Dec 13 – Memorial for St. Lucy, virgin, martyr
St. Lucy (c. 283) was a rich, young Christian of Greek ancestry. She was raised in a pious family, and vowed her life to Christ. Her Roman father died when she was young. Her mother, Eutychia, arranged a marriage for her. For three years, she managed to keep the marriage on hold. To change the mother’s mind about the girl’s new faith, Lucy prayed at the tomb of St. Agatha, and her mother’s long haemorrhagic illness was cured. Her mother agreed with Lucy’s desire to live for God, and Lucy became known as a patron of those with maladies like her mother’s.
Her rejected pagan bridegroom, Paschasius, denounced Lucy as a Christian to the governor of Sicily, who sentenced her to forced prostitution. But when the guards went to fetch her, they could not move her even when they hitched her to a team of oxen. The governor ordered her killed instead. After torture that included having her eyes torn out, she was surrounded by bundles of wood which were set afire; they went out. She prophesied against her persecutors, and was executed by being stabbed to death with a dagger. Her name is listed in the prayer “Nobis quoque peccatoribus” in the Canon of the Mass.
Legend says that her eyesight was restored before her death. This, and the meaning of her name, led to her connection with eyes, the blind, eye trouble, etc.
- Patron Saint Index
Is 48:17-19
Mt 11:16-19
“Yet Wisdom has been proven right by her actions.”
There are times where children think that parents are unaware of the struggles they face in their life. Children feel that the advice given is not practical and perhaps, not even relevant to their lives. Yet often over time, it has been discovered that those words of advice are often good words. Indeed, this seems like the message of the readings of today, where we are reminded that staying with the way of God is the correct and appropriate way.
The proclamation of the kingdom of God can take place in different ways. The way that John the Baptist announced about the need for repentance was indeed controversial for the Jews. His austere way of life stood in contradiction to what the people of Israel believed in. Indeed, there may be some people in our lives whose lifestyles do not seem to correspond with what we stand for. I have found that it is often when the message is different from our lives that I need to reflect on why I am feeling irritated, or even annoyed. Perhaps this is God’s way of reaching out to me to nudge me towards rediscovering the path which God wants me to embark upon.
The call from God is simple — adhere to his commandments and to proclaim the Word to the people around us. It is also, for some, very difficult to follow because the distractions of the world stop them from following what is needed. Brothers and sisters, let us take time today to ponder upon what God is asking us to do, and for the strength to adhere to the message which is asked of us.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
Prayer: Jesus, give us the strength to stay close to you.
Thanksgiving: We give thanks for all who continue to hold close to the faith in spite of the struggles.
OXYGEN 
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