Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the fourth week of Easter, May 1st, 2026

Delivered by Elyanne from the Parish of Saint James in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 13: 26-33; Rs psalm 2: 6-7.8-9.10-11; John 14: 1-6.THE SHEPHERD MAKES US COMFORTABLE AND FEEL AT HOME Our meditation today has the theme: The Shepherd MakesUs Comfortable and Feel at Home. When someone feels comfortable, he enjoys aninterpersonal relationship that he engages. When he feels at home, he enjoysand feels at peace with the situation that he is in. He feels at home with thethings or means he is using. For instance, you feel comfortable with friendsnear you, and at the same time you also feel at home with the place and itssituation where you find yourself. The Lord Jesus our good Shepherd comforts and makes usfeel at home in this sense. Jesus makes us comfortable with Him and with ourfellow men and women. Jesus makes us feel at home in His house, which is theChurch, family and group. His teachings and commands sometimes can be sodemanding, but we are happy with them. Today Jesus speaks to us about thisconviction, as He says: "Do not let your hearts be troubled, you havefaith in God, have faith also in me". He simply tells us that as we arewith Him and the Father, we must feel comfortable and at home.                                                                                                                                        But not everyone thinks that they feel comfortable andat home with Jesus Christ. There are people who don't understand Himimmediately when He speaks. There are always different interpretations to Histeachings and wills. For example, the apostle Thomas asked Him, "Show meproof of what You are saying"! Then Jesus said: "I am the way, thetruth and the life". This affirmation of Jesus is enough to give usassurance to be always comfortable with Jesus and feel at home with Histeaching. Jesus gave the power to the servants of the Church tocreate in the Church the spirit of one community of the People of God, wheneveryone may feel comfort in it and at peace with fellow brothers and sisters.Together with Saint Peter on the same level of teaching authority, Saint Paulpreached the same truth about Jesus Christ. Many other apostles and disciplesof Jesus also did the same thing. This truly brought comfort and feeling athome to all listeners, especially the non-Jewish people who were very criticaland skeptical about religion and faith. They therefore, could accept SaintPaul's teachings and eventually chose to become the followers of Christ. Then the question for us would be this: Who is themost responsible to provide comfort and feeling at home? It is not the Lord inthe first place nor leaders of the Church, nor any person with good reputationin faith. Honestly speaking, they always give you kindness and love. So, tofeel comfortable and at home is not their first concern. The one who mustcreate it is every individual, each one us.  This parable might be useful to understand what we aresaying. We are not in the position whether to reject or accept our own parents.They are truly God's gift to us. But about feeling comfortable with one's ownfather and mother, that is one's own responsibility. We must create it. To feelat home and comfortable with God and the Church is our own responsibility. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O most loving God, we praise you alwaysbecause your glory and greatness rule over our entire lives. Strengthen ourcomfort and feel at home so that we can offer ourselves more sincerely to Youand to our neighbors. Our Father who art in heaven ... In the name of theFather ...