Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Saturday of the 16th week in ordinary time, July 25, 2026, Feast of Saint James, Apostle

Delivered by Bella from the Parish of Kristus Raja in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. 2 Corinthians 4: 7-15; Rs psalm 126: 1-2ab.2cd-3.4-5.6; Matthew 20: 20-28.THE RIGHT TO A POSITION Our meditation today has the theme: The Right to aPosition. Let us think for a moment in the light of this illustration. Youarrived home from an outside need. When the door was opened, you immediatelyfind a stranger sitting at the dining table, occupying the seat you normallyuse, and really enjoyed the dishes. What were your thoughts and feelings aboutthe incident? Huff! How dare that person entered my house without permission! That illustration describes how important and verypersonal for each of us entitled to the position that belongs to us. We havemany positions in which we stand, sit, lie down and being present at a moment.Our basic human rights justify the possessions that we have, especially to theplaces or spaces that belong to us, and there are basic human obligations torespect them too. If someone intentionally forces or pressures us to be out ofour own position, it is here that tension will definitely explode. Thereactions we usually give to this situation would be strong and perhaps violentrefusal. It is normally unacceptable for someone to allow his position ofwhatever degree to be taken up by others without using any good manner orcertain moral standard. We all understand that in this world in order to havea position, there is the right of every person to have it on one side, and theavailability of such position on the other, which is to be the obligation ofothers to provide and respect it. Today we encounter an example of thescriptures about two apostles, namely James and John, who with the help oftheir mother, wanted a special position for each of them in the kingdom of God.It is not wrong if they dared to claim their rights, because that was indeedthe price of the following of Christ. However, the Lord Jesus emphasized that this claim ofright is not an automatic thing to happen. A claim for right can only begranted if it is compatible with the obligation of other people done. A claimfor right must not be a blind act, meaning to say, it is only an independentact. Jesus teaches us today that our basic right to obtain a place in thekingdom of God really depends on these following conditions: We must first carry out our basic obligation, which isto drink the bitter cup which Jesus had already drunk when He was still onearth. It is a way of self-denial through a humble life, enduring varioushardships and suffering. God the Father, who is pleased with the act ofself-denial, will provide us with an appropriate position in His kingdom. Oneof the most concrete ways of self-denial is to serve others with selfless loveand not demanding to be served. Saint Paul in his second letter to the Corinthianscalls it as the death of our body, which always wants to be prioritized on thebasis of lust and desire of the flesh. The death of the body gives life to thespirit of life.Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O Lord, purify our hearts from every desireof the flesh and lust for power, that we may become your genuine faithful. OurFather who art in heaven ... In the name of the Father ...