It is 4th August 2018. We celebrate the memorial of St John Mary Vianney, Priest. The patron saint of all priests. In 1928, Pope Pius XI declared him Patron of the parish priests. The readings are from Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24; and the Gospel from Matthew 14:1-12. We all want to be good but to be truthful and standing for truth requires the stamina from the spirit. Without altering the fibre of the truth, and wrapped in charity we need to pronounce the truth. Many of us would like to hold the truth rather than to speak the truth. Some believe even today that the truth need not be shared at all cost. Indeed, truth is the spark cannot be quenched by the flames of lies. Truth sparks anyway either in our actions or in our words. Truth and life need to be secured; one must not swallow the other. As we all wish to stand for truth we need to protect life too. Yes, we need to uphold the truth at all times as we sanctify our lives. People like to get rid of the messengers of truth at times thinking that the truth is buried for good without encountering and going to the bottom of the truth to embrace it and to make it alive. We too can face a death sentence unfairly for sharing the truth. We need not be afraid of a bunch of people who would devour us but they can never destroy the flames of truth. In the first reading the prophet Jeremiah faces the court for having been accused of blasphemy against the temple. God protected the prophet through the officials and the people. If we stand by the Word of God, God defends us by all means. The responsorial Psalm intercedes, “In your great love, answer me, O God.” (Ps.68:14). The Gospel presents with the murder of St. John the Baptist for having been a witness to the truth. He warned the people not to follow the evil example of the king and insisted that they should all return to God leaving evil and sin. It looks as though the evil and sin seems to be swallowing the good people for having stood against these wild fires of the society. But the voice of God and the conscience have to be answered in the secret chambers of our hearts. Let us not be afraid to know the truth to believe it and to live up to it. May you have a good day. God bless you.