Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Thursday of the fourteenth week in ordinary time, July 10, 2025

Delivered by Josephine Mercy Ho from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Genesis 44: 18-21.23b-29; 45: 1-5; Rs psalm 105: 16-17.18-19.20-21; Matthew 10: 7-15.GRATIS Our meditation today is entitled:Gratis. A promotional board that stands in front of a restaurant states:"Welcome! Here you get gratis for some and not gratis for others." Agrandfather and his wife wanted to eat at the restaurant. The restaurant ownerwarmly welcomed them. They talked much about various topics before the food wasserved to them. Before eating, grandma told the waitress that they wanted toget a free offer of the restaurant. After eating, a payment note waspresented to that elderly couple. Of course it surprised them, because from thestart they had wanted the gratis offer of the restaurant. "Because it iswritten ‘Here you get gratis for some’ and so we choose the free one".Then they got an explaination that said the food and drinks consumed must bepaid. While the free ones are moments of friendship, encounters, greetings,sharings, conversations and exchange of ideas that they had done. Despite theprotests, the rule is always clear: food and drinks must be paid. Free offering or gratis is a form ofgenerosity. A free attention or gift is done on the basis of freedom, joy, andlove, so that both the giver and the person given experience a pleasant andcomplementary relationship. Today, the word of God speaks about free gifts inthe form of grace and divine mercy from God to the apostles sent to proclaimthe good news of God's Kingdom. The Lord says that they receive these gifts forfree, so they also have to share them for free too. God does not give them money or foodthat has its prices. God complements everyone with His grace, mercy andblessings. All these we receive for free. For example in terms of hospitality,which is one type of gift that is naturally in us. We smile, greet friendly,invite and get acquainted, then give the impression that our interlocutors areat home while talking to us, all of which are part of our humanity and the giftof love from God. It often happens that when we share free spiritualgifts with others, the reward we receive indeed extraordianry. We will receiveattention and love from more people. In the name of God, all gifts like thisare priceless blessings. Loveis its basic and core, not properties or things, as Joseph did to his brotherswhen they came up to the moment of brotherly reconciliation among them asbrothers.Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O generous and kind Lord Jesus, bless us always, that we may always begenerous as you are. Glory  to the Fatherand to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father ...