It is 30th June 2018. We celebrate the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church. The readings are from Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19; and the Gospel from Matthew 8:5-17. When do we go through pain and humiliation in our lives? When we have deserted God and living a life of pleasure and sin, we go through intense moments of physical, emotional, spiritual pain and followed by a public humiliation and we begin to feel being rejected and forgotten by God. In the first reading we have the lamentation of the people, the tears of glorious chosen ones, desecration and demolition of the holy city of God Jerusalem. People felt being rejected and forgotten by God due to their personal sins and wilful forgetfulness of God. “Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your sins to restore your fortunes, but have seen oracles for you that are false, fallacious and misleading.” (Lam.2:14). Perhaps, that is exactly what is going on now in our churches and community for the misfortune we have in our lives. Instead of reprimanding the ones who is erring, we keep quiet or just ignore the mistakes of the other, may be out of fear or not interfere in someone’s life. We have stopped counselling people, leading people when they are going astray or difficult time. When we can caringly confront the one who is my brother or sister, we hide our responsibility in the blanket of prayers for them. Unless and until one expresses the sorrow for their sins and taken the responsibility for the damage caused, one cannot feel the forgiveness and restoration of one’s lives, homes, communities and land from God. The responsorial Psalm intercedes, “Do not forget your poor servants for ever.” (Ps.73:19). The Gospel assures the personal initiatives of God through Jesus when we are in pain and difficulties. God cannot watch us suffer. God comes to us when we are in pain, sickness and humiliation. As Jesus healed the servant of the centurion, the mother-in-law of St. Peter, He is willing to enter into our lives when we humbly express our unworthiness of receiving Him into our abode and to confess our faith in Jesus. “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” (Mt.8:17). May we lean on God always to experience His healing touch that we all need in our lives. May you have good day.