20 Jan – Memorial for St. Fabian, pope and martyr; Memorial for St. Sebastian, martyr
Pope St. Fabian (d. 250) was a layman and a farmer. He came into Rome on a day when a new pope was to be elected. A dove flew in and settled on his head. The gathered clergy and laity took this as a sign that Fabian had been anointed, and he was chosen Pope by acclamation.
He sent St. Dionysius and other missionaries to Gaul, and condemned the heresies of Privatus. He was martyred for his faith in the persecutions of Decius.
St. Sebastian (d. 288) was the son of a wealthy Roman family. He was educated in Milan and became an officer of the Imperial Roman army, and captain of the guard. He was a favourite of Diocletian. During Diocletian’s persecution of the Christians, Sebastian visited them in prison, bringing supplies and comfort. He was reported to have healed the wife of a brother soldier by making the Sign of the Cross over her. He converted soldiers and a governor.
He was charged as a Christian, tied to a tree, shot with arrows, and was left for dead. He survived, recovered, and returned to preach to Diocletian. The emperor then had him beaten to death.
During the 14th century, the random nature of infection with the Black Death caused people to liken the plague to their villages being shot by an army of nature’s archers. In desperation, they prayed for the intercession of a saint associated with archers, and St. Sebastian became associated with the plague.
- Patron Saint Index
Heb 5:1-10
Mk 2:18-22
“…nobody puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins too.”
After the festivities of Christmastide and merrymaking of ushering in the New Year, most of us would have returned to ‘regular programming’. The school year would have started, and the working adults amongst us would probably be back in the workplace hustling. Amidst the hustle and bustle, perhaps we should take a moment to reflect on whether we should resume our everyday lives, as if nothing has changed.
In today’s gospel, Jesus uses the metaphor of a wedding celebration to explain why His disciples were not fasting. Referring to Himself as the bridegroom, Jesus reminds the Pharisees that His presence is a time of joy and celebration, not of mourning or fasting. The lack of fasting is a natural response to the joy of being in Jesus’ presence, with the underlying message about recognising the significance of the moment of the Messiah being among them.
While religious structures and traditions have their place in the Church, Christ’s coming invites us to a new way of living. Reflecting on the past year, I have been guilty of being a grumpy Christian, particularly in the face of multiple challenges. I highly doubt I was an effective witness of the faith, or if many colleagues felt inspired to know more about Jesus through me.
The new year offers the opportunity to do better; as Christians, to recognise that we have been redeemed and to lead a life of hope and joy, even in challenging times. Rather than revert to the ‘regular programming’ marked by constant dissatisfaction, anxiety and unrest, we can choose to embrace the new life Jesus offers with gratitude, confident of our identity as beloved children of God. With the grace and peace which God has granted, I can make an intentional decision to let go of past hurts and be more positive, kind and loving.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Stephanie Eber)
Prayer: Father God, we pray for grace and peace to bear witness to the faith through our beliefs, thoughts and actions, especially with those who are different from us.
Thanksgiving: Thank you for redeeming us through Christ and the new life we have in Him. Help us to live each day with a heart full of gratitude, embracing the joy and freedom You have given us. Guide us to be mindful of Your blessings and to celebrate the small victories that come our way. Teach us to be fully present in each moment, and to reflect Your love and joy in all that we do. May we serve others with a spirit of kindness and positivity, spreading Your light wherever we go. As we set boundaries and forgive past hurts, may we experience Your peace and love more deeply.
OXYGEN 
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