It is 29th August 2018. We celebrate the memorial of the Beheading of St John the Baptist otherwise known as the passion of St. John the Baptist. The readings are from Jeremiah 1:17-19; and the Gospel from Mark 6:17-29. Beheading a truthful person and a person who stands for truth cannot kill the truth. There is a growing systematic propaganda in assassinating people, replacing events and history that reveal and denote truth. Fake news is getting momentum in the hearts of most of us in this 21st century than factual news. Whatever and however powerful the organisations, individuals they may be, they cannot hide the truth under the carpet of sophisticated channels and archives of human living. Lies spread faster than truth, immorality being justified as a new norm of life than to have an ethical living, and we witness every noon and corner of the world, the teeth of the laws are blunted by the rhetoric of the custodians of the Law for their benevolence. Truth can always stand out and it does not require a crowd to show its worth. Lies thrive and swell up in a given crowd. Unverified truth is dangerous for the interpersonal life. Truth offers the internal stamina for the soul to encounter God. It is by the acquaintances with the truth one stands for God and for those who are oppressed, abused, cheated, and criticized. The process of verification and defending the truth costs even lives. It costed the life of St. John the Baptist for having said the truth. Working for justice and truth is not a choice for us believers but it is the statement of our faith and to whom we stand for in our life time. In the first reading, God assures the prophet Jeremiah that God would stand by him as longs as he stands for truth, justice and mercy among the people who promote the values contrary to the commandments of God. “They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.” (Jer.1:19). The responsorial Psalm praises, “Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.” (Ps. 71:6). The Gospel describes the martyrdom of John. St. John who spoke the truth about the king’s life and never altered the truth even it involved the most powerful person in the kingdom. A prophet who searched for the truth, proclaim the Truth, the Lamb of God, Jesus, and privileged to a witness to the truth even to the extend of shedding of his blood for the truth. As long as the spirit of truth in humanity lives, the blessings of God cannot be shut by human agent. Having encountered Jesus, no one can afford to live a life of lies. We are destined to live for truth, promote truth and to be the witness of the truth in our lives. May God help all of us in our daily living to bear witness to the truth just like that of St. John the Baptist. May you have a good day. God bless you.