Dear friends, The whole world is reeling under the Covid pandemic and it begs us to ponder - What message this grave set-back has for all of us? If you ask me, my dear friends - The Covid Pandemic is inviting us to Live Healthy, Holy and Happy. My dear friends, I choose to believe that this Covid Pandemic is not without its purpose. Every set-back in life is an opportunity for us to move forward with greater sensitivity, purpose and determination. The month of November begins with the solemnity of All Saints and is immediately followed by the commemoration of all Souls. The climax of the month is the feast of Christ - King of the Universe. If we put these events together, there is a profound message for all of us. In the first place, I believe this Covid Pandemic is inviting us to LIVE HEALTHY. Then the Liturgical Spirit of the month calls us to LIVE HOLY. And as a fruit of such living we are invited to experience what it is to LIVE TRULY HAPPY. What does healthy living entail? Do we have models to guide us? I'm sure we could get a lot of cues from body builders and dieticians on the Internet. The problem with these is that they don't have a comprehensive health plan. These largely address physical fitness. But physical fitness is not the complete definition of good health. What then is the definition of good health? To understand this I invite you to look to Jesus. Jesus is the supreme model of healthy living. In the Bible, St. Luke tells us that Jesus increased in Wisdom, in Stature, in favour with God, and in favour with people. This means that to be healthy as human beings we need to factor in the basic dimensions of being human. What are these? The Human being is made up of Mind-Heart-Body-Soul. The Mind as we all know is the seat of Wisdom, and it covers the intellectual dimension of being human. The Heart is the seat of emotions - it covers the relational and social aspects of humanness. The Body is the seat of the material - the temporal, and covers the physical dimension. The Soul is the seat of the Spiritual dimension and covers our relationship with the Divine One. And So, good health is achieved when like Jesus we grow in wisdom i.e., mind / intellectual growth; in stature i.e., body / physical growth; in favour with God i.e., soul / spiritual growth; and in favour with people i.e., heart / relational or emotional growth. The Covid setback as well as the Liturgical spirit of November challenges us to take care of all these dimensions of being human in order to stay healthy. On the mind-level, we are invited to stay positive, stay optimistic, stay hopeful. Avoid depressive thoughts, keep communicating with loved ones and friends. Read healthy literature, story books, lives of saints, inspiring autobiographies. Keep your mind creatively occupied with learning new skills be it cooking, drawing, music, knitting, crafts, coding, and what not is available on youtube and on the internet. Covid challenges us to be wise. We are called to use our intelligence in understanding our responsibility in promoting our own safety and the safety of others by adhering to the standard operating procedures suggested in such a scenario. On the level of the body, this pandemic invites us to stay physically fit by adopting a healthy diet with particular attention to immune boosting foods, saying no to junk food, regular exercise, and steam-inhalation. We are advised to stay at home unless absolutely essential to go out, practice social distancing, wear masks, perform oxymeter and temperature checks, regular washing and sanitising of hands, physical cleanliness, etc. This pandemic also challenges us to reduce wastage, go organic, invest in a healthy medical policy, spend money thriftily, cut out on extravagance - in short live simply. The Liturgical spirit of November because of the feasts of saints and souls and Christ our King, directs us to think of our ultimate purpose and the destiny of our lives. We are called therefore to cultivate a healthy heart and a healthy soul. And this is the essence of living Holy lives. On the level of the Heart, we are called to take care of our emotions and our relations. St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians Chapter 4 reminds us: I urge you - Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day. Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ. Do this, and like Jesus we will grow in favour with people. On the level of our souls, this pandemic challenges us to cling on to God. In all humility we are called to acknowledge our human limits and submit to God's authority in our lives. A healthy soul is one that stays connected to its source and destiny which is God Himself. This would entail a regular prayer life, daily recitation of the Holy Rosary, daily bible reading, frequent reception of the Sacrament of Confession and Holy Communion through participation in the Holy Eucharist, witnessing and proclaiming the Kingdom values by engaging in works of charity, becoming promoters of peace, justice, purity and unity, professing our personal and communitarian allegiance to Christ our King. This is a sure recipe to growing in favour with God. And finally as a result of such healthy and holy living, we will reap not just the fruits of earthly happiness, but of ETERNAL JOY in being counted among the communion of saints and as citizens of heaven. May we grow to be faithful subjects of Christ Jesus who told us: I have come to bring you life, life in abundance.