4th Sunday of Advent
Isa 7:10-14
Rm 1:1-7
Mt 1:18-24
To you all…called to be saints…
Just this month alone, I attended 3 wakes over 1 weekend. and, for one of them, had to help my nephew find a church for the wake venue and funeral mass of his mother (my cousin). When I ‘got the call’ that Saturday morning, I immediately reached out to the few priests who I know and within 2 hours, by the grace of God, everything was settled and a church was found.
Brothers and sisters, it is no coincidence that the venue for the funeral mass is where I serve in the Sunday 7am choir, and where we have spent two full Sundays to practice for our upcoming Christmas concert (held last night). So last Sunday, in between practice, we visited the wake and offered up a song. During the wake, I got to reconnect with my nephews (both of whom actually grew up in the very parish as kids) and their families. Both of them are already parents to young adults (18 to 22 yrs) and have successful careers – one is a banker, the other a lawyer.
One of our aunties asked, “Why did you do it in this church? Why not at _____?” To which a nephew replied that he had tried two others before we finalised the venue. I then remarked that God has a way of calling people back into his fold because this was the very parish that the two boys served in as altar boys. I know one of them has stopped going to church but at least both his son and daughter were the lectors for the funeral mass.
Over the years, I have heard many stories of how people have been called back to church. Whether it is a recalcitrant gambler, someone looking for hope, a drug addict, God has His own way of welcoming back those who have fallen by the wayside. Just a few days ago, as sales for our concert whittled down to the final 15 or so tickets, I was asked to get 3 for some family members. My immediate reaction was ‘Huh? Whatever for?’ But over the course of the day, and by the time I woke up the next morning, I started to pray and hope that through our singing, they would be somehow reminded that life was not always about material things and ‘quick fix’ solutions to problems.
Brothers and sisters, we are all called to be saints, made in His image and likeness, to proclaim His Word to others. As we approach Christmas, let us remember and reflect on the true meaning of this glorious day when peace, love and hope came into the world through a newborn baby in nothing more than a humble manger.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Desmond Soon)
Prayer: We pray dear Lord, for all those who suffer in silence and are suffering throughout the world today. That You bring them that little flicker of Hope in their lives so they may turn their eyes and hearts to You in this yuletide season.
Thanksgiving: Thank you, Lord, for being the hope in all our lives.
OXYGEN 
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