It is 21st July 2018. We celebrate the memorial of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor. An erudite Capuchin Franciscan Friar endowed with the gifts of preaching and fluency in many languages. The readings are from Micah 2:1-5; and the Gospel from Matthew 12:14-21. It is not a privilege to be a child of God, people of God and a believer in God. Christian life is not a life of privilege rather a life of sacrifice, service and a relentless renewal of one’s own life. At times we wonder why we are surrounded by the evil people and constantly deprived of our rights. There may be a million people conspire against us night and day, even the entire cosmos could work against us depriving all that supposed to belong to us yet be assured that the Lord has vowed to protect us and provide us to the fullest and promised to punish those who have cheated us and looted us our fields, houses, and our hard-earned wealth. In the first reading, the prophet Micah points out the infection and mischief of those do evil especially those who are rich and greedy who are against the poor, the voiceless, the vulnerable and the marginalised members of the society. He assured the poor that as these evil people are confiscating, cheating, colluding to covet their properties and human resources from them, God is plotting a great punishment on such evil people and no one would escape from it. God does not remain silent when the evil and the arrogant population conspiring and exposing the most vulnerable people with the intention of demolishing poor families and relationships. Instead of being restful, and helpful to the needy and the poor, they have become restless, and plotting evil in their bed investing their sleep. God hits such evil people with the rod of justice and righteousness. God’s punishment on these evil people will be severe, remarkable, unescapable, unavoidable and with the pointed precision. “Behold, against this family I am devising disaster, from which you cannot remove your necks; nor shall you walk proudly, for this is an evil time for those who plotted against the poor.” (Micah 2:3). The responsorial Psalm intercedes, “Lord, do not forget the poor.” (Ps. 10:12). In the Gospel, we reflect how God assured Jesus while the Pharisees plotting against Jesus. They wanted to get rid of Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, and the Anointed One of God. Jesus is the Truth against these lying and evil people. Jesus has come to destroy every string of evil and to offer dignity and glory to those who are poor and the needy. Jesus is the hope to the suffering humanity. Jesus did not hold on to His Divine Sonship as the privilege but offered it as the remission, the sacrifice and the salvation for those who are oppressed by the evil ones. “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved, the favourite of my soul. I will endow him with my spirit, and He will proclaim the true faith to the nations.” (Mt.12:18). Could God acknowledge the same about us too? May you have a good day. God bless you.