21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jos 24:1-2,15-18
Eph 5:21-32
Jn 6:60-69
“Lord, who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life…”
Many years ago, I was studying a full-time course that was already demanding on my schedule and physical condition, trying to manage with my declining physical health with the onset of new symptoms, struggling to secure a job upon graduation, and battling a spiritual battle. Everything seemed to be failing in my life, and I felt like a failure too. I also remember feeling the emptiness, the hopelessness, the bleakness of life.
And many times, I was thrown into doubts of whether Jesus truly loved me, and whether I should stay on in our Catholic church. Doubts such as, “If Jesus truly loves me, won’t He make life easier for me? Why is my life so difficult?”
In the middle of one night while I was battling those dark and overwhelming emotions, I cried out to Our Lady. I called her, “Mommy,” and in that split second, my soul could feel her warmth and presence near me. Her warmth enveloped me instantly, and I poured out my heart to her.
I have never had anyone come to my help so fast when I asked for aid! So, I knew at that moment that Our Lady is real, and she is indeed the mother of our Lord Jesus.
I never doubted Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist after having a personal childhood encounter of His immediate calming presence in me, during one of my anxiety flare-ups while queuing up during communion. But I still had troubles trusting in Jesus’s love for me.
Sensing my deep lack of trust in Jesus, sometime later, I remember my spiritual director constantly asking me to pray to Jesus, to trust in Him more.
I remember obeying his instructions begrudgingly but, over the years, I began to slowly trust in Jesus’ love for me, and read the Bible more often. Slowly but surely, I’m beginning to understand what St Peter meant when he said, “To whom shall we go, Lord? You have the words of eternal life.”
(Today’s OXYGEN by Brenda Khoo)
Prayer: Dear Lord, please lead us to Your way in our life, for You are our Way, our Truth, and our Life. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Thank You Lord, for always being with us and in us, and thank you for giving us your message of eternal life. Amen.
OXYGEN 
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