Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Thursday of the fourth week of Easter, April 30th, 2026

Delivered by Novi and Kenan from the Parish of Saint Peter in the Diocese of Bandung, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 13: 13-25; Rs psalm 89: 2-3.21-22.25.27; John 13: 16-20.THE GOOD SHEPHERD ENLIGHTENS UNDERSTANDING Our meditation today has the theme: The Good ShepherdEnlightens Understanding. Jesus Christ our Shepherd illuminates the world andour hearts with His word. If the word only reaches our ears and stops there,the work of evangelization is still just halfway. From listening, our nextability should be that of understanding. God makes us able to understand Him inthe words that we read and meditate daily. From the moment of baptism, we have been filled withthe Holy Spirit and through the Sacrament of Confirmation we are anointed withthe fullness of His gifts. One of them is the gift of understanding. In today'sGospel the Lord Jesus, the good Shepherd, teaches us that by understanding Histeaching we are blessed. He pleases with those who not only listen, but alsounderstand. Because through a proper understanding, a human attitude is madeand from there follows one’s behavior or action. This does not mean that there is no understanding inevery human person, group of people or culture. But we often have problem inthis matter.  The fact is that humanunderstanding is not perfect. There is always different understanding from oneperson to another in seeing and understanding something or someone. We normallyneed discussion or debate to find a common understanding that is accepted byall. With regards to the teaching of faith, lack of understanding on the wholeor part of it and misinterpretations over its truth often bring us trouble,even to point of conflict or violence among the persons who have faith in thesame God. This is truly the experience of Saint Paul. Heexperienced how Jesus renewed his way of life and gave new understanding on thefollowing of Christ. Now it was Paul's turn to enlighten the minds andunderstandings of people who didn't know anything about Jesus Christ. We oftenexperience how easy to make someone from not knowing anything to know somethingnew about an understanding that we teach or transmit. But it will be so hardand impossible to teach new understanding to those who already have their own standof belief. Saint Paul had all these kinds of experience. Our understanding of Jesus Christ and the Christianfaith must be the foundation for our journey of faith from baptism until ourdeath. But there is a further duty to do, about the renewal and enrichment ofour understanding of Jesus Christ and His teachings. Maybe this idea is verysimple, but who knows it can be very useful. Students must read one textbookten times that when they do the exam, they will find it easy and enjoyable. Butwhen they read ten textbooks only once, surely, they will find it hard in theexam. It is the same for us as we do with Jesus Christ and His teachings. Let us teach each other to develop our understandingof faith. For those who have better understanding, teach those who haven't.Those who have poor understanding, ask for in those who have more. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... Almighty God, we give You thanks andpraises for Your Son Jesus Christ is our true and good Shepherd. Make us tobecome also good shepherds like Him. Hail Mary, full of grace ... In the nameof the Father ...