It is 4th December 2017. We celebrate the memorial of St. John Damascne, priest and Doctor. The readings are from Isaiah 2:1-5; and the Gospel from Matthew 8:5-11. During this week of Hope at the first week of the Advent, the Prophet Isaiah assures that peace and blessings come from God, when people return to the Lord. We are all invited during this special time of the year to walk in the light of the Lord. God is among us and God wants God’s people to enjoy peace and blessing. This is possible for all those who heed the Word of God. The world, its leaders and the situations may look so hopeless and painful, yet the reading do assure that there is still hope for those who walk in the right path. Our willingness to learn from every challenging situation and turning them into opportunities of service and sacrifice offers hope for us personally and the world around us. We need to be extremely careful not to exclude anyone based on colour, creed, gender, and belief one holds. “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us his ways, and that we may walk in his paths.” (Is.2:3). The responsorial Psalm praises, “I rejoiced when I heard them say: Let us go to God’s house.” (Ps.121:1). In the Gospel, we encounter Jesus, who healed the servant of the centurion. The expression of faith of the centurion made to say, “I tell you solemnly, nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this.” (Mt.8:10). The Advent is the time to be hopeful so much in the Lord so that the Lord himself appreciates our faith in Him. Our feeling of unworthiness must not chase and shun away from the Lord rather in true humility and contrition of hearts, we must not hesitate any longer to return to the Lord. Let us demonstrate our faith in Jesus enjoy the continual blessings from Him. May you have a good day. God bless you.