Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Thursday of the 16th week in ordinary time, July 24, 2025

Delivered by Kezia Nikita from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Exodus 19: 1-2.9-11.16-20b; Rs psalm Dan 3: 52.53.54.56; Matthew 13: 10-17.WAY TO UNDERSTAND HIM Our meditation todayis entitled: Way To Understand Him. There were three girls who fell in lovewith a young man who was of their age. Each girl always tried to win the heartof the young man with her best way of appearance. Sometimes they competed unfairlyin the manner that one tended to highlight the weaknesses of her other friends.Sometimes they competed in a healthy and positive way in order to show the realpersonality of each. The young man alsohad his own way to a appear nicely to each girl who was so fond of him. As timewent on, each of them became bored and tired. The three girls were confusedabout who really deserved to be the best and chosen, because it was not possiblefor all three of them to be chosen. The three of them agreed to discuss aboutthis. They finally concluded that the young man would definitely have his ownway to understand them and to choose only one whom he loved. This illustrationshows how love is expressed. A self-expression certainly has a peculiar qualityto make other people have their impressions on it. A good impression wouldnormally develop the feeling of attraction. A guitarist appears so talented,then those who have passion for music would be attracted to him. A person'sself-expression aims to make other people understand about him and theynormally support him. If this is a kind ofhuman attrativeness that deserves appreciation by all of us, it should be allthe more the attractiveness of God's love that always move our hearts to be inlove with Him and to love our fellow brothers and sisters as well. The Lord firstrevealed Himself to us humans. The quality and power of the expressions of Hislove are beyond the one of ours, simply because God incarnates in us. Throughincarnation He purifies, empowers and perfects our lives in the world. Hereveals Himself in order to sanctify the world and all of us. To the Israelites,God had revealed Himself as the Lord who was so kind and merciful to them fortheir obedience and faithfulness. But He also became the Lord who had punishedthis people because of their ungratefulness and sinfulness. Jesus also made Hislisteners to understand Him through His various ways of preaching or teaching.He uses parables, so that His listeners understand that He is so concernedabout those who are humble, suffering, alienated and persecuted. He also opensthe mind of those who are great, powerful, rich, proud, and smart but they arenot willing to accept and understand Him. So we have a duty tobe always ready to understand the Lord who reveals Himself through His wordsand deeds that help our faith grow. But we also have the same important task tomake our neighbors understand us for the witnesses of our faith. This is alsothe way we serve others. Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O Lord Jesus Christ, help us to always have good understanding about Youand our neighbors. Our Father who artin heaven ... In the name of the Father ...