It is 28th August 2017. We celebrate the memorial of St Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. The readings are from 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8-10; and the Gospel from Matthew 23:13-22. We read the first writing of the New Testament. This letter was written right after fifty year of the Resurrection of the Lord and even before the earliest gospel was ever written. St. Paul uses “we” for 65 times in the letter to refer to his companions namely Silvanus, Silas and Timothy and treated them as equals in the ministry. He gives the highest importance to three virtues such as Faith, Love and Hope at the very outset of his letter. According to St. Paul, our faith depends on love that emerges out of our Hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Love must not be expressed with words and symbols rather it must be in concrete actions in every moment of our Christian living. “…Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thes.1:1). God is not tired of loving us and therefore let us not be tired of loving one another to prove the love of God has not gone dry in our hearts. The responsorial Psalm praises, “The Lord takes delight in his people.” (Ps.149:4). Jesus reprimands the Scribes and Pharisees telling that they are distracted with too many details neglecting the basic and intimate relationship with God and one another. We read the eight times woes. We know and demand for our rights while most of the times forgetting our responsibilities to God and to the society. The keys of knowledge must not shut the privilege of others entering. God did not create specific places for specific people on earth. Jesus reminds us that our oaths need not be fanatical and ridiculing the commandments of God. Let us engage in genuine and unselfish love for one another as we express our faith in God. May we not close be a hindrance to any human being on earth in anyway using our privileges of being in a particular place and status. May you have a good day.