Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Saturday of the fifteenth week in ordinary time, July 18, 2026

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Micah 2: 1-5; Rs psalm 10: 1-2.3-4.7-8.14; Matthew 12: 14-21.GOD IS NOTHIDING The theme forour meditation today is: God is Not Hiding. The school year for schools hasjust started this week. In general, teaching and learning activities take placein the middle of summer and dry which can have a negative impact on theactivities of students and teachers at school. They feel the hot air bothinside the classroom and outside and especially when they are in the playground. In remotevillages, students walk daily from home and school. They endure hot every dayand bathed in dust along the way. They easily get sick because of the hot anddry weather. There was a junior high school student writing on his social mediapage, in the form of a challenge addressed to God. He said: "This is aserious threat to life. God seems to be hiding and not near us to helpus." This student'sheartfelt expression represents the feelings of difficulty, anxiety, lack ofpatience and pessimism of many people in today's world. These feelings arenatural for us humans and there is nothing wrong with complaining or urging Godto help us. The event recounted in the Gospel about Jesus calming down the windand violent waves that nearly destroyed His disciples very clearly give usconfidence that God is not silent or hiding. Our Gospel readingtoday also illustrates how Jesus chose to avoid and hide, at a time when thethreat of enemies and evil was evident. There was a conspiracy that plottedevil against Jesus and all of His works, but Jesus got rid of himself. If aleader or chief chose to abandon his responsibilities, then we can understandthat his work, struggle or task has failed.  If our life inthis world only give attention to violence, evil and the threat of the enemy,we are the people who live in fear and this world is like a terrible jungle.God is indeed seen or understood to be in silent and hiding, but He actuallydwells in our hearts. God fills the spaces of understanding and conviction ofour faith. He works as the invisible Holy Spirit, but provides everything bothin word and deed, so that we become able to face our enemies. Our livesactually remain focus on the kingdom of God and the path we walk is the way ofJesus Christ. If until this moment we have this life in the midst of adifficult and bad situation while we continue to adapt ourselves to the newreality of life, this is the path that God has given us. He is actually with usand guides our lives. Let us pray. In thename of the Father ... O Lord, in your hands we put all our hopes and fates inlife. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit... In the nameof the Father ...