It is 18th December 2019. The readings are from Jeremiah 23:5-8; and the Gospel from Matthew 1:18-24. In times of transition and change, we are assured by God time and time again saying that God is with us and therefore there is nothing to fear. God does not remain silent when God’s people are denied justice by those who hold the power and authority. God does not sit and watch when the rulers believe in their evil political games and recoursing to human power than to surrender to the Lord. God demands justice from those whom God has entrusted the power to rule and animate others. Leaders and superiors will be held responsible for those entrusted to their care. No leader can just allow those entrusted to him to do evil things for his personal endearment to holding on to power. We must never give up on God when our leaders abuse their power and using people as pawns for their selfish power mongering. God alone can make a righteous branch of justice to spring up when corrupted and abusive leaders crush the people of God. God himself wage war against them and replace them. In the first reading, we are assured by God that God will give a ruler who loves justice and cares for people. “I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land in his days.” (Jer.23:5). In times of aggression, poverty, pain, and change of place and profession, we assured through the readings that God is with us and nothing to worry and be perturbed. The responsorial Psalm praises, “Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.” (Ps.72:7). We reflect the Annunciation to Joseph in the Gospel. When we adhere the assurance of God like St. Joseph, a man of faith and integrity, we feel God’s guidance and blessings surround us. At times, humanly speaking things might not tally in our reason but faith in God and our ‘yes’ to God like that of St. Joseph allow us to believe that there is nothing to fear when the Lord is near. Through the virgin birth, God brought His Only Begotten Son without any trace of sin. When we are faced with difficult choices and new ventures in our life, we need to obey God’s assuring words and promises. We need to place our trust in God through Jesus who is fully human and divine and Immanuel (God with us) (Is.7:14). We must always do the right things in our life and we do not need to avoid doing certain things we believe as correct because of what others might say or thing. We do not need human approval to do good. Our belief in God and obedience to God’s Word only can help us to protect us from all we hear, see and read that opposing the truth. We too place our entire trust in God like St. Joseph to experience the nearness of God in our lives. May you have a good day. God bless you.