Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the 10th week in ordinary time, June 13, 2025, Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Delivered by Ria from the Parish of Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. 2 Corinthians 4: 7-15; Rs psalm 116: 10-11.15-16.17-18; Matius 5: 27-32. LANGUAGES OF THE SPIRIT The theme of our meditation today is:Languages of The Spirit. The Basilica of St. Anthony is located at the heart ofthe city of Padua, in the Northern Italy. Visitors come from all over the worldall the time to see and experience its beauty. Tourists can find it easy to getto the center by means of available transportation and road guidance leading tothe Basilica. Free access internet can make them comfotable to stay longer inthe city. There was a visitor from Indonesiaeven wanted to extend his stay in that city of Saint Anthony. Every day hefirst went to visit the Basilica of St. Anthony then to other tourist attractions.He was so happy walking from the big city park to the basilica when with thefree access wifi he was able to have video calls with his familyat home inIndonesia. As he felt at home in the city of the follower of Saint Francis ofAssisi, he decided to spend some more days that he could enjoy all theconveniences offered by that wonderful city. Anthony of Padua is not only a holyman. He is also famous as a clever person, a realiable preacher of faith, and awise teacher. One of his famous sermons is about the languages ​​of the HolySpirit. These languages help every follower of Christ to communicate and relateto other people and the environment. He says that someone who is filled withthe Holy Spirit is able to speak in a variety of different languages. Thesedifferent languages ​​are various ways to bear witness to Jesus Christ. Jesushimself says in the Gospel of John that the Holy Spirit has the duty to bearwitness of Himself and the Father in heaven. The languages of the Spirit ​​refer tohumility, poverty, simplicity, patience, obedience, perseverance, generosityand other Christian virtues. We speak in different languages ​​when we usethese virtues in ourselves and we practice them as we relate and interact withour neighbours. This means that our actions speak more powerful than our words.Your words should teach and your actions speak. For the one who is full ofwords but empty in actions will be punished by God like the fig tree that doesnot bear any fruit and the Lord was about to punish it. Jesus emphasizes that anger is a sinof killing. This is certainly against the language of the Spirit as SaintAnthony teaches us. Anger or hatred is the opposition of the love of Christ. SaintPaul says that the light of God shines in our hearts to enable us to proclaimHis glory to the whole world. The light of God is the gift of the Holy Spirit alreadyplanted and is growing in us. Let's pray. In the name of theFather … O Jesus Christ our Good Lord and Teacher, may we be more eloquent inusing the languages ​​of Your Spirit. Our Father who art in heaven... In thename of the Father …