’ – meaning not ever; at no time; by no chance; in no case; under no condition – truly struck a chord in my heart. It is a steadfast promise that brings comfort amidst life’s uncertainties, and it’s exactly what I needed to know at this time in my life.
Lately, I have been grappling with a major decision that I keep putting off. While the gift of free will is a blessing, it also carries the weight of responsibility, knowing that each choice carries its own consequences. From simple decisions like what to wear or where to eat, to life-altering ones, the process of discernment can be daunting.
During a recent trip to Tokyo, I stood in line for hours in the cold outside a popular restaurant, uncertain if my patience would be rewarded with a satisfying meal. I had the choice of countless other eating places nearby, but I insisted on trying this one restaurant. Thankfully, the gamble paid off and the food was so good I would gladly stand in line again for it. Conversely, even if the food had turned out bad, the only ramification would have been my wasting a couple of hours queueing.
If only all choices in life were that simple, and the outcomes so tangible. Right now, I am at a crossroads, trying to discern a choice that could be life-changing. I have sought guidance from family and friends, as well as prayed for wisdom as to what I should do, but the direction has not been so clear. I worry that I am not discerning properly and may end up making the wrong choice, choosing to do my will instead of God’s.
In this reading today, I am reassured that regardless of the path I choose, God’s love for me remains steadfast. In addition, He offers me peace, a divine assurance that I need not be anxious about anything.
Just as God remained faithful to the covenant with Israel despite their shortcomings, so too does He extend His grace to us, His beloved children. Sisters and brothers, may we all be touched by the profound depth of God’s unconditional love and the gift of His peace this Easter season, finding comfort in the knowledge that we are never alone on our journey of faith and discernment.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Esther Leet)
Prayer: Lord Jesus, grant me the wisdom to discern Your will for my life. Guide my every step that I may walk in paths pleasing to You and fulfil the purpose You have for me.
Thanksgiving: Thank you, Lord, for the constant reassurance of your unconditional love and everlasting peace.
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5th Reading — Value for money
Is 55: 1-11
Is 12: 2-3, 4, 5-6
Oh come to the water, all you who are thirsty; though you have no money, come! Buy corn without money, and eat, and at no cost, wine and milk. Why spend money on what is not bread, your wages on what fails to satisfy?
Why do we spend money for that which is not bread, or our labour on things that do not satisfy? Because this is simply how the world works — on production and consumption that presumably brings happiness. Where then, is the space or time for anything else that could perhaps better fulfil our lives in a non-material way and make us truly happy? Singapore was just ranked the happiest country in Asia, and some people, including myself, are incredulous because we hear complaining all around us all the time. Perhaps this study was simply reflecting the fact that we Singaporeans are the least unhappy, the least suffering bunch of people in the region? After a casual discussion among my close friends, we concluded that most Singaporeans, barring those going through hardship, are satisfied with what they have.
Seeking happiness and satisfaction is the logical choice, but it seems we do not know what are the things that truly bring happiness. Actually we do, and we do want to pursue those things. However, many are distracted by other things that have, somehow, become essential. Especially when it comes to our families and our children. Fear of missing out is real — vacations, gadgets, tuition, extra curricular enrichment. These are things we now think are basic needs for happiness, and so we chase them.
Our resources — whether money, time, energy, etc — are finite. There is an opportunity cost to every decision we make, and so we assess if something is value for money as we work towards things that we think will make us happy. But why am I talking about cost and benefit? Doesn’t the passage from Isaiah tell us we can eat and drink without money? That there is no price to the wine and the milk? What is there to weigh and calculate? Well, there is a price to pay…
Isaiah chapter 55 talks about being fulfilled with things that satisfy. This comes after us having pursued all the things that do not satisfy. Here is an invitation to turn away from all of those worldly things and to drink from the waters of salvation. What then, is the price exactly? The price is death to oneself.
In our pursuit of things that make us happy, of things that satiate us, we often find ourselves not quite fulfilled. We think about what more we could have gotten, what more we could have done, how much more we could have enjoyed. Sometimes, after indulging, we even feel ill or disgusted with ourselves. In these situations, we did not die to ourselves but instead, feed our desires. And it is funny how unsatisfied we can be, when our desires are not aligned with what God desires for us.
It takes prayer and discernment to know what God desires for us. Sometimes, common sense is enough to tell us as well. What we should do is not always easy; in fact, it is probably the more difficult option. Do I simply walk on by? Or should I go a little out of my way to point someone in the correct direction? Do I focus only on finishing up my own work? Or should I take some time to help out a new colleague still learning the ropes? Do I live my own comfortable life, or should I check in on an elderly neighbour living alone, knowing that I run the risk of getting trapped in an hour-long conversation about the same old topics she has talked about every other time?
