Tuesday of Week 30 in Ordinary Time
Eph 5:21-33
Lk 13:18-21
Give way to one another in obedience to Christ.
I am a sinner. And one of my root sins is the mortal sin of Pride. I do not like it when people look down on me, and I really don’t like it when people don’t pull their weight in situations at work, or even in social circles. When these occasions occur, my face just turns a darker shade of black and I wonder why this person is just so selfish.
Reflecting upon my actions, I know that I am not helping the situation by showing my displeasure, but I really cannot help it. Perhaps, it is due to my upbringing in that I was brought up to be independent and to do what you say you would do, so I cannot understand why some people just cannot do it. And why can’t they be like me and understand the process or the situation?
In my current workplace, I see these behaviours very often. I know we shouldn’t judge and everyone is different, but if you are not pulling your weight, then it is my opinion that you don’t deserve to be here. There are other people out there that need a job like this and would work doubly hard to get the job done. Could it be lethargy, could it be laziness or even apathy? I don’t know and I seriously don’t care. Because if one person doesn’t pull their weight, then someone else has to double up and it is really unfair. I try to start the workday with a prayer and I usually pray for humility, but as the day progresses, I hear or see all these selfish behaviours; and my face starts to turn a blacker shade of pale again.
I had the blessing to be involved in the Papal Visit in September and even though it was a lot of work and many, many late nights, what I saw and felt was that almost everyone was pulling their weight and more. We had one objective, which was to ensure the success of the Papal Visit, so that our fellow Catholics would be able to experience and listen to what message the Holy Father had for us. What lessons can I take from that unique experience? There was a lot of collaboration, even among people that couldn’t see eye to eye. There was a common sense of mission and, most importantly, there was Jesus with us. In all honesty, the Papal Visit was a success — not because of the Planning Committee and the tireless dedication of the 5,000 volunteers — but because Jesus was in the midst of us, right from the start.
Having Jesus at our side isn’t something that we should take for granted. And as I reflect on the past 12 months, I have felt Jesus’ presence many times, especially when I am feeling overwhelmed, stressed and at my wits end. Jesus is always there to point me in the right direction, to welcome me into his embrace; and He also reminds me that I don’t journey alone.
And so, St Paul tells us, in today’s reading – to “give way to one another, in obedience to Christ”, reinforcing Jesus’ command to us; “To love one another as I have loved you”. I know it is our Lord telling me that we cannot know everything, we cannot live as if we are on an island. All of us are parts of the body of Christ and that we cannot live apart from one another. So, it is another timely reminder that I have to accept the way some of these selfish people behave, and to trust that the Lord will make everything smooth for them and for me. And perhaps also to pray for them.
I know I am very prideful. And I know that God loves me despite my sinful nature. I thank God each and every day for loving me. I will endeavour for the next 12 months to ‘give in’ and I ask you, brothers and sisters to pray for me in this journey as I will pray for all of you.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Calvin Wee)
Prayer: You are our loving God, always loving us, always being with us. We are nothing without you and as we continue on our journey of faith, I ask you Lord to be with us always and to let you work in our lives. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Father, for another year of blessings. I thank you for all the experiences that you have enabled me to have and I thank you for all my friends that have journeyed with me. Thank you Lord, for my spouse, for her understanding and her constant love and support. I cannot thank you enough for her. Amen.
OXYGEN 
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