4 January
1 Jn 3:7-10
Jn 1:35-42
“No one who has been begotten by God sins; because God’s seed remains inside him.”
I am re-writing this reflection a second time today, because I carelessly overlooked saving my draft which I accidentally over-wrote with another file. I was so frustrated that I wanted to give up. But here I am, trying again because perhaps, someone out there needs to hear this. So…
As a parent, I am given to worry for my child. I worry over his health (eating well?), his environment (conducive?), his friendships (are they kind?), etc. The one big concern I have for my 7-year old is that of the tech devices and the ills of online and social media. I try my best to minimise or screen out unnecessary or unhealthy screen time. Nonetheless, I cannot eliminate second-hand media influence. This topic certainly has its supporters and detractors, but I am specifically referring to the effects of social media, games, and device addiction. Upon the return to school, my child shared that he might find it hard to “blend in” with friends who spent their holidays having lots of video games and screen time, as he did not have the same knowledge of these games. I empathised with his worries but also encouraged him to remember the fun our family had with museum visits, books, board games, and lots of new sports we learnt. “We had our own kind of fun, and I am sure you will find other friends who share your interests.”
How many of us feel pressured to follow another’s unwise or questionable choices out of the fear of not fitting in? Today’s readings talk about sin and the choice to be holy — especially the reminder of John the Apostle: “My children, do not let anyone lead you astray: to live a holy life is to be holy just as he is holy.” He is sounding the clarion call that ”to lead a sinful life is to belong to the devil, since the devil was a sinner from the beginning.” Now, there is really a fine line between overuse and over-reliance, and addiction. We never know for sure when we have finally crossed the final threshold.
Likewise in the second reading, John the Baptist pointed out the Messiah, the Christ to John and Simon. “Look, there is the Lamb of God.” He was not just pointing out a person, John was pointing out the True Way and that specific direction was a fork in the road for them. A choice had to be made: to leave behind their old lives and ways to follow this Messiah, to “Come and see”; or, to turn and head back to where they came from?
Well, eventually my son replied after a while of silence that “Mummy, I have decided that I will not want to use the phone or play video games until I am… maybe 20 years old.” I was amused and surprised by this matter-of-fact statement and asked why. His response was a simple “Because I think that if I am always thinking about video games, I will not be thinking about Jesus.” I was honestly stumped by the simplistic and absolute reasoning, and yet the immense wisdom contained in this little mind’s resolve! I had never made the link between video games with faith or God at all!
And yet, therein lies the question — what is the one thing (or two?) that is distracting you or stealing your spiritual attention away from following Christ? It may not be the phone or social media. It may be something else that personally stumbles you. Are you willing to give it up and turn away to follow the Messiah? As the year ahead beckons busy for me, I felt awakened by my own child’s enlightened rationale.
There is often “much ado” or “much to do” as well as “putting off the things to do” — may we be aware of the vital difference, to repent and choose wisely, and choose to be holy.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Debbie Loo)
Prayer: Lord Jesus, in this new year, help me to leave behind my habitual liabilities that no longer serve nor strengthen me. Help me to choose to follow you with commitment and resolve.
Thanksgiving: Thank you God for always giving me a fresh day to try again, to begin again. May I treasure this new year and each new day to live a holy life and glorify You.
OXYGEN 
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