Feast of St Mark the Evangelist
He was a cousin of Barnabas and accompanied the apostle Paul on his first missionary journey; later he followed him to Rome. He was a disciple of Peter, and his gospel is told from Peter’s point of view. He is credited with founding the Church in Alexandria. His body was stolen from Alexandria in 828 (though some say that the wrong bones were stolen) and taken to Venice, which adopted him as its patron saint.
1 Peter 5:5b-14
Mark 16:15-20
“In my name, they will cast out devils: they will have the gift of tongues, they will pick up snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.”
Do you like / love the name that you have been given? For the longest time, I didn’t like my surname and especially my Chinese name. Literally translated from Chinese, my name means “Clean River”. Hmmm… I wonder what the motivation was, when my parents gave me this name. We are not particularly traditional so I don’t expect that “Clean River” was something that was auspicious or that it would assist me in giving a good life, etc.
As a result of my father leaving us when we were younger, I didn’t even particularly like my surname. So much so, that I wouldn’t even acknowledge if someone called me by my surname, or especially when used in combination with my Chinese name. I always told anyone who would listen, that Calvin is the name that people will know me for and not my surname or Chinese names. Prideful much? Yes, of course.
But names have power. When we name others or a thing, it implies that we have authority over that someone or something. When we name our pets, our cars, our children, we stake authority and ownership over them. I remember all those times when certain people called me names, sometimes derogatory, sometime not. My ex collegemates still call me by the nickname given to me more than 25 years ago. I know some of them have actually forgotten my real name as they are still calling me by THAT nickname.
I have known the name of Jesus for almost all my life, being a cradle Catholic and all. Have I realised the importance of this name? Honestly, very likely not. It is really a shame that the most sacred name of all has sometimes been used to scold someone, as a swear word or even a word that you use in exasperation. It’s the same name that the Gospel states that can cure the sick, protect the weak and even save one from damnation. But it is really strange that the secular world can turn something so sacred and powerful into something that is ridiculed. Something that goes against the second commandment.
I believe in the name of Jesus. I believe that He has saved me and that through the name of our Risen saviour, we can do anything. Well, I wouldn’t go so far as putting my hand into a jar that has a venomous snake in it. But I know that our lives can be changed or transformed if we dedicate our day, our week and all we do to the name of Jesus.
I have personally found that in those dark moments, where everything seems to be collapsing around me, by whispering the Jesus prayer, my heart stops racing, my breaths become more regular and things seem to slow down and this allows me to focus on the task at hand. Then darkness doesn’t seem so dark anymore and there is a lit path that directs me out of it. All it takes is to whisper the name of Jesus and to put ourselves under its power.
We are Christians, we are followers of Christ. We proudly proclaim that we bear the name of Christ and we know that we have the power to do anything, by invoking in the most precious name of Jesus. Let us therefore, brothers and sisters, invoke the most powerful name of Jesus and commend to Him all our fears, our aspirations, our joys, our tears. Let our Risen Lord empower us in all we say, in all we do, in all our thoughts so that we can love His most precious name more than we love ours.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Calvin Wee)
Prayer: Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me. Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me. Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Father, for giving us your son Jesus Christ. Thank you for allowing us to be called Christians and for the power to live our lives, loving you and loving one another. Amen.
OXYGEN 
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