Dying to ourselves means doing things we do not like. But if we look back, we will see that those are the exact things that we should have been working on — our weaknesses that we should have been overcoming, the strengths we should have been honing, the good we should have done, the bad we should have avoided. I have to say that dying to myself, in the context of being a stay-at-home parent, has taught me a lot more about myself and my children. I have also learned more positive behaviours and learned to be more encouraging. This, of course,comes at a small cost — less me-time, less sitting about, being more tired — but the benefit is a closer and better family dynamic, which is priceless.
Lent has ended. As a period of preparation, we have all attempted some kind of fast and abstinence, whether from food or material things or bad behaviour. We have attempted almsgiving. We have attempted more prayer. By the way, isn’t it interesting how depriving ourselves of the material can help us focus more on our internal selves? As we stripped away, refused the non-essentials and focussed on our spiritual lives and the needs of others, did we not grow in several ways? We learn to get by with less, we learn to be more mindful, more relaxed; we learn to be considerate and charitable, we learn to connect with other people. Quite a lot of gain for a small sacrifice!
We are now at the brink of Easter, when we celebrate and revel in New Life — the new life that we are free to live, now that we have shed our old lives. We have paid a small price to deny ourselves, we can now fully enjoy the invaluable treasures that await us.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Felicia Zou)
Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray for the strength to do as You will for us and for all of your children. We pray for the grace to accept Your desires for us. We pray for the courage to will the good of others.
Thanksgiving: Dear Lord, we thank you for your everlasting Love for us.
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6th Reading — Wisdom that comes from God
Bar 3:9 – 15,32–4:4
Ps 19:8-11
The rule of the Lord is to be trusted, it gives wisdom to the simple.
When I read today’s 6th reading and responsorial psalm, I felt perplexed, because they seemed to be encouraging us to grow in wisdom. Yet elsewhere in the Bible, Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children (Mt 19:14), whom I would normally assume have yet to fully gain wisdom. How was I to approach these seemingly contradictory passages, especially when I personally tended towards gaining more knowledge about God to know Him better?
But when I looked up Psalm 19, I found that it was intended to give praise to God through the wonders of creation and His Word. It made me think of how everything is created by, and owes its being to, God. It also made me reflect on God’s goodness and generosity in revealing Himself to us, coming down to be one of us and continuing to provide for us through His Word (which I sometimes take for granted by falling asleep at mass…). Perhaps it also served as a reminder for me that while I can hope to learn more about our Lord, ultimately, I need to rely on His grace like a child to gain His wisdom because I cannot do it on my own.
This was reflected to some extent in my experience taking part in the Pray40 challenge on the Hallow app. I am not sure what I was expecting when I abruptly signed up for this ‘Lenten project’ (other than a vague hope that it would help me fulfil the element of prayer). However I was slightly surprised to learn that we would be focusing on the American Jesuit priest Father Walter Ciszek and his book He Leadeth Me, which describes his experience in the Soviet Union (this link has more information). I didn’t mind learning about Father Ciszek, because I would probably not have picked up his book on my own. But I’d expected something more closely connected to the Bible or at least the season of Lent.
As it turned out, the challenge’s overall themes of surrender to, and reliance on, God — which we can only fully realise in times of weakness or failure — became quite relevant to my Lenten experience this year as I encountered challenges at home and work. The content of each daily reflection was pretty engaging, and besides Father Ciszek, I also got to know other relatable figures such as Father Frankie Cicero and Tammy Peterson.
Perhaps this was the wisdom which God was trying to impart to me; it wasn’t necessarily where I expected to find it but as long as I trusted in His prompting and remained open to trying (the app in this case, but maybe other means in other situations), He would be more than willing to speak to me. Hopefully, this will be a takeaway from the Lenten process which I can carry forward as we embark on the glorious season of Easter.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Jaclyn Lam)
Prayer: Lord, grant us humility as we strive to grow in your wisdom. Grant us the discernment and perseverance we need to live it out in our words and ways.
Thanksgiving: We thank you Lord for your gifts of wisdom and prudence. We appreciate the range of heroes and heroines we can be inspired by.
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7th Reading — Prophecies
Eze 36:16-17,18-28
“I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed…”
The 7th reading precedes the Epistle, in which St Paul specifically talks about baptism by water as a way to cleanse us and rescue us from our idols. Ezekiel was called to foretell God’s faithfulness in the midst of trials, as well as in the fulfilment of His promises.
