Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Saturday of the 22nd week in ordinary time, September 5, 2026

Delivered by Demmy Anggi and Jeane Jacklynn from Saint Peter's School Kelapa Gading, Jakarta Utara, in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. 1 Corinthians 4: 6b-15; Rs psalm 145: 17-18.19-20.21; Luke 6: 1-5.EXCITEMENT IN CELEBRATING THE LORD'S DAY The theme for our meditation today is: Excitement inCelebrating the Lord's Day. We practice this commandment of God: "Keep theLord's day holy", with the intention to remember and celebrate the gloryof God and His work to create and save mankind. We have a day devoted to thisand we all know it as Sunday. The main activity we do on Sunday is worship, inwhich people join together as one congregation in the mission stations,parishes and dioceses in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. It is normalfor us that our regular works are put aside and we focus only on this specialcelebration. We are always encouraged to keep our spirits burningto give importance to this day of the Lord, a day already appointed by Him. Weneed to celebrate it with devotion and perseverance. We as believers want thatour good habits and spirituality are to be practiced as they should be,therefore, the demand of Sunday obligation is our standard of being members ofthe Church in making us true disciples of Jesus. In the past, this obligationwas not on Sunday, but on the Sabbath day, which was the day designated forJewish worship. The Sabbath was always observed by them with all kinds ofexaggeration. They dared to rebuke Jesus' disciples and also Jesus himself fornot following this Sabbath observance. For us the followers of Christ, the Sunday obligationhas a point. If we consider Sunday is simply an ordinary activity or perhapsfor some members of the Church merely a choice from among other enjoyments,this particular day will surely lose its meaning as God's Commandment. Ofcourse we can see the consequence of this especially when it happens that ourchurches are becoming empty. The worse thing happens would be the neglect ofcaring for the souls on the part of the believers. The parishes in the villageor remote places have members who are generally farmers, fishermen and ordinaryworkers in the field. For them, Sunday obligation is their first and foremostactivity every Sunday. After that Sunday celebration, then they do other workssuch as farming, feeding livestock, repairing clogged rice fields or pullingfishing net from the sea. There are many other examples by different people andin different places, which show how the day of the Lord or Sunday and otherHoly Days are irreplaceable. However, we must avoid any practices that degradethe sacredness of Sunday like what the Pharisees did. For example, on Sundaythere is a fire in your house. It is very true and your obligation to savefirst your house and family, when at the same time you really need to abandonSunday celebration in the church. So, in relation with safety of human personand dignity of life, Sunday itself must be manifested  through services for people who are most inneed. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... For Your glory and greatness, O Lord, wededicate ourselves to be faithful in worshiping You. May Your Spirit alwaysguide us to do our worship in the services of our neighbors who are in need.Hail Mary, full of grace ... In the name of the Father ...