Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Monday of the 6th week of Easter, May 26, 2025, Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest.

Delivered by Vivian from the Parish of Saint Thomas the Apostle in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 16: 11-15; Rs psalm 149: 1-2.3-4.5-6a.9b; John 15: 26 - 16: 4a.THE SECRET OF A HELPER The title for our meditation today is:The Secret of a Helper. Anyone of us who is a helper to the neighbors, he orshe has all the freedom to help, do good and make sacrifice according to his orher abilities. That help can be big, medium or small either in quantity orquality. Often the helps are offered by those who do not know the concernedreceivers. The givers also do not want to be known. The offerings that reachthe supposed receivers can be considered as gifts. Therefore the secret of ahelp or offering is in the person of the helper.  A good helper is like a teenager namedBerto. At school he is known as a model because he likes to help his fellowstudents. He is not ashamed of picking up garbages left by his friends who makefloor and yard dirty. He shares his learning tools with the friends who forgetto bring with them. He shares his own water and food with the friends who don'thave. He is eager to accompany and tell stories to the friends who are sick. Hehelps anyone without feeling bored and tired. The helpers like Berto do havemotivation, intention, and belief that are typical to every one of them. Eachhas type and way of help which is different from the other. The way and qualityof giving help depend much on each helper. Those who receive helps do not needto preocupy or to imagine about the form and content of help. Lydia in thefirst reading from the Acts of the Apostles offered all the logistics to Pauland compaions. This is what we call “the secret of the helper”, which is inthis context Lydia. Paul and Silas did not have to bother on the contents ofthe helper's kindness. This is what we mean by the secret ofa helper. Do we ever know the secret of God's will to help us? We never know.The Holy Spirit sent to us by Jesus Christ who comes out of the Father, also hasall His secret. Jesus reveals a sort of clue by saying that the messenger is anAdvocate and Defender. Let it be God's will to help. We have no authority toimpose our desires on the Holy Spirit. What is clear is that God’s will is forour goodness and salvation. Anyone of us who has intention, will,plan and nature to help, just be convinced that, the basic secret of a goodhelper is to do what is appropriate, positive, healthy and sincere of bringinggoodness and salvation to those who receive help. A good helper never does anyevil  both in ways and goals to others. Thisis not a help, but a coercion that will plunge those helped into trouble and danger.Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O Lord Jesus, help us always to imitate yourself in helping others,and may we be open to all the teachings of your Holy Spirit. May we also followthe footsteps of  Your Mother, the VirginMary who is also for us a great helper. Hail Mary full of grace ... In the nameof the Father ...