Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the 13th week in ordinary time, July 4, 2025

Delivered by Gabriella from the Parish of Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Genesis 23: 1-4.19; 24: 1-8.62-67; Rs psalm 106: 1-2.3-4a.4b-5; Matthew 9: 9-13.LIFE AND DEATH IN FAITH The title for our meditation today is:Life and Death in Faith. Abraham and Sarai as God's chosen couple lived theirfaith fully, namely their lives and deaths were in God. Sarai died at the ageof 127 years, while Abraham died later at the age of 175 years. To this couple God gave such a greatpromise, which was to make it a blessed family with great and countless descendants.In fact, until they died, they had only Isaac as the only blessed son. Saraidied without seeing Isaac getting married and generating offsprings. Abrahamhimself also had no chance to see all the promises realized, while he onlychanced to see his two grandchildren, Jacob and Esau. Their faith remained strong but hadbeen tested, coupled with all the divine promises they had not yet enjoyed. Isthis a sign of the failure of faith? This is not the case. Rather, the LordJesus said that faith as small as a mustard seed will grow big and great,provided that faith is preserved and taken care. Jesus himself died at the age about 33years and declares Himself to be the Savior; He presented himself as the way,the truth and the life. But many people did not accept Him, and He wasabandoned by His disciples at the moment of His death. But this is not afailure of faith. In fact, good fruits come along in a world that is empoweredby the establishment of the holy Church. Faith preserved firmly in the Church. This church is built on the solidfaith of the first Christians with Jesus as the head. That solid foundation isthe faith of the apostles. Matthew the tax collector who was called by Jesus athis own time and received strong protests from the people around him, seemed tobe a wrong decision of faith. But he had proven to be one of the foundational figuresof the Church and is believed to have written one of the four Gospels. Of all the small, simple, yet strongand lasting examples of faith, stands together with God's plan and promise thatis so great, the best way to bridge this gap is when we commit to live and diein this faith. This means that our respective vocation is an important sign ofour faith. Joining this vocation is the work and responsibility we must carryout also in giving content to our faith. Then the fruits of our work, dutiesand responsibilities are signs of the fruits of our faith in God. So the advicefor us would be this one: do not underestimate your calling, work and fruits ofyour work. You certainly disappoint God if you underestimate or neglect them! Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... We ask for Your Fatherly blessings, O Lord, that our callings andworks give fruits that will contribute to the building up of our lives togetheron this world. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... Inthe name of the Father ...