Tuesday of Week 22 in Ordinary Time
1 Ths 5:1-6,9-11
Lk 4:31-37
…we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober.
I once belonged to the night and darkness. Losing someone you love does that. I was in grief for a period and was in a dark place. I turned to darkness like a comfort blanket. In today’s context, they would probably call it mental health or even depression. I might have been depressed, but I’m glad that God brought me ‘out of Egypt’.
However, something good did come out of that dark period. I started to express my grief in words — I wrote poetry profusely, and that’s how I fell in love with the written word. As many of the creative talents would believe so, when you’re sad or troubled, you seem more inspired to create and write much better than when you’re happy. But that’s all in the past, and I have since found greater joy in writing reflections that glorify the Lord. Can you see how God’s plan is so sophisticated and intricate? It is easy to get caught up with all that’s happening in our lives, that we might have missed the finer points. God gave me the graces to see now, why my journey has been this way. It’s part of his grand elaborate plan in bringing me to where I am and doing what I do today.
I was in a zombie state, but not for too long. I am thankful that Mama Mary decided to intervene and helped to intercede for me. Like all mothers who are always busy working behind the scenes, little did I know that she would be filling in for the mother I lost. After I consecrated myself to Mother Mary through the 33 Days to Morning Glory, a DIY retreat, it was all uphill after that. CER. PER. RTE. DR. Retreat after retreat. Following that, I started to join church ministries. My eyes are so wide open, I can’t fall asleep ever again.
I truly believe that God has called each of us by name and I answered that call. With that call, I finally understand the purpose of my life. Yet “many are called, few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14) In fact, many are still in a state of slumber, in denial or lost in this world. There are far too many distractions in this world that are leading many of us away from God. If we do not keep our eyes focused on Jesus, we too, can easily fall asleep or get lost again.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Cynthia Chew)
Prayer: Dear Jesus, please do everything you can to touch our hearts – especially for the many who are still asleep and lost in this world of darkness. Wake us from our slumber of life, so that we can find true meaning and purpose with you in it. Pry our eyes open so that we can see you clearly. Knock on the many hardened hearts and melt the ice that has frozen the hearts of those who have forgotten who you are. We need you Jesus! Amen.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, for sending your Mother to help us and intercede for us. You know what we need most and you know just what we need, not what we want. Amen.
OXYGEN 
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