Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the 21st week in ordinary time, August 29, 2025, Memorial of the Death of Saint John the Baptist, Martyr

Delivered by Gabriella Natani from the Parish of Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Jeremiah 1: 17-19; Rs psalm 71: 1-2.3-4a.5-6ab.15ab.17; Mark 6: 17-29. SPEAKING THE TRUTH AND DEFENDING THEPURITY The title for our meditation today is:Speaking the Truth and Defending the Purity. In this occassion of the memorialof the death of John the Baptist, our attention is directed to the person whois steadfast and loudly making the voice of truth heard and touches the deepestlevel of humanity. He was brave and never gave up challenging the highestauthority over immoral life that they practice against the truth, sincerity andpurity. Speaking the truth and defending thepurity, both in the bond of married couples and the quality a dignified life,is a portrait of the life that John the Baptist stood for. Long before himthere was the prophet Jeremiah, who in lamentation, he told that he wasthreatened to death by his enemies. He never forgot and got away from God. He wassteadfast in the truth of God, and his mind and heart entirely devoted to Godalone. What John the Baptist and Jeremiah didwas part of the powerful message of Jesus Christ. Together with the truth ofHis teachings, is the message of purity. A pure mind and heart must be freefrom negative thinking, chaos, intimidation, discrimination, false judgement,slander, lying. So by acting and living out the truth, purity stands strong andcredible. Jesus strongly condemns the Phariseesand the scribes because their words and deeds are not connected to each other.This is caused by their impure motivation. When lies, deception, arrogance andlust for power come together into the life of the faithful and the community,it is certain that the truth is threatened to disappear and the purity of humanconscience is in danger of lost. Usually the enemies of goodness, sincerity andpurity use violence to destroy those who are the bearers and defenders of truth. Jeremiah, John the Baptist and JesusChrist encountered this violent experience. But the struggle and effort todefend the truth and purity have never stopped until now. Why did the enemiesnot succeed in eliminating the truth and purity of a life that is so dear toGod, even though they have been trying so hard and continually since the timeof Jeremiah? Because the human mind and heart are created for the truth andpurity that are integrated in faith. We believe and express our faith that Godchooses to live in us and in our hearts. If we lose this belief, there will bethe beginning of denial the truth and purity. Actually, in our very being ashumans, we want to live righteously and purely. Hopefully we are still firm tohold on this point. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... In your mercy O Father, we find all your light that brings us backto you after we fail in obeying your will. Strengthen us to be more faithfuland true in our faith. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the HolySpirit ... In the name of the Father ...