Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Saturday of the 17th week in ordinary time, August 2, 2025

Delivered by Vanessa Anggoro from the Church of Saint Ignatius in the Diocese of Singapore. Leviticus 25: 1.8-17; Rs psalm 67: 2-3.5.7-8; Matthew 14: 1-12.TO DIE FOR THE TRUTH The title for our meditation today is:To Die for the Truth. The human tradition that shows a person dies for the sakeof truth is widely known in the cultures of the world. Our world history andreligions have personages that allow themselves to be tortured and killed fordefending the truth they hold firm. Usually, those who torture and kill arerulers who feel disturbed by the truth being raised and presented, becausetheir life styles are really in contrary with the truth. John the Baptist and Jesus Christ arethe two examples of many deaths in the name of the truth that had occured inthe history of mankind. Following Jesus and John the Baptist are many men andwomen throughout the ages who have been willing to sacrifice their lives fordefending the truth that comes from God. Heroes, whatever religion they belong,are people who die for the truth. Then the question would be: Should atruth be paid by death? The first answer is that those who oppose the truthsuch are bad persons, liars, traitors and so on have the potential to be verystrong in this world, whose purpose is to eliminate the truth and all that isgood. One of their main targets is to destroy persons who struggle for thetruth, who defend the truth and who live the truth. Another answer, if there are noopponents with strong power or even those who oppose the truth are more or lessweak, that truth must still be maintained in this world. The threat of sheddingblood is no longer relevant. The threat is more spiritual, actually as achallenge to live that truth, to give testimony and to make many others live inthe truth as well. In this regard, people need to remove in themselveslaziness, boredom, stupidity, selfishness, forgetfulness and other personalshortcomings. The truth is definitely connected withreality or fact. Its opposite is what is not real or fake. Truth is alsoaccording to rules, norms, morals; so it's against the violation of rules. Thetruth is to do God's will and command; so it is against the will from othersthan God Himself. So let us defend our truth, even to die for the truth. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... Almighty God, we are grateful for all the goodness and truths fromyou that Jesus Christ, your Son, teaches us. May we commit to implement anddefend them until the time you call us back to your Kingdom. Hail Mary full ofgrace ... In the name of the Father ...