Dear Oxygen readers,
The Core Team wishes one and all a blessed, peaceful and joyous Christmas filled with God’s graces and love. May He continue to light out paths and guide us on our journeys as we come to know Him more.
Christmas Day — Vigil Mass
Isa 62:1-5
Acts 13:16-17,22-25
Mt 1:1-25
…and they will call him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.‘
As Christmas approaches, we often find ourselves drawn to the familiar stories and traditions that surround the season. This evening, as I read the Gospel of Matthew and the genealogy of Jesus Christ, I catch myself ‘switching off’, wondering how this long list of names — many of which I can’t even pronounce — matter to me. These names seem ordinary and unremarkable at first glance, yet they hold extraordinary significance when viewed through the lens of God’s plan.
Genealogies were very important in biblical times. They showed who a person’s family was, where they came from, and what kind of legacy they had. Even today, in many Asian cultures, family history continues to shape one’s sense of honour and value. But Jesus’ genealogy is not what you might expect. It includes not just famous patriarchs and kings but also Gentiles, sinners, and those who faced scandal or hardship. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba — each of these names tells a story of struggle, courage, and redemption. Their inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus is a testament to God’s inclusive, redeeming love, showing that He works through all people, regardless of background, to fulfil His divine purposes.
This challenges me to reflect more deeply on my genealogy and identity, which have shaped my personality, thoughts, and emotions. While I may not be able to trace my family tree very far, I can see how my upbringing and the generations before me have influenced my thoughts, relationships, and identity. Yet, as significant as our past may be, the genealogy of Jesus reminds me that it does not define us entirely. As Christians, we belong to a greater lineage — the lineage of Jesus Christ. Through His birth, life, death, and resurrection, we are grafted into a new family, one that transcends earthly ties.
“They shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us’” (Matthew 1:23). These words remind me that God chose to enter into human history, not as a distant observer, but as one of us, sharing in our struggles and fully present in our joys. In Christ, I see the profound truth that I am not defined by my flaws or limitations, but by His grace and love. Emmanuel assures me that my brokenness is not the end of the story. Instead, I am invited into God’s unfolding story of redemption, where His presence transforms every moment into an opportunity for restoration and hope.
This Christmas, as we gather with family and reflect on our own genealogies, let us remember the lineage that truly defines us. It is not merely the bloodlines that connect us to earthly ancestors, but the spiritual lineage that connects us to Christ. This lineage calls us to embrace the values of love, mercy, and inclusion that Jesus embodied. It invites us to see others — regardless of their past — as part of the family God is renewing.
May we carry this truth into our celebrations, finding hope in the reality that God’s love knows no boundaries. Just as Jesus’ genealogy welcomed the unexpected and the unworthy, so too does His grace extend to each of us, inviting us to live as heirs of His promise. This Christmas, let us rejoice in the gift of belonging to the family of Emmanuel — God with us.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Geraldine Nah)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus into our world as Emmanuel — God with us. As we celebrate His birth, help us embrace the truth that we are defined not by our flaws, but by Your grace and love. May we live as part of Your unfolding story of redemption, carrying the hope of Christ into the world. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Lord, thank You for the gift of belonging to Your family. Your love knows no boundaries, and Your presence transforms our lives. We are grateful for the hope and joy that Christmas brings. May we always carry this truth in our hearts.
Image from: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/155303888194667426/
OXYGEN 
Leave a comment