It is 24th January 2020. We celebrate the memorial of St Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. The readings are from 1 Samuel 24:3-21 and the Gospel from Mark 3:13-19. Appointing and anointing are the work of God on chosen persons. God chooses some of us to lead the other. But when the leaders make mistake, what shall we do and who do we report. The answers are found in the pages especially of the first reading. At times we rush to blame our leaders when they live a life contrary to what they promised and professed to God and the community. We may be better off to judge our leaders because we are rich, righteous, rational, renowned, and a representative of truth. Even if God has given our leaders in our hands who have made mistakes, we need to adopt the attitude of David to Saul. David spared, sincerely dialogued, spelled out the good intention, and allowed God to judge. We must not take judging and punishing others in our hands because we have the resources to do so. When we are built with a character of generosity, goodwill, graceful in dealing with the mistakes of the other, we take a quality time to silence the voices within oppressing the fallen ones to be exposed swiftly. True love has nothing to prove except love all the more. We need to approach every hostile moment as an opportunity to reconcile rather to react with the evil intentions. Goodness will never go unnoticed when the intentions are stuffed with purity, generosity and generativity. “May the Lord reward you for the goodness you have shown me today.” (1 Sam. 24:20). The responsorial Psalm pleads, “Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.” (Ps.56:2). The Gospel describes the need for the other in rendering our help to the humanity. Jesus did not want to go it alone and so He chose apostles to accompany, accomplish, accommodate and appreciate others. These closest companions of Jesus had a special commissioning and calling to spread the goodness of Jesus to all people around. Without profound intimacy with the Lord, it is not possible to recognise the goodness in others. “Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him and He appointed twelve; they were to be His companions and to be sent out to preach, with power to cast out devils.” (Mk.3:13). We too are chosen through the Sacrament of Baptism and sent out as the missionary disciples. Let us spread the love of the Lord to all people. May you have a good day. God bless you.