Wednesday of Week 34 in Ordinary Time
Apo 15:1-4
Lk 21:12-19
“Your endurance will win you your lives.“
I always feel slightly unsettled by the readings at mass every November as the liturgical year draws to an end, especially with the passages from the book of Revelations. The nightmarish images of frightening beasts and destroying angels form a sharp contrast not just to our usual year-end holiday preparations and festive decorations, but also to the Advent themes of hope and peace. Perhaps this contrast is a reflection of the perennial challenges we face in marking the spiritual significance of Christmas amid our secular celebrations.
But when I read through the relatively triumphant scene which ends today’s first reading, I found myself wondering if the dichotomy between the year-end and Advent liturgical readings can also be a call for us to strengthen our faith, despite the suffering and darkness we encounter. After all, Jesus came to the world while it was mired in sin, and in spite of the many beautiful depictions of the Nativity, it would have been an extremely stressful and anxious experience for Joseph and Mary (not to mention rather disruptive, since they kept receiving visits from shepherds and wise men!). The challenge is then for us to persevere in hoping in the Lord and in remembering that He is always with us in our storms, even if this doesn’t always offer immediate reassurance.
The importance of perseverance is also emphasised at the end of today’s Gospel passage, and it made me think of how we can look to the saints for examples. A few weeks ago, I decided (on impulse) to read the autobiography Story of a Soul by St Therese of Lisieux; although I had attempted to read it a few years ago for Lent, I had not been able to get used to its linguistic style, but wanted to give it another try with the Catholic Classics podcast as a form of self-nagging.
Despite my good intentions, reading has been quite a slog even with the podcast hosts’ candid commentary. I have difficulty keeping track of Therese’s family members, and sometimes, Therese herself seems to be too precocious and pious to relate to (for example I was quite taken aback at how she recounted her First Communion as an extremely fruitful and memorable experience, when I could barely remember mine). But I can also sympathise with the tragedy she went through, from the loss of her mother at the age of only 4 (and subsequent loss of her elder sisters/mother figures when they entered the convent) and now that I have a better understanding of my own mental health, can also identify with her struggle with scrupulosity.
Above all, I am awed and humbled by her ability to continually see God’s hand in everything which happens to her — despite her suffering, despite her tendency to be over-sensitive or easily swayed by her emotions – which is built on the strength of her relationship with our Lord, and trust in Him as her loving Father. It is an attitude held by many other saints too, and a lesson in hope which I will try to keep in mind as I look back on the past year and pray about the one ahead.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Jaclyn Lam)
Prayer: Lord, send us your Holy Spirit to teach us how we can persevere in our faith, despite our weaknesses. Grant us your guidance and wisdom to learn from the mistakes we will inevitably make in our journey with You.
Thanksgiving: Loving Father, we give thanks for how you have accompanied us the past year. We ask for your grace to keep hoping in You for the year ahead.
OXYGEN 
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