So what are the promises here and what does it require from us? Baptism affords us certain rights, as well as requiring certain commitments. Have we been faithful as a people called by God and saved by God? For us, the baptised, do we live as children of God?
As all children do, we struggle. In children, this struggle is sometimes seen as petulance, mischief and general bad behaviour. But in these growing pains, children learn boundaries, they learn the things that cause hurt to themselves and others, and they learn how morals and values are the better path.
Have we learnt as adults, or are we still struggling and pushing the boundaries of our faith to the point that is minimally acceptable? Or are we thriving in the freedom of the life of a beloved son and daughter? With the spirit of God present in us and having our ransom paid by none other than the King, do we realise the value of our being?
Our lives and how we live is a reflection to the world of our creator; just as children are a reflection of our parents. We must live out the dignity and gravity of our baptismal calling. It is not a burden, but a chance to show the world what true freedom means. Freedom to choose what is right, freedom to choose life and the freedom to live as God intended us to. Not as slaves to our passions.
The beauty of this faith is that we do not have to white knuckle our way to salvation, to heaven. By virtue of our baptism and living in a state of grace, we are given the grace to overcome our passions. We need only have a deep desire and conviction that grace is at work and wants to work in our lives.
Brothers and sisters, baptism is the entry and an amazing gift from God. Let’s embrace it and own it.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Daryl De Payva)
Prayer: Lord, may we, with the help of your grace, gain freedom from our passions.
Thanksgiving: Thank you for the wonderful gift of Baptism, that avails me to all your supernatural graces!
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Epistle — The Aim of the Christian
Rom 6:3-11
Ps 117:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
…you too must consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus.
The Epistle is read after the Gloria is chanted. There was once where I remembered the lights remained dimmed as the Gloria was chanted and the altar was prepared. The lights came fully on at the end of the Gloria and it was a spectacular sight to behold. In some ways, I believe that these actions remind us of the message of the Epistle — the need to remember to put on a ‘new’ self.
The Passion narrative on Palm Sunday mentions about a man who fled into the darkness after his tunic was grabbed. That tunic represents the baptismal garment given to us at our Baptism. Every time we sin, we flee into darkness and this garment is taken away from us. It’s a very powerful image of how we renounce the promise of eternal life every time we sin. The Cruxificion of Christ represents the death of our sins. It is a very difficult action for us to follow because the habit to stay with our sin is always there.
Perhaps the Christian is short-sighted and forgets that Heaven is the destination and that Earth is but the transit point. Our words and actions should be directed towards bringing others to Jesus. The difference between the Christian and non-believers is the gift of Faith which we have received. There is a need to renounce the ways of the world by dying to our sins — this will allow us to radiate the brightness of the inheritance of heaven which belongs to us.
As we continue to proceed with the Easter Vigil, let us not forget that the battle against sin is a constant one. We can draw strength that we have a Messiah who has shown us the way.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
Prayer: Jesus, let us always remember that you love us.
Thanksgiving: We give thanks for all Confessors who restore our relationship with Jesus.
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Gospel — False Alarms
Mk 16:1-8
“There is no need for alarm.”
The safety of the country where I live in means that citizens tend to be complacent about the need to be vigilant. This often translates to a complete indifference against fire alarms and calls for evacuation. Whenever the fire alarm is sounded, shoppers in a mall continue with their activities with no concern that the alarm could be real. It often amuses me to see this happening because it goes to show how confident the people are that it is but a false alarm. The Gospel of today is the high point of the Liturgy of the Word, for it encapsulates the message of what the seven readings of the Old Testament and the Epistle — Jesus’s death was necessary and His resurrection assures us that our pathway to Heaven is open for us.
The role of an alarm is to alert us to a development which is not in our usual daily activities. The Gospel message reminds us that only with the sorrow of the Crucifxion can come the joy of the Resurrection. We have learnt of the struggle of the people of Israel in handling the demands made on them, as they continued their struggle to purify themselves to become the people of God. We also struggle with the many competing demands made on our lives; it could be financial obligations, familial tensions, or even just personal struggles. Yet, the important thing for each one of us is that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We may not be able to feel it at present but with the persistence of Faith, it will be there for us.
As we enter into the season of Easter, let us remain steadfast in our journey in life. Let us not forget that Jesus has overcome sin and purchased, with his own precious Blood, the rewards of eternal life. May we discover that Jesus loves us for who we are, and that the struggles of this world are temporary and that our reward lies not in the present, but in the eternal joy promised to us.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
Prayer: Jesus, we offer to you our sufferings and joys to you.
Thanksgiving: We give thanks for all who remind us that life on this earth is a pilgrimage towards the eternal reward.
OXYGEN 
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