21 Jan – Memorial for St. Agnes, virgin and martyr
At the age of 12 or 13, St. Agnes was ordered to sacrifice to pagan gods and lose her virginity by rape. She was taken to a Roman temple to Minerva (Athena), and when led to the altar, she made the Sign of the Cross. She was threatened, then tortured when she refused to turn against God. Several young men presented themselves, offering to marry her, whether from lust or pity is not known.
She said that to do so would be an insult to her heavenly Spouse, that she would keep her consecrated virginity intact, accept death, and see Christ. She was martyred for her faith.
St. Agnes is mentioned in the first Eucharistic prayer. On her feast day, two lambs are blessed at her church in Rome, and then their wool is woven into the palliums (bands of white wool) which the pope confers on archbishops as a symbol of their jurisdiction.
- Patron Saint Index
1 Sam 17:32-33,37,40-51
Mk 3:1-6
“Go, and the Lord be with you!”
David and Goliath – a tale that transcends cultures, faith and religions. I believe that this tale is something that all of us know — about how a young boy defeats a giant just with a sling and a few stones. I am sure that there are more than a few of us here, who might have asked for a sling as a Christmas or birthday gift? What is it about this story that leads us to imagine fighting giants and, eventually, putting one foot on said fallen giant with one raised fist?
My thoughts are that this is an underdog tale — a story where a person goes beyond his abilities and manages to defeat a foe that’s bigger or stronger than he/she is. And who doesn’t love an underdog’s tale? The most famous movies or stories are all based on such underdogs.
The ‘Star Wars’ movies, the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, even ‘Rocky’, are all examples of how the protagonists overcame their individual limitations and unfortunate circumstances to deliver an outcome against overwhelming odds. For example, I could never imagine how a hobbit, with NO superpowers, can defeat an all-seeing, all-knowing evil presence to destroy the one ring in the fires of Mount Doom.
But brothers and sisters, among all these stories, movies, books…what do you think is the ultimate underdog story?
In my opinion, I believe that the ultimate underdog story is about how a man, born into a poor family, born in a manger, went into exile in a foreign land. Returning to his nondescript hometown, he was raised by a carpenter and lived with his parents for 30 years. He then gathered a rag tag band consisting of a few fishermen, a tax collector, even a revolutionary, and formed a community that threatened the then leaders of his day with His teachings of Love. He was persecuted, executed and rose from the dead. His small band of followers continued His legacy and grew the community to over 2.3 billion followers over the last 2 millennia, all the while professing two ‘simple’ commandments – ‘to love God’ and ‘to love our neighbour’. This story is still on-going today and you know what’s the best thing? That we are ALL a part of this wonderful story!
Today, I still feel like an underdog, trying to live out my faith in the world. I know I am supposed to do the right thing, to love my neighbour. But whenever I am on the road and someone cuts me off or doesn’t want to give way as I am filtering into his lane, I find it difficult to love my neighbour. When I am in the office and I can see someone that doesn’t pull their weight, or makes no attempt to try to resolve a situation, I find it difficult to love my neighbour. On those occasions at Mass, when someone checks their WhatsApp messages during the homily, I find it difficult to love my neighbour.
I feel that I can love some of my neighbours… but it is a big stretch to love ALL my neighbours or be less judgy. Perhaps this failure to love is my ‘Goliath’ and God is telling me, through today’s scripture that I should still try to Love and that He will be with me in my attempts. I know I will fail, but He gives me the strength to try again. Perhaps my sling is to have an open heart, and the 5 smooth stones are to wait for 5 seconds before making any judgements.
Will this help? I am not so sure. I know I am weak and have little to no patience. I do want to be better, and I pray every day that God will be able to use me, despite my limitations, as His instrument and to do His Holy will. And that one day, I will also be able to defeat my personal Goliath and to conquer it like how David conquered Goliath all those years ago. And to add my little story to the ultimate underdog story.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Calvin Wee)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are our Lord and God. You equip us with graces to overcome our limitations, and we ask for your blessings to fight our own Goliaths. So that we might better do your will and be your instruments in this world. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Heavenly Father, thank you for calling us to be part of the ultimate underdog story with our limitations and lack of abilities. We want to make you proud of us, and we know that you will grace us with all that’s necessary to glorify you, despite the challenges that we may face. Amen.
OXYGEN 
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