Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Monday of the fifth week of Easter, May 4, 2026

Delivered by Jeril from the Parish of Saint Joseph in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 14: 5-18; Rs psalm 115: 1-2.3-4.15-16; John 14: 21-26.WITH DILIGENCE, SUCCESS IS GAIN Our meditation today has the theme: With Diligence,Success is Gain. There was a husband and his wife often quarrel each other overhow to educate and raise their two children who were still in grade 4 and 1elementary school. The wife wanted thechildren to be smart and intelligent. They must take seriously extra tutorial learnings outside the school hours. Forher, the excellent people are the successful ones. But the husband was notconcerned with intelligence. He preferred his children to be diligent in theirlearnings and their daily activities. To such situations like this one, the Lord JesusChrist especially through the Gospel of today tells us that diligence is morenecessary. Jesus says that the Holy Spirit sent to us is our Comforter andTeacher. And we who are guided by the Holy Spirit are children or disciples whomust diligently follow and learn under His guidance. We are not encouraged to be smart and intelligentpeople as the Holy Spirit teaches us. Because if we all become smart andintelligent, many of us might want to compete the Holy Spirit, or even the HolySpirit Himself is confused to guide and teach us one by one. So, the virtue that is more important for us accordingto the scripture readings today is diligence or perseverance, rather thatintelligence or excellence. The life of the Early Church proved that theapostles were not smart and intelligent people. But because they were diligentand committed to Jesus Christ, the true Master, they became capable, mature and qualified in all knowledge and wisdomabout Jesus Christ and His teachings. Paul and Barnabas determined to fully commit to JesusChrist and His gospel even though they were dealing with intelligent and verycritical persons from various cultural backgrounds that were totally differentfrom the Christianity. Their perseverance and Christian commitment were so firmin their testimonies, so as to convince all newly baptized Christians to reallybelieve that through diligence and perseverance as Christians their success infaith was a gain. Diligence must start from oneself because in it thereis a will to achieve the goal expected. Through a combination of hard work,focus and passion, one can achieve the desired result. Those who are good inmathematics have their beginnings and stories of much labor and pain in thisfield. A soccer player has pursued from the simplest techniques along withongoing physical training with a lot of sacrifices before he becomes a greatplayer. Likewise, if we commit ourselves as diligent sons anddaughters of God in our following of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we willsucceed in enjoying what Jesus says today, which is to occupy a place in theFather's house in heaven that has been provided for each one of us. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O Lord Jesus, may we always be diligent andfaithful in the guidance and teaching of the Holy Spirit in order to becomeyour true disciples in all situations of this life. Glory to the Father and tothe Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father …