It is 6th October 2018. We celebrate the memorial of St. Bruno. The readings are from Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17; and the Gospel Luke 10:17-24. The repentance brings the reward and retribution we long to experience in our lives. With faith in God and consistent repentance we can surely experience the blessings of God. When we are faithful to God, God fills us with material and spiritual rewards more than we can ever imagine. It is good to throw our ignorance, pride and unfaithfulness at the foot of the Lord so as to be blessed. There is a blessing time in everyone’s life as there is a suffering time. Painful times are much shorter than the blessing time indeed when we are willing to surrender to the Lord. The more we become rebellious and unfaithful, more we are delayed and dissipated in receiving the blessings that are due. May our prayer be in all our life situations: Forgive me and Bless me Father, bless me Jesus and Bless me Holy Spirit with all the blessings that are due in Heaven and earth. Thank you for loving me still even though I have not lived a life pleasing to you yet. The first reading has a happy ending without finding the answer why a good person suffers. The lesson we all need to ruminate is to acknowledge God’s presence amidst all kinds of human misery and try our best to reduce the distance between God and us by our faith and obedience in accepting the will and plan of God however painful it could be. We may have so many reasons to give up on people and situations but we have not got one single justifiable reason to quit God. It is better to grapple with God in prayer than to look for the haven elsewhere. The blessings that we are guaranteed after a period of trials and temptations are much sweeter and lasting that is about to be experienced with God in Heaven. “After his trials, Job lived on until he was a hundred and forty years old, and saw his children and his children’s children up to the fourth generations.” (Job 42:17). The responsorial Psalm acclaims, “Let your face shine on your servant, O Lord.” (Ps.118:135). The Gospel teaches us that when we fight against Satan and his gimmicks with the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we can overcome any trials and temptation. The name of Jesus brings victory when we use it with faith. Surely, our names are written in Heaven, when we have decided to live for Christ and the values of the Gospel. We have not realised the power and authority we hold because we believe in Jesus. Let us learn to use the name of Jesus in all challenging situations of life. “And nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Lk.10:19,20). Let us allow God to use us for the ministering those in need by the faith we have in Jesus in deed. May you have a good day. God bless you.