29 April, Tuesday — Redemption

29 Apr – Memorial for St. Catherine of Siena, virgin & doctor

St. Catherine (1347-1380) was the youngest child in a large family. At the age of six, she had a vision in which Jesus appeared and blessed her. Her parents wanted her to marry, but she became a Dominican tertiary. She was a mystic and stigmatist. She received a vision in which she was in mystical marriage with Christ, and the Infant Christ presented her with a wedding ring. She was counsellor to Pope Gregory XI and Pope Urban VI. She was proclaimed Doctor of the Church on 4 October 1970.

• Patron Saint Index

1 Jn 1:5-2:2
Mt 11:25-30

…we have our advocate with the Father…

Today’s first reading is a powerful message of God’s great mercy. A love that never fails, in spite of our own wretchedness.

I used to serve and minister in a retreat where participants experience a revolutionary change in their lives after a five-day spiritual programme. Some of them share of their past lives and how they were great sinners, ashamed of their sins. But the moment they testify to how God touched them during the retreat and they make a commitment to turn their lives around, you cannot help but be in awe of how God is truly a forgiving God, and how He embraces you and I despite our ugly selves.

As I write this reflection, I am reminded of my own sins that I struggle with time and again. But yet, I believe that God loves us all the same despite our sins; whether big or small, He still loves us. Jesus, our advocate, has washed away our sins with His blood that was shed on the Cross.

That said, let us not fall into the trap that we can go on sinning because God still loves us and forgives our sins. The point here is to live in His light — that means, to choose good over evil, right over wrong. God challenges us to choose the righteous path at every moment. And if we fall, take heart and know that He offers us another chance to choose what is right.

As we continue to observe and celebrate this season of Easter, let us remember that every day is an opportunity for us to avail ourselves to the grace of God, and to live in His light and be in union with Jesus and with one another, so that the blood of Jesus “purifies us from all sin”.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Lee)

Prayer: Lord, give me the grace to live in Your light and to always choose what is right in Your eyes.

Thanksgiving: Thank you, Lord, for redeeming me by Your blood, in spite of my own sinful ways.