General. As we pray in today’s Collect, nothing could be more worthy or holier than God. We pray Him to spread His mercy on us so that our lives may be fully centred on Him that we might enjoy, as from this life, everlasting peace and happiness. Indeed, we pine for justice and holiness, which means going against the grain of worldly life by fully understanding the meaning of our Baptism. This would put us, together with Christ, in the centre of a new universe which we are bound to preach and practise.

First Book of Kings. Solomon lived in the fear of the Lord and thus did not beg for the usual gifts humans pine for – longevity, wealth or revenge of one’ enemies. In all humility Solomon recognized his youthful fragility, rather than strength, and implored for a bright intellect such as would be needed to lead a populous and garrulous nation. He begged for discernment, that he might know right from wrong. Solomon’s plea should be every Christian’s prayer so that he would be able to lead his life and that of his family in troubled times.

Epistle to the Romans. In creating us in His image, God wants us to partake in His attributes even through the image of His Son Jesus whom He has placed as our elder brother. Predestination means mission, such as may have been given to each one of us to fulfil in our circumstances. Yet God does not send anyone on a mission without giving a person such fortitude as he would require to fulfil it. God acts in such manner with us.

St Matthew. Battling to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven is very much like looking for a treasure which, once found, gives great joy to its retriever. Once faith is achieved through Baptism, the Christian has an uphill climb to reach perfection. The convert would still harbour the old vestiges of self but would now recognize his frailties and pray God to bestow grace on him that he might do good and tread on the path of eternal salvation.

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