Reading and meditation on the Friday of the 19th week in ordinary time, August 15, 2025

Delivered by Stella Wijaya from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Joshua 24: 1-13; Rs psalm 136: 1-3.16-18.21-22.24; Matthew 19: 3-12.HARDNESS OF HEART The title for our meditation today is:Hardness of Heart. Infidelity is the most frightening enemy of a husband andhis wife as the valid and sacred couple. A young man and woman who are in theirintimate relationship also view infidelity as a scary ghost who threatens theirbeautiful days together. They have an ideal desire, that even the slightestsign and a small act of infidelity must not exist. They are very resistant whenone or each of them has another choice. In broad sense, infidelity can be seenas a change of choice illegally or that does not respect the due process andgood manners. A priest or religious person is considered lying and unfaithfulbecause he lives in a style which not showing him as a priest or religious. Abusinessman secretly negotiates with certain investor without first discussingit with his business partners, he is certainly considered having an affairwhich is illegal. In friendship, the act of moving out or change to anothergroup wothout saying goodbyes or telling nicely, is also seen as having anaffair. Moses said in the scriptures that themain cause of infidelity is the hardness of the heart. Hardness is the same asdisobedience, disloyalty, stubbornness, indulgence, arrogant, and havingworldly spirit. This became part of Joshua's advice when he was about to die,that obedience and loyalty to God is absolute, so that people will be saved andlive peacefully with God. Whereas, if there is only hardness of heart, disasterwill be the answer. The hardness of the heart can befought and overcome with some helpful ways, as remarked in today's readings.The Book of Joshua speaks of the spirit to live with our good and noblememories. We have memoria of lifehistory that includes people who are our examples and who have sacrificed theirlives for us. There are past experiences that really educate and help us toprogress and develop. We should make them alive in order to prevent us frombeing inclined to hardness of heart and brings us into the sin of infidelity. We are also asked to hold firmly toour originality or authenticity which is as God's creation, with the mostessential gift to each one of us that is to determine our choices with freedom.With this freedom, a person must be respected for his life partner's choice,likewise if he does not choose a life partner based on a strong and acceptablereason. The freedom to make this choice is limited by the demands of obedienceand loyalty from the one who has already the choice. This is very important tobe fulfilled so that the infidelity can be prevented and eliminated. Let's pray. In the name of  the Father... Lord Jesus, strengthen ourchoice of heart in all of your teachings about faithfulness. Hail Mary ... Inthe name  of the Father...