It is 3rd January 2018. We celebrate the memorial of Most Name of Jesus. The readings are from 1 John 2:29-3:6; and the Gospel from John 1:29-34. We all want to know and love God. Most of us who are good Catholics are frustrated by now that we have not yet known or loved God the way we wish. We wonder why on earth we are not able to love and know God as we mature day by day physically. In the first reading, St. John clarifies all our doubts regarding the challenges we face in loving and knowing God. He suggests that our purity, sincerity and holy life are the basis for knowing and loving Christ. We need to be pure in our hearts, sincere in our thoughts and walking in the path of holy life. “Surely everyone who entertains this hope must purify oneself, must try to be as pure as Christ. And anyone who sins has never seen Him or know Him.” (1 Jn.3.3,6). The are the qualities that pleases God who reveals through Jesus. We need to have a relationship that is intimate, personal and lively always. We need to belong to Christ and must have the feeling of being redeemed by the love of Christ. We all belong to Christ not only in love but by grace too. Without knowing Christ, we can never know God or love God and to lead a holy life. The responsorial Psalm praises, “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” (Ps.97:3). The Gospel invites us to be the witness of the truth, Jesus himself. Knowing and loving Christ was possible for St. John the Baptist by his unwavering allegiance to God and his personal life became a testimony of truth and love. “Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that Jesus is the Son of God.” (Jn.1:34). Does our life point out Jesus to the others? May the Lord bless us to be the witnesses of love and truth at all times to all people. May you have a good day.