Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the 22nd week in ordinary time, September 5, 2025

Delivered by Gabriella Natani from the Parish of Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Colossians 1: 15-20; Rs psalm 100: 2.3.4.5; Luke 5: 33-39.GOD IS WITH US Our meditation today is entitled: God is With Us.Jesus Christ is an invisible God but becomes manifest in human form. In Him, wesee the loving, patient, and faithful face of God. The image of God is nolonger something distant or vague, but is seen in everyday life through Jesus.  His every deed—healing the sick, forgiving sinners,feeding the hungry—is a sign of God's infinite love. In other words, whoeversees Jesus, he sees the Father (Jn 14:9). The God that appears in Christ is not just a matter ofthe physical, but of how He presents himself. Jesus' deeds reveal God's caringheart, and His words give new life. The Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus, is aguarantee that God's inclusion never ends. With His Spirit and Word, we are notleft to walk alone, but are always accompanied, strengthened, and led to thetruth. Therefore, when God is revealed in Christ, ourattitude is not to fast in the sense of experiencing spiritual drought, but tocelebrate His presence. The presence of Jesus is a life-giving joy. Like afriend who is present in our midst, it is not appropriate for us to be sad orclose off, but we should be grateful and joyful. The life of faith becomes acelebration of God's love, not a burden or emptiness. When we truly experience God in Christ, our most basicattitude is to welcome Him with an open heart. We are called to listen to Hisword, follow His example, and proclaim Him in our daily lives. The experienceof God does not stop at personal prayer alone, but must be seen in concreteactions: love for others, willingness to forgive, and willingness to serve. Thepresence of Jesus must be carried on through our lives. Let's imagine this. An old friend who suddenly came tovisit after a long separation. When he is present, we will certainly not sitdown, not say hello, or pretend not to see him. Instead, we will welcome himwarmly, make time for him, and even celebrate his presence. So it is withJesus. His presence is a moment of celebration of faith, not a time to closeour hearts. Let us, then, be worthy of God's real presence inChrist. We celebrate Him in prayer, in the Eucharist, in fraternity, and indaily ministry. Thus, we no longer live in spiritual drought, but in joy thatGod is indeed present, accompaniing, and bringing us to life through JesusChrist, the invisible God of the heavenly Father. Let us pray. In the name of the Father ... O God, kindle ourspirit of faith every time we hear Your words. Our Father who art in heaven...In the name of the Father ...