Dec 4 – Memorial for St. John Damascene, priest, doctor of the Church
St. John Damascene was born in Damascus about 675. After holding public office for a time, he withdrew to the monastery of Sabas near Jerusalem. He wrote ‘The Fount of Wisdom’, in which he presented a comprehensive teaching on Christian doctrine, which had great influence on later theology. He died about 750.
- the Weekday Missal
Isa 26:1-6
Mt 7:21,24-27
…for the Lord is the everlasting Rock.
Ever since I started living in a welfare state, I have become starkly aware of Singaporeans’ preoccupation with wealth accumulation and financial planning. Many of us spend considerable time and effort deciding where to invest our money, meticulously assessing and comparing the risks and rates of return of a vast array of instruments. It is common wisdom that one should prioritise the building of a nest-egg for one’s retirement, and it would be considered foolish not to do so.
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus uses the imagery of a house built on rock versus a house built on sand to emphasise the importance of ensuring a strong foundation for our faith. Building a literal house on rock is expensive upfront, but it pays off in the long-term due to its high structural stability. Figuratively, the house represents our life and the rock as God and the church — the only foundation that can truly anchor us. While all other things such as wealth, health, possessions and relationships may change and vanish at any time, God is the only constant presence. If we do not actively make God the centre of our lives, when they finally come to an end, there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mt 25:30).
Do we then make that effort to ‘invest’ in our faith in the same way that we invest our finances? Probably not. Jesus exhorted His followers to not only listen to His teachings, but to also act upon them. That is a tough call for many, especially in the current age where most of us in the developed world are used to comfort and convenience, and we tend to succumb to the many distractions and temptations that come along with it. Investing in our faith means showing up in prayer even when we are tired, choosing compassion when it is inconvenient, and seeking truth when it takes courage to do so. Only then can we be confident that our lives rest on a foundation that will endure every storm.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
Prayer: Lord God, our Rock and our foundation, grant us the grace to seek You above all things. Strengthen our faith when we are distracted, steady our hearts when we grow weary, and help us build our lives on Your unshakable truth.
Thanksgiving: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of faith, for the Church that sustains us, and for the hope that anchors our hearts in You.
OXYGEN 
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