It is 25th November 2016. We celebrate the memorial of Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and martyr. She spoke against the idol worship during the time of emperor of Egypt. He imprisoned her and tortured her on a spiked wheel and finally beheaded. Her shrine is on Mount Sinai. The readings are from Rev. 20:1-4, 11, 21:2; and the Gospel from Luke 21:29-33. The first reading describes the eternal reign of Jesus and His glorious second coming to crush Satan and its followers. The faithful believers will be united under Christ Jesus. God allowing Satan to roam around is to expose those who are unfaithful to Christ; and Satan’s release will result in the final destruction of all evil. The mark on the forehead means the allegiance to Satan and its political, economic, social system to rebel against God. The mark opposed to the mark of God put during our baptism. We are taught in the Catechism No. 1272, we are “incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation. Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated. Again we read in the same source No. 1274 “Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life.” The faithful Christian who has “kept the seal” until the end, remaining faithful to the demands of his Baptism, will be able to depart this life “marked with the sign of faith,” with his baptismal faith, in expectation of the blessed vision of God – the consummation of faith – and in the hope of resurrection.” It is all about being faithful to Christ till the end. We are all going to be judged by the way we have practiced our faith in Jesus. Reaching Heaven and being with the Lord is our soul’s desire which cannot be quenched by any pleasure of this world. The responsorial Psalm sings, “Here God lives among people.” (Rev.21:3). As God’s reign is permanent, so God’s words are. Everything that is created by God goes through a change yet God’s Word will be constant. As God is eternal and so God’s words are. The unchanging and everlasting Word in Flesh would appear in glory to judge us all. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Lk.21:33). May you have a good day.