Dear Oxygen readers,
The Core Team wishes one and all a blessed, peaceful and joyous Christmas filled with God’s graces and love. May He continue to light out paths and guide us on our journeys as we come to know Him more.
Christmas Day — Vigil Mass
Isa 62:1-5
Acts 13:16-17,22-25
Mt 1:1-25
…and you will be called by a new name…
The first time I heard the reading of the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew’s gospel at mass, I got lost in the long line of Jesus’ family tree. When we really delve into the generations that came before Jesus, we start to see how the Messiah of the world came from a family of dysfunctional relatives, just like us — messy, imperfect and embarrassing even.
Abraham, to begin with, unfairly banishes Ishmael, his own son, and Ishmael’s mother, Hagar, into the desert; Jacob steals his brother Esau’s birthright by deceiving their father; and David commits adultery with a woman named Bathsheba and then arranges to have Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, killed.
God put Jesus, his son without sin, holy of holies into a family of kings and sinners showing us that holiness can be found in imperfection. Our God chose to give us the most beautiful gift of His son in our humanity — meeting us where we are, in a lowly stable where animals lived. We, disciples of Christ may be imperfect but can choose holiness every day to continue in this beautiful family of our ‘Yes’.
This season then, let us reflect on the true gifts of Christmas beginning with the gift of the birth of our Savior Jesus, but also the gift of His life, death and culminating in the gifts of His Resurrection and Ascension.
Our God is a generous God and doesn’t stop there, bestowing us with the gift of Pentecost and, finally, the gift of our Mother Mary.
Brothers and sisters, during this season where we partake in feasting and gifting, let us remember the gift of God with us — Emmanuel. This gift gives us peace and hope. We are now called by a new name (Isaiah 62:2), a people of hope because He reigns in us. Let us now share this Christmas joy with friends, family and even strangers we meet.
May Emmanuel reign in our lives this beautiful season and all the days to come.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Julia Lim)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we begin the celebration of the feast of our salvation through the birth of our Lord Jesus, help us herald the Light of the world with confidence and expectant faith. May we also be the light in our families and communities, the face of Christ to others as you are to us. We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, in the splendour of eternal light, God forever and ever. Amen
Thanksgiving: Father, this beautiful Christmas, let us always remember to thank You for your gifts; the gift of joy and peace that the world cannot give. You never stop giving us what we need. Even if sometimes, we do not realise the moments of grace bestowed upon us. May we never stop giving your praise and thanksgiving.
OXYGEN 
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