It is 15th November 2016. We celebrate the memorial of St. Albert the Great, the Bishop and Doctor of the Church. The readings are from Rev. 3:1-6, 14-22; and the Gospel from Luke 19:1-10. The first reading speaks about the church of Sardis and Laodicea. Those who live in Sardis are warned to wake up from their spiritual sleep. The people of Sardis were spiritually dead and infested with sins. This church looked so adorable outside and so filthy and corrupted inside. God is inviting them to wake up from their ignorance and to repent themselves. It is the call from God to go back to the basic truths revealed by God. In the meantime, God cautions the people of Laodicea telling, “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are luke-warm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Rev.3:16,17). God hates our indifference that is the lukewarmness of our spiritual life. God wishes to discipline us by inviting us to participate in the Sacraments and in the liturgy through a personal confession of our sins in the Sacrament of Mercy. Just like this church, we too have become and boasted in our riches, and ended up being proud, arrogant, and complacent. Jesus at the door knocking to get our attention while we are so busy inside not being bothered to check the door of our hearts who is knocking. The responsorial psalm praises, “Those who prove victorious, I will allow to share my throne.” (Rev. 3:2). In the Gospel, we encounter a merciful and forgiving Jesus. God knows how sinful we have become by time yet God is interested through Jesus to reconcile with us. Jesus made Zacchaeus to reconcile with God. God wants to stay with us no matter how sinful we are. When we are willing to welcome Jesus, the purification is sure to take place. Just like the man in the Gospel, let us try our best to eradicate what is acquired by evil means. May you have a good day.