It is 26th May 2018. We celebrate the memorial of St Philip Neri, Priest. The readings are from James 5:13-20; and the Gospel from Mark 10:13-16. For a happy and contended life, one needs prayer, praise and penance. Without these, no human heart can settle down with joy and peace that comes from the Holy Spirit. We are all living in a vicious and cunning circle of sin more often than in the atmosphere of holiness. Unless one is rooted in daily prayers, one can go astray believing the pathological liars and dogma twisters. There are many people out there who are convinced that we can live a happy life without the Sacraments of Anointing and the Reconciliation. We are psychologically and spiritually sick most of the times that spills over in our bodily sickness and disorders. Our sickness requires serious divine assistance that are available in our Church. Sin is pervasive and spreadable. Many of us believe that our sins are personal and it is the matter between God and ourselves only. We forget that our sins have impact on the society we live in. The Catechism teaches us in no. 1849 “Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbour caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as “an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.” Again, the Catechism warns all of us who refuse to be converted and become stubborn hearted living a life of lies and sin in the following No. 1864, “There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.” We must recourse to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Anointing for our integral healing and happiness. We cannot ignore God for ever. If we do not return to the Lord as early as possible, we will be brought before the Lord one day by the Angels of God. Let us not fool ourselves by not going for a good confession and continue to living in sin that makes us unhealthy. There is no justification for us to live in sin and be sick and making the society unhealthy. “If one of your is sick, he/she should send for the elders of the Church, and they must anoint him/her with oil in the name of the Lord and pray over him/her… So confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, and this will cure you; the heartfelt prayer of a good person works very powerfully.” (James 5:14, 16). The responsorial Psalm intercedes, “Let my prayer come before you like incense, O Lord.” (Ps.140:2). The Gospel encourages us to have the openness and trust of a child in receiving the welfare of God. “Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” (Mk.10:15). The conditions to enter and experience the Kingdom of God is to realize our smallness, humbleness and dependent before God. Just like the children, we need to let go off the past hurtful memories, feeling, grudges and bitterness. Jesus wants us to experience Heaven and Happiness, are we willing to come closer to the Sacraments of Healing and Reconciliation? May you have a good day and God bless you.