Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Saturday of the eighth week in ordinary time, May 30th, 2026

Delivered by Gabriela Natani from the Parish of Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Jude 17: 20b-25; Rs psalm 63: 2.3-4.5-6; Mark 11: 27-33.PRESERVE YOURSELF IN GOD'S LOVE Our meditation today has the theme: Preserve YourselfIn God's Love. A person can only give or share from himself if he hassomething. He cannot give a plate of rice or a twenty-thousand bill to aneighbor if he has neither rice nor money. In order to support the Christianspirit in sharing God's grace, followers of Christ must have God's grace in abundance. Grace and divine mercy will not run out because theycome from the Lord. To ensure that the richness of God's grace are alwayspresent in a person, he should always maintain himself in connection with thegrace of God's love. But perhaps here is the irony as many of us for the sakeof doing service for others and for an insincere interest, they choose to payattention or help nurturing the faith of others.  In other words, some people have tendency to take carefor the spiritual growth of others. They follow constantly in how other peoplelive a good life, have great and pure love in helping one’s neighbors, andbuild unity. Usually those who consider themselves mature and have some advanceknowledge in faith have this tendency. As a result, they do not have enoughopportunity and will to take care of themselves in enriching themselves withGod's love and mercy. Those in this group follow the style of activism. Caring and growing oneself in God's love departs fromthe truth about God who has the power to keep us from stumbling and not beingcompletely overpowered by the forces of evil. The Epistle of the Apostle Judein the first reading emphasizes that every believer should base himself on aholy faith and always keep himself in the love of God. By gaining God's wisdom,we will be blessed with the grace of joy to await His glory that will be fullyrevealed. Furthermore, we should be the ones who maintain thegrace that has been bestowed upon us. The most fundamental way is the need forthe power of God's grace to fill us, like a soul that thirsts for God and longsto be satisfied by God at all times. If our way is only passively waiting, ourreadiness for the coming of God’s grace may be very little. But when there is aneed and urgency, we will be joyful and ready for the graces God generouslygive us. We must hope and ask with high pleasure. We can nourish ourselves in God's love through moreand more acts of love. Every act of love we do must still be based on the nameand power of Jesus Christ who presents the almighty God. Without the power ofGod, every act of our love will lose its legitimacy and spiritual influence onothers. Letus pray. In the name of the Father... O Almighty God, may we diligently nourishourselves in Your love and always share that love with those around us. HailMary, full of grace... In the name of the Father ...