It is 28th August 2018. We celebrate the memorial of St Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. He is interceded for sore eyes, by the printers and brewers and he is the patron of theologians too. His conversion is indeed a hope for all those who struggle to come back to the Lord. It is never too late for anyone to reconsider and rebuild the dilapidated temple of the Holy Spirit right within each one of us. The readings are from 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 14-17; and the Gospel from Matthew 23:23-26. We live our lives of the past or of the future. Very seldom do we live our lives in the present. Our guilt and shame of the past and the fear and the anxiety about the future are the talk and the walk of our life. Many of us believe the persons who glory in the past or speak so unrealistically about the future. We have a challenge in believing the present as a time and energy. If we spend our life justifying the past and interpreting the future, our life will be unrealistic and meaningless. St. Paul alerts us to be on guard about the false prophets who nag the people of God with the fear of the second coming of Jesus. We do not need to worry about the timing of the second coming, it would happen but we need to hold on to the traditions that the Church voice out in a world where a different voice is so appealing. The principles of Christian life must be lived on a daily basis than to worry about the past and the future events of the life. “Never let anyone deceive you in this way.” (2 Thes. 2:3). The responsorial Psalm warns us, “The Lord comes to judge the earth.” (Ps.95:13). The Gospel teaches us that we need to be careful in consuming the ideas of those who twist the truth for their convenience and giving extraordinary importance to the external things than that of the core. The way we conduct ourselves and uphold the principles of Christian life is very much of importance than how we dress, eat and appear outwardly. When our hearts are guided by mercy and justice, we begin living our life to the full and fruitful. A legalistic, superficial, superfluous, and immoral life cannot build our faith in Jesus. “Clean the inside of cup and dish first so that the outside may become clean as well.” (Mt.23:26). May you have a good day. God bless you.