It is 14th August 2017. We celebrate the memorial of St.Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and martyr. A franciscan friar who volunteered to die for family in the death camp during the second world war. He is the patron saint of families, prisoners, drug addicts, and journalists. readings are from Deuteronomy 10:12-22; and the Gospel from Matthew 17:22-27. The first reading reminds us that we must not ignore the foreigners, the widows and orphans in our society. We cannot ignore our past and the help we received when we were under slavery just like that of people of Israel. As God went out of His ways in looking after during our oppression, we need to have the soft corners for them. Ignoring and abusing the strangers, the orphans, and the widows and not willing to provide from what we have acquired will be equally done to God himself. God himself expects us to do when we live and worship God in the land where we live today, “God executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt,” (Deut.10:18). We must reject the political and religious leaders who teach us to hate the foreigners and strangers. Our leaders are misleading us and put us against God. The responsorial Psalm acclaims, “O praise the Lord Jerusalem.”(Ps.147:12). The Gospel imparts us the responsibility towards our worshiping places. Even though Jesus to whom the temple exists, He did not hesitate to pay the temple tax foe himself and for Peter. As we care for the poor so we need to pay attention in taking care of the places of worship. Have you paid your tithes and promises you yourself made to God? We need to care for the most vulnerable people in our communities and the most sacred worshipping places. Abusing the poor and the sacred places is abusing God himself. May we be generous to God and those who are needy. May you have good day.