It is 22nd October 2018. The readings are from Ephesians 2:1-10; and the Gospel from Luke 12:13-21. Remaining in grace of God and valuing it deep within our being is what brings happiness and all blessings. We cannot use God when we need. God is not an emergency kit or unit. Most of us look for God so desperately when our life is in disarray. On the contrary, God is the abiding presence in our lives to be valued at all times. We need to allow God to use us for God to be revealed and lovingly cherished by all those who come in contact with us. We are and were leaning towards sin more than believing in the saving grace of God. There is a natural tendency to commit sin. Most of us do not make extraordinary effort to commit sin. It is through our faith in Jesus and through the grace of God we are redeemed. God offers it as a free gift not because we are good people and doing good things that warrant a blessing but because God unceasingly remains to be good and merciful. We need to realise that we are saved and redeemed through grace and mercy of God. It does not mean that we do not need to be good and doing good. Unless we are destined to do good when we live in Christ and appreciating the values of the Kingdom. St. Paul acknowledges that since we believe and profess our faith in Jesus, we ought to have goodness in doing things. There is a value and meaning attached doing good as we believe Jesus. We have a reason to do good because we believe Jesus. It is through the faith in Jesus, we are propelled to do good. Our faith would become a contradiction, if we do not do good to others however evil and ungrateful they could be. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” (Eph.2:10). Let us move away from the natural tendency to commit sin to spontaneously doing good for the humanity. The responsorial Psalm praises, “The Lord made us, we belong to him.” (Ps.99:3). The Gospel invites us to expand and ensure the friendship with God not with the wealth and friendship of the world. Our security is in God not in the worldly friendship, and the riches. The life with God depends on the relationship we have with God. Look around and see for yourself that how much insecure we have become with all the money in the bank, thousands of friends around, and the strong armies by the government. The rich countries and developing countries spend more than ever on their military power than feeding the hungry and the poor in their own nations. We too have individually become allergic to the poor, the needy and the marginalised around. We can never be secured in our lives as long as we turn eyes away from those who still live insecure life situations. May the grace of God we enjoy now help us to grace the life of others too. May you have a good day. God bless you.