It is 17th March 2018. We celebrate the memorial of St Patrick, Bishop. Patron Saint of Ireland. It is good to repeat the blessings of St. Patrick as we celebrate his Memorial Day. “May the strength of God pilot us. May the wisdom of God instruct us; May the hand of God protect us; May the Word of God direct us.” The readings are from Jeremiah 11:18-20 and the Gospel from John 7:40-53. To be a witness to the Truth, one needs to experience the Truth in a very personal way. Witnessing requires the courage to believe in God’s favourable time and unflinching commitment with the openness to the Truth. In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah believed that he was a trustful lamb that is led to the slaughter. When we believe in truth sincerely, we are willing to suffer for the same. We who believe and profess the Truth needs to give God to act against those who refuse to accept the truth. “Let me see the vengeance you will take on them, for I have committed my cause to you.” (Jer.11:20). To understand the suffering of Christ, we need to start today to read the passion narratives from the four Gospel until we reach the Holy Week. When we reflect the passion of our Lord, we begin to find meaning for the suffering we are going through right now and willing to open our lives to Him. Our prejudice and selective mentality towards accepting the Truth decides that from whom we wish to hear the truth. It is indeed a great suffering internally for the one who stands for the Truth and refused to be accepted by the others. The responsorial Psalm intercedes: “Lord God, I take refuge in you.” (Ps.7:2). The Gospel invites us to encounter the Christ. Those who met Him exclaimed: “There never been anybody who has spoken like Him.” (Jn. 7:46). What is our understanding about Jesus? Do we share with the others about the Christ we believe in? Or Are we reluctant to avoid conflict, misunderstanding and tension, we begin to keep quiet? Many have experienced Jesus as Christ yet hesitant to express what we have experienced in Jesus. May the Lenten time help us to share our personal experience with the Lord with the others. Truth needs to be shared; when it is shared without fear it set us free. May God strengthen the fibre of our faith in Him so as to enliven the lives of the others. May you have a good day.