Reading and meditation of the Word of God on Wednesday of the fourteenth week in ordinary time, July 9, 2025

Delivered by Vivian from the Parish of Saint Thomas the Apostle in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indoensia. Genesis 41: 55-57; 42: 5-7a.17-24a; Rs psalm 33: 2-3.10-11.18-19; Matthew 10: 1-7.LOST SHEEP Our meditation today is entitled: LostSheep. We do not feel strange or out of context about sheep often mentioned inthe scriptures, or expressed by Jesus Christ Himself, that refers to all of usas His followers. Even now, the intention is broadened to include all thebelievers living in this world as the sheep of the Lord. What God desires toall is that none of these all be lost. There is a fish in a pond that islonely, and has never joined other fish. He tends to hide behind rocks. Hispresence is unknown to others. A turtle passed around the rock and rebuked thefish: "You are a lost sheep. You are in here, but you make yourself lost,so you are alienated of this world." This simple illustration wants to giveus a hint about the loss and alienation of people in this world, even thoughthey are actually in the world, especially among those who love them. Suchlosses, in the understanding of living togetherness and social life, are oftenreferred to the marginalized or abandoned people in our society. The Scripturesand Jesus Himself say that they are the lost sheep. They must be sought, foundand brought home to the loving kindness of God the Father. In a particular point of view, theMother Church is very concerned and sad about her lost sheep. The universalchurch, the Local Church of the Dioceses, the territorial Church of theparishes and the most basic Church of our families, feel how painful suchlosses of their members. There are sheep who are lost because of the manychoices and offers of worldly manifestations directing them to the wrong paths.There are sheep who are excluded because of their evil behavior towards othersand are denied being part of the Church. There are sheep who abandon theirfaith and enter into other beliefs. There are sheep who deliberately andquietly move away or disappear from togetherness and brotherhood in the Church. What the Lord Jesus revealed in Histime about lost sheep, then the apostles were sent to bring them home, is areality that is very relevant to our situation. Each of us is supposed to carryout that mission. We take that responsibility with the aim of bringing back thesheep that have been away and lost. A disconnected relationship because of sinand evil that disowns one another, must be rejoint, as exemplified by Josephthe son of Jacob who was in Egypt, reunited with his family from Canaan. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O generous and kind Father, kindly look at us and restore us fromthe sins that alienate us from each other. Hail Mary full of grace ... In thename the Father ...