It is 24th October 2016. We celebrate the memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, the Bishop. He formed a group of priest under the name of ‘Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; today they are known as the Claretians. The readings are from Ephesians 4:32-5:8; and the Gospel from Luke 13:10-17. St. Paul calls us to imitate God in loving others without any hidden selfish and sinful motives. We need to recognise the darkness within and around ourselves. We need to live as the children of light in every given moment of our lives. “You were darkness once, but now you are light in the Lord; be like children of light.” (Eph.5:8). We are not forgiven because of our meritorious acts rather it is the mercy of God that has gone out of God’s ways in forgiving us and granting us the peace we require daily. We need to be merciful like the Father is the theme and prayer of the Church at large. Refusal to forgive is just like refusing to be merciful. Christ is the light of the world, the church and our lives. This light gushed forth when the sacrificial love on the cross was displaced through His suffering, passion and death. Our love must bring the light of Christ in others. We need to love beyond our selective affection and learn to love all people. In the responsorial verse, we pray, “Behave like God as God’s very dear children.” (Eph.5:1). The Gospel points out the hypocrisy of twisting the compassionate healing of Jesus into a mere professional work. Jesus upholds the integral healing over keeping the laws that imprisoned the poor. We must not rationalize and justify our laws and rules when the poor are going hungry. It is good to take time to help others even it is going to infringe our personal time and image. May the Lord bless you to bring out the light of Christ we received through Baptism by serving the needy members of our communities. May you have a good day.