Dec 13 – Memorial for St. Lucy, virgin, martyr
St. Lucy (c. 283) was a rich, young Christian of Greek ancestry. She was raised in a pious family, and vowed her life to Christ. Her Roman father died when she was young. Her mother, Eutychia, arranged a marriage for her. For three years, she managed to keep the marriage on hold. To change the mother’s mind about the girl’s new faith, Lucy prayed at the tomb of St. Agatha, and her mother’s long haemorrhagic illness was cured. Her mother agreed with Lucy’s desire to live for God, and Lucy became known as a patron of those with maladies like her mother’s.
Her rejected pagan bridegroom, Paschasius, denounced Lucy as a Christian to the governor of Sicily, who sentenced her to forced prostitution. But when the guards went to fetch her, they could not move her even when they hitched her to a team of oxen. The governor ordered her killed instead. After torture that included having her eyes torn out, she was surrounded by bundles of wood which were set afire; they went out. She prophesied against her persecutors, and was executed by being stabbed to death with a dagger. Her name is listed in the prayer “Nobis quoque peccatoribus” in the Canon of the Mass.
Legend says that her eyesight was restored before her death. This, and the meaning of her name, led to her connection with eyes, the blind, eye trouble, etc.
- Patron Saint Index
Sir 48:1-4,9-12
Mt 17:10-13
…and to restore the tribes of Jacob…
What struck me in today’s readings were how both the words ‘Elijah’ and ‘restore’ were repeated. This got me reflecting, why did Jesus allude that John the Baptist was “Elijah coming back to restore all things”. So, I went to do some research and found out how John the Baptist is Elijah come again.
Both were known for their fearless and confrontational preaching. Both dressed similarly and had similar lifestyles — think animal hair robes, leather belts and living in the desert. Both preached against evil kings, against Ahab and Herod Antiphas. And, most importantly, both were empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfil their missions. But the important thing is that both came to restore all things to God. And all of us have been invited to restore our lives to God during this Jubilee Year of Hope.
Recently, my wife and I went on a pilgrimage to Rome to walk through the Holy Doors, which are only opened every 25 years during the Jubilee years. By walking through the Holy Doors, we were also able to gain plenary indulgences either for ourselves, or for our loved ones that have passed on. Of course, to gain these indulgences, we had to fulfil some conditions, i.e. attending mass and receiving communion on that day, praying for the intentions of the Pope, reciting the Creed and, of course, going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the sacrament that allows us to restore our standing with God the Father.
As I prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas, am I doing what I can to restore my relationship with God the Father? After all, we are in the season of Advent. This is a good time to examine our relationship with God and then make resolutions to repair that relationship with Him. This Advent, I will strive to grow my relationship with God and to ask Him for the grace to walk with Him in this penitential season.
As part of our pilgrimage, we also had the opportunity to visit Greccio, the place where St Francis of Assisi imagined and built the first Nativity scene. He wanted to recreate the birthplace of Jesus so that we can envision how Jesus was born that first Christmas. Fun fact – it is always Christmas Day in Greccio. As we spent some time in Greccio, meditating and reflecting on that first Christmas, I was prompted by our Spiritual Director’s homily, who mentioned that Jesus is a gift to all of us. So, how can we, in turn, be gifts to others?
This led me to reflect on how I have been a gift to others, and I thanked God for His blessings to enable me to be that gift. That afternoon in Greccio left me with one of the more powerful spiritual experiences during the entire pilgrimage.
So, brothers and sisters, I pray that all of us will make use of this current Advent season to restore our relationship with God. To be able to make a good Sacrament of Reconciliation and, perhaps, even make a pilgrimage to our very own Cathedral, where we will also be able to receive the plenary indulgence. So, I invite you to join me in making this our Advent resolution.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Calvin Wee)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are always generous with your mercy and graces. We humbly ask you Lord, to walk with us in this Advent season. To be with us as we await the coming of Jesus. To grant us the humility to ask for the chance to reconcile with you and thus restore ourselves to you. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Heavenly Father, thank you for the many opportunities that you have given us to reconcile and to restore ourselves to you. Thank you, Jesus, for pointing us to walk along the right paths. Thank you, Mama Mary, for praying and interceding for us always. Amen.
OXYGEN 
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