“Let me begin with a simple question: Have you ever done the right thing even when it was difficult?

Perhaps you told the truth even though it was embarrassing. Perhaps you admitted a mistake when it would have been easier to hide it. Perhaps you chose honesty even when dishonesty seemed more profitable.

We all know from experience that doing the right thing is not always easy. That is why Jesus says in today’s Gospel: “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”

The cross is not only sickness or suffering. Sometimes the cross is choosing what is right when it would be easier to remain silent. Sometimes it is speaking the truth when others prefer to ignore it. Sometimes it is standing for justice when it is more comfortable to look the other way.

Following Jesus has never been about convenience. It has always been about faithfulness.

Today many of us are wearing white or displaying white ribbons as part of the White Ribbon Movement.

The white ribbon is a symbol of our prayer for truth, accountability, justice, and national healing. It is not about partisan politics. It is about values that should unite all people of goodwill.

It is also a peaceful expression of our desire to see justice prevail in our country. When public money is stolen, it is not only money that disappears. Those funds could have provided classrooms for children, medicines for the sick, assistance for struggling families, and protection for vulnerable communities.

As Christians, we believe in mercy. But mercy does not cancel justice. We pray that those who have betrayed the public trust be investigated fairly, held accountable according to law, required to return what was taken, and, when proven guilty, face the appropriate consequences.

This is not about revenge. It is about justice. And justice is necessary for healing.

At the same time, the Gospel reminds us to examine our own hearts.

It is easy to demand honesty from leaders. The harder question is: Am I honest?

It is easy to ask for accountability from others. The harder question is: Am I accountable for my own actions?

National renewal begins with personal conversion. A nation becomes more honest when its citizens become more honest.

Let me end with a simple story.

After a storm, thousands of starfish were stranded on a beach. A young boy was picking them up one by one and throwing them back into the sea.

A man told him, “There are thousands of starfish. You cannot save them all. What difference will it make?”

The boy picked up another starfish, tossed it into the water, and said, “It made a difference to that one.”

Sometimes we look at the problems of our nation and feel overwhelmed. We wonder whether honesty and integrity still matter.

Jesus reminds us today that they do.

Every truthful word matters. Every honest decision matters. Every act of integrity matters. We may not solve all the problems of our country, but we can be faithful where God has placed us.

As we wear our white ribbons today, may they remind us that the most important ribbon is not the one pinned on our shirts but the one written in our hearts.

May Christ give us the courage to choose truth over lies, integrity over convenience, and justice over indifference.

For when truth is spoken, accountability is practiced, and justice is served, hope is reborn and healing begins.”