It is 17th October 2016. We celebrate the Memorial of St Ignatius of Antioch, the Bishop and the Martyr. The courageous martyr proved his faithfulness to Christ when he was thrown before two hungry lions. His final words were, “I am the wheat of the Lord and must be ground by the teeth of lions to become the pure bread of the Lord Jesus Christ.” He is invoked against soreness of the throat. The readings are from Ephesians 2:1-10; and the Gospel from Luke 12:13-21. St. Paul teaches us in the first reading that God loves us even though we have a natural leaning towards sinful life. We have to try living a virtuous life based on the faith in Jesus through God’s grace. “We are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as from the beginning God had meant us to live it.” (Eph.2:10). The responsorial Psalm reminds us the purpose of our living, “God made us, we belong to God.” (Ps.99:3). The Gospel challenges the mind-set of those who put their trust in riches and possessions, the false security. It is the sheer ignorance of a human souls to rely so much on material riches while God is the supreme security. Our good works such as sharing the riches with the needy is the best and easy way to happiness and peace. We will all have to face God at our final moments of lives for the greediness and selfishness with which we lived. Let us learn to put our trust in God rather the material things. The richness of human character enshrines in the way we share what we have with those less fortunate than us. Our security and protection is God alone in time immemorial not material possession. Jesus wants us to be rich before God. Many of our families are wrecked and dismantled due to the possession and properties we leave when we die. Families have been dragged to courts and prisons even to the extent of killing the siblings on account the wealth one leaves. It is the final call for all us to extend our loving relationship to one another than building storehouses and leaving bulky bank accounts. We are so afraid of the other. We have come to level in some places, the other human being is the threat to our existence. Death is the final teacher to examine the merits of charity and faith in Christ. May you have a good day.