May 10 – John of Ávila (not to be confused with John Avila or St John of the Cross) was a Spanish priest, preacher, scholastic author, and religious mystic, who has been declared a saint and Doctor of the Church by the Catholic Church.
He is called the ‘Apostle of Andalusia’, for his extensive ministry in that region. From early 1551 Ávila was in constant ill-health. He spent the last years of his life in semi-retirement in the town of Montilla, in the Province of Córdoba. He died there on 10 May 1569, and in accordance with his wishes was buried in that city, in the Jesuit Church of the Incarnation, which now serves as the sanctuary to his memory.
- Wikipedia
Acts 18:9-18
Jn 16:20-23
“…when she has given birth to the child, she forgets the suffering in her joy that a man has been born into the world… and that joy no one shall take from you.”
This joy that St John speaks of, I can totally relate to. In fact, all mothers will be able to relate to the labour pains (especially those who go through natural delivery), the endurance of pushing the baby out, and then the ultimate joy of seeing that newborn face for the very first time. Just imagine, for nine months they have been inside of us, and then to see how we’ve created this life is just a sheer marvel of God. I can still remember all those moments. This joy is a true gift of God – to be called to be a mother. I’ve been blessed with not just one, but two beautiful girls.
It is also apt that this weekend is Mother’s Day. My students interviewed me today about the role of motherhood for a Mother’s Day special video. I am thankful for the chance to reflect on all the good and bad. Who are we kidding? Of course, the role of motherhood has its equal share of joys and heartaches. But the joy of motherhood remains. This joy is as permanent as the joy of knowing that I’ll meet Jesus again for his promise is that “I shall see you again, and your hearts will be full of joy, and that joy no one shall take from you.”
Some joys are worth all the suffering and the pains. Just like the crosses we carry as a follower of Christ. Life is not always smooth sailing, and it is the times when we go through trials, learn to lean on Jesus and get past the anguish, that make us see the hands of God. Take the loss of my mum, for example. It took me 33 years to have a closure. I often asked that infamous question, “Why me?” Without realising it until more recently, Jesus has given me his mother Mary to be my spiritual mum. Unlike most, I prayed the rosary for over 20 years without really feeling any connection with Mary. She, like all mothers who often work behind the scenes without their children knowing, has been slowly but surely bringing me to the heart of her son Jesus Christ. A mother does things that children will not see or understand until one day, when they finally do. So, I hope that my children will also see how much I love them.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Cynthia Chew)
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, until we see you again, may we find true joy in the things we do, in the people we meet and even in the trials that we have to go through. Amen
Thanksgiving: Thank you Abba Father, for loving us, for wanting us to experience all that is good. You know what’s best for us, so help us to see and trust that everything that you meant for us will bring us eternal joy one day.
OXYGEN 
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