About two years ago, I started attending weekday Masses, maybe twice a week, as Holy Cross Church was so near NUS where I was studying at the time. It was then that I realized that the readings given in THE UPPER ROOM did not correspond with the Church’s liturgical readings. So I decided to change THE UPPER ROOM e-mails that I had been sending out, calling it OXYGEN instead. The e-mail would include one of the scriptural readings of the particular day in the liturgical calendar and my reflection on it. The e-mail concludes with a prayer at the end and something to give thanks to God for that day — two small but important acts that we often neglect in our daily lives.

I named it OXYGEN after a song of the same name by Avalon, a Christian band. In one of their songs, the singer sings of God:

So that’s how OXYGEN started out.

You’ve got mail

Many Catholics do not or are not able to attend weekday Masses. But if they check their e-mails regularly at work or in school, then they would be able to receive the Word of God via e-mail.

In addition, those receiving the e-mail would also get an idea of how scripture applies to their daily life. But OXYGEN is not a service that is rendered for free. I invite those who receive it and read it, to share in my spiritual journey.

How often do we, while going through difficult periods of our lives, think and feel that we are the only ones who think and feel that way? It is heartening to receive an e-mail from someone else you know that is also going through the same thing. There is a spiritual bond formed that transcends time and space. This lets us know that we are not alone.

I also have guest contributors and I urge people to comment on my reflections as I am aware that my views may not always be the same as the Church’s. In fact, I appreciate it when someone points that out to me.