Saturday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time
Exo 12:37-42
Mt 12:14-21
He remembered us in our distress. And he snatched us away from our foes.
Today’s Psalm is a hymn of praise. It emphasises God’s enduring love and faithfulness towards his people who were suffering immensely. It gives thanks to God’s subsequent deliverance of Israel from the oppression and suffering in Egypt. While reflecting on its words, I felt that it somehow applies to the extreme suffering of the Gaza population today, due to the ongoing Israel and Hamas/Iran war. I am especially drawn to the plight of the Christians in Gaza, who have become collateral damage.
Before this conflict, I did not know anything about Gaza, even though I have been to Jerusalem twice (including the West Bank territory controlled by the Palestine authority). Imagine my surprise then to learn about the Gaza Christians there! They trace their lineage to communities in Roman Judea, that originated from the followers of Jesus. Gaza existed in the same location in Jesus’ time as it is today. This makes them the oldest Christian population today. The community used to number around 3000, but has dwindled to around 600 now, due to the ongoing conflict.
St Porphyrius Greek Church is the oldest church in Gaza. It was built as early as AD 425 and expanded by the First Crusaders around 1100 AD. Since then, the church has been used continuously as a place of worship for the Greek Orthodox community in Gaza, right up to November 2024. The church was hit by airstrikes and suffered extensive damage, with hundreds injured or dead.
The Holy Family Catholic Church is the second oldest church in Gaza. It presently serves around 200 Catholics and, miraculously, is still functioning as a church plus shelter area for hundreds of displaced refugees. It offers a beacon of light and hope in the bleakness of Gaza. Equally important to this hope was the late Pope Francis. Right up to his passing, he never failed to call the priest and parishioners every evening since the war started. He was always consoling and encouraging them to have hope. He also used the full weight of the Catholic Church to lobby Israel and America to protect the population of Gaza.
Pope Francis’ enduring love and faithfulness to Gaza mirrored the enduring love of our God in today’s psalm. A poignant youtube video showed the faithful celebrating mass honouring him, despite the risks of war all around them.
In verse 23 of this psalm, it reads “he kept us in mind when we were afflicted, for his faithful love endures forever”. This was what Pope Francis did. Praise be to God for his unyielding support of the afflicted in Gaza and the world. May he rest in eternal glory with Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Amen
(Today’s OXYGEN by Andrew Sia)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we pray that you guide Pope Leo with wisdom, compassion and strength as he succeeds the late Pope Francis and leads your church.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Lord, for the blessings you have bestowed on the Catholic Church.
OXYGEN 
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