Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the 23rd week in ordinary time, September 11, 2026

Delivered by May Ann Rodrigo and Ekatia from Saint Peter's School Kelapa Gading, Jakarta Utara, in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. 1 Corinthians 9: 16-19.22b-27; Rs psalm 84: 3.4.5-6.12; Luke 6: 39-42.THE END JUSTIFIES THE WAY The theme for our meditation today is: The EndJustifies the Way. There was a leadership training for a group of Catholicyouth held in a remote village. Part of this training was to travel to the topof the hill about 8 kilometers away. The participants were required to walkfrom the middle of the village to the top of the hill, by choosing variousalternative roads. The one who reached the top first will be given a gift thathas been prepared for the winner. It turned out that there was something happened thatmade this training activity less impressive and meaningful. Some of theparticipants cheated. They rented motorbike taxis to bring them to the top ofthe hill. Then they declared themselves the winners, and they thought thattheir cheating was unnoticed to anyone. In fact there were unknown eyewitnesses, who testified that they were not the winners. The real winners werethose who walked, who reached the goal as number one, two, three and so on. The winners who cheated were those who justified theways to achieve the end. However, according to the training rules, the ways ormeans were already determined to achieve the goal. So the participants shouldobey the rules, namely walking to the destination at the top of the hill thathad been agreed upon. The principle which we are familiar with, namely the end requiresthe just and proper way, or the appropriate means used to achieve the goalshould be observed. The Word of God today teaches us to always obey therules that we accept as our common standard for our lives, namely the goal thatneeds the just or proper ways or means already established in order to achievethe desired goal. The Lord Jesus affirms on how the blind man guides anotherblind man that will never arrive at the destination. The way a student achievesa goal by not following or imitating his teacher is not the right way. Thehypocrisy style in solving problems by only blaming others and withoutcorrecting oneself is not the right way to do. Likewise, Saint Paul teaches us through his firstletter to the Corinthians, that in doing God's will, we must follow God's way,namely the way of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can't make up or enforce our ownwill. Saint Paul completed the mission of God by preaching the gospel, untilthe end of his life. We should also complete our duties and callings in thisworld by following the path of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever does not use theway of the Lord, will go astray and will not reach the destination. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O Almighty God, strengthen and lead us sothat we do not get lost in our way of life, but always follow Your true path toachieve salvation. Our Father who art in heaven ... In the name of the Father ...