It is 27th February 2018. The readings are from Isaiah 1:10, 16-20; and the Gospel from Matthew 23:1-12. It is not just enough to repent from our sins rather we need to accelerate doing good. Most of us are just satisfied for having repented from the past sins. But the first reading invites us to go beyond the repentance insisting: “Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” (Is.1:16,17). Lent is the most serious time of our spiritual development. God expects sincerity of heart in our personal returning to the Lord. Our conversion must not be seen to attract the attention of the others rather to attract us to come closer to God of love and mercy. God will not hesitate to wipe out the humanity just like Sodom and Gomorrah as they refused to listened and be converted to God. We cannot go on listening so many evil voices and doing things the way we wish. If we are not coming back to God voluntarily, we will be brought to explain the evil deeds we have been hiding it for such a long time. Lent is the time for us to come back to the Lord voluntarily and to have dialogue with God and plead for mercy. If we are willing to come closer to God, God wishes to make us pure and clean. Let us strive forward to balance our actions and words. The responsorial Psalm prays, “I will show to the upright the saving power of God” (Ps.49:23). Jesus reprimands us to be aware of the discrepancy in our words and in actions. We need to shorten the distance between the words and actions. We become truly humble servants of Christ when our words demonstrate the actions and vice versa. Truly converted person is the one who centres God in action and words rather to project one’s hidden agenda and wishes. Let us be extremely careful in imitating the people with words without actions. May we train our lives to be inspired by those who have proved their words in action. Jesus is the model par excellence in demonstrating what He preached. May God help us to synchronise what we mean in action is the same what we imply in words. May you have a good day.