Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the 18th week in ordinary time, August 8, 2025, Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest

Delivered by Vivian from the Parish of Saint Thomas the Apostle in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. Deuteronomy 4: 32-40; Rs psalm 77: 12-13.14-15.16.21; Matthew 16: 24-28.SELF-DENIAL Our meditation today is entitled:Self-Denial. Exchange of goods in the past with the barter system occurred forexample bananas brought from the high lands to be exchanged with fish broughtfrom the beach. Times have changed and the exchange system has also changed, sothe term is no longer the exchange of goods, but buying goods. We use money toexchange items that we need in the shops and malls. Can a person's life be exchanged orbought in this manner? Someone takes himself to a money holder, then he istaken by a rich person and amout of money are transferred to the hands of theperson's family. Maybe it can happen at one particular moment, but thatincident can be classified as an abnormal act, or maybe even a crime. This type of exchange takes place inthe context of market and trade. The Lord Jesus teaches us one type of lifeexchange, but not a market system. He presents a new lifestyle for the sake ofobtaining the salvation of mankind, their bodies and souls. To those who chooseto follow Him, the main condition is to make a life exchanged: the person andits life direction. The style and worldly spirit thatmakes us selfish and brings us emptiness, or to instill in us the mentality tobe always served, are to be exchanged with a new lifestyle of Jesus, namely theself-denial,  shown by His own example ofcarrying out the cross. This is what the Lord has completely done, which is tobuy us from this world with a very priceless act of sacrifice. We are made Hisproperty through the sacrament of baptism and our entry into the Church. So weexperience an exchange of life that signifies God's ownership of ourselves. Thelifestyle of this world is exchanged to Jesus Christ's style of self-denial andcarrying out the cross. This does not mean that the world,culture and social life no longer claim to have us as their possessions, orinstead we ourselves lose status in this world. We in fact still experiencethis life in the world and we have it all. The point is that we have exchangedour lives with something of higher quality, namely as followers of Christ. Wealready have this dignity and we need to always experience how meaningful weare. The proof is that we promise to be faithful to God through our words andactions. This is what Moses reminded us not to forget this very importantstatus. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... In Your power and mercy, O Father, we want to sanctify ourselvesthrough our words and deeds and continue to remain under the guidance of YourSpirit. May the spirit of self-denial tought by Jesus Christ always grow strongin us. Hail Mary full of grace ... In the name of the Father ...