Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Saturday of the first week of Lent, March 15, 2025

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Deuteronomy 26: 16-19; Rs psalm 119: 1-2.4-5.7-8; Matthew 5: 43-48HOLY PEOPLE The theme for our meditation today is: Holy People. InSunday school, the teacher asked the children in this way: "What is thepurpose of God to help and care for His people?" The children's answerswere varied. Some said that the goal is to save more people. Others said thatpeople should be happy and happier. And others said that God should show thatHis love is great. The teacher who was also the catechist of the localparish ultimately concluded that all the answers were correct. The basis forthis teaching certainly because God wants goodness and truth to be on the humanside. For God's own part, there is no longer a need to make Him better and morerighteous. On the contrary, God wants us mortal humans to become better andmore righteous. According to the Gospel of Matthew today, the Lord Jesus wantsus to be a holy people, or to be perfect like the heavenly Father who is everperfect in eternity. In fact, God helps and cares for us from birth untilwe leave this world at the time of death, the purpose is for us to become holy.He entrusts us to live temporarily in this world. While in this world, each ofus with our own age limit, walks and live together under His holy light. Thisexplanation is manifested in various types. The word of God is a sacred Word. We experience theexpression of God's Word through preaching, spiritual reading, spiritual adviceor guidance, sharing the message of the scriptures, and worship. The servicesof the Church both in sacramental and non-sacramental forms and works of loveare also noble and holy deeds. The Church as the body and Jesus Christ as herHead are holy. The callings such as consecrated life, priesthood and marriageare sacred. The holy names that are attached to each of us are holy. In short,God has provided all the holy ways, means, and works to help us become holyjust as He is. The ordination of believers to be one holy people hasbeen done by the Lord God since the time of Moses, because the elect must beset aside so that His great promise of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ,to be realized. The book of Deuteronomy confirms this, to remind us of our dignityas God's holy people, through our Mother Church. However, God's holy people asan institution does not automatically guarantee that every individual member isholy. For everyone has sin, and the Church always provides an instrument forthe remission of everyone's sins. In this Lenten season, let us make use ofthat instrument.Let us pray. In the name of the Father... O Lord, may weremain diligent and faithful in living our respective sacred callings. OurFather who art in heaven ... In the name of the Father...