It’s August and we have been through four months of the COVID 19 pandemic in our country. We are living and experiencing  a unique course of events which we had never even thought we would. The hardships people are going though at a different levels is heart wrenching. In this helplessness life is being taken one day at a time literally.  However, people haven’t lost their faith in prayers and the miracles that Prayers bring. Prayer is the only weapon that keeps us closer to God, helping us to understand the mystery of life. This Lock-down period is a time perhaps to pause for a moment and reflect on the meaning of our being more seriously.  In time of trouble we question God, why all these trouble? For us Christians Jesus has said in the Gospel ” If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me “Mt.16:24. We find a call to arm ourselves in these words of St. Peter ” Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh. Arm yourselves also with the same attitude.” 1 Pet4:1. My Dear Fellow brothers and sisters,  Cross is the way to holiness. We not only suffer for ourselves but with the people around us.  “Let us share their crosses, and therefore truly keep Jesus in the midst with them ” – Chiara Lubick. Like Chiara Lubick who  during the world War II suffered bas a young youth and who shared her life with the people  suffering during this war. Covid-19 is also a war, one we need to face bravely. Let us ask ourselves – if only one day is left for me to  live how would  I like to spend this precious time? What would I want to do? When we look within ourselves and search the answers to these questions, then would we find the true essence of our Christian Life.