It is 18th March 2016. We celebrate the memorial of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, the Bishop and the Doctor of the Church. The readings are from Jeremiah 20:10-13; and the Gospel from John 10:31-42. The first reading is the confession of faith of Prophet Jeremiah. We need to listen to the entire chapter to understand the bitterness of the prophet. He was a faithful preacher of God. Yet, what he got in return for his faithfulness was persecution and sorrow. When the people rejected him, ridiculed him, and wanted his life, he put the entire trust in God. “For I have committed my cause to you.” (Jer.20:13). Regardless of the result, we must be able to share the God’s goodness at all times. When we take God seriously, we may have to suffer for truth and justice. The responsorial Psalm is a prayer of confidence in God at the time of persecution. “In my anguish I called to the Lord and he heard my voice.” (Ps.17:7). The Gospel brings out the rejection of Jesus by many. The people wanted to stone Him second time but he moved away unharmed. “I have done many good works for you to see, works from my Father; for which of these are you stoning me?” (Jn.10:31). Accepting Jesus as God needs a tremendous amount of faith and submission to the Divinity of Jesus looking inwardly on our own sins. We need to submit ourselves when the storms of ragging smashes our beings. People out there to ridicule and persecute us whenever we do good to others. How do we handle the struggles we go through on a daily basis? With God or without God? Do we run away from God or surrender to God? Our maturity in our spiritual life cannot happen without carrying our daily cross and accepting suffering with humility. Moreover, we cannot bury the goodness and mercy of God for long. Just like the prophet, and Jesus we will have to bring out the best of our holiness and mercy right from within somehow someday. May you have a good day.