Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Saturday of the 17th week in ordinary time, August 1, 2026, Memorial of Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Delivered by Randy from the Parish of Christ the King in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Jeremiah 26: 11-16.24; Rs psalm 69: 15-16.30-31.33-34; Matthew 14: 1-12.DEATH FOR THE TRUTH The theme for our meditation today is: Death for theTruth. There is at a city gate, a famous statue which is called "The Childon the Mother's Shoulder" stands to give meaning to the city. In the pastthe city was defended by a young man who led the whole people to fight theenemies who wanted to occupy the city. Even though the city was successfullydefended, this young man was killed in the war. His own mother put the son onher shoulder, and while mourning for him she carried him into the city to begiven reverence by everyone and the whole city. The Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ, cared forHim, and witnessed with her own eyes the son's shameful death, then she putJesus' body on her lap (the la pietafrom Michaelangelo). The Blessed Mother witnessed firsthand the Lamb of God whowas sacrificed for defending the truth from those who were seeking to destroythe truth. Mary's nephew, John the Baptist, was also killed earlier than Jesusby an evil king Herod because this ruler was so threatened by the truth. AfterJesus and John the Baptist, there are men and women throughout generations havebeen willing to sacrifice their lives for defending the truth that comes fromGod. Heroes from our towns and countries are people who have died for thetruth. Then the question is this: does the truth have to becompensated by death? The first answer would be on those who oppose the truth,namely people of bad reputation or people who are known for their evil deeds,who seem to be very strong in this world, and their goal is to eliminate thetruth and all the elements associated with it. One of its main targets is todestroy those who fight for the truth, who defend it and who live by it. And another answer would be more on the spiritualpoint of view. Here, it is irrelevant with violence and bloodshed, maybebecause the enemy or opponent is rather weak. However, the truth remains ourprinciple point of reference in life and must be upheld. Our real challenge isto live out that truth with genuinity, to practice it and to make others livein truth as well. It is here that we should die for our laziness, boredom,indifference, selfishness, forgetfulness and other personal deficiencies thatput us away from the responsibility to live in truth. The truth, in principle, is in accordance with realityor fact. This means that it is against what is not real or lie. Truth is alsodefined according to rules, norms, morals. If you are morally recognized, youhave truth and this is contrary to acts that break the rules or moralstandards. Ultimately, truth for us believers is to do God's will and commands,therefore, everything untrue is following the will which is not from God butfrom someone else. So let us live by the truth that we are obliged to, even todefend it till our death.Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... Almighty God, may our efforts to defend thetruth and to testify it to everyone around us, will be pleasing to You. HailMary, full of grace ... In the name of the Father ...