Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Thursday of the seventeenth week in ordinary time, July 31, 2025, Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

Delivered by Joanna from the Parish of Saint Gabriel in the Diocese of Bandung, Indonesia. Exodus 40: 16-21.34-38; Rs psalm 84: 3.4.5-6a.8a.11; Matius 13: 47-53.GOD DETERMINES THE END The title for our meditation today is:God Determines the End. We often have a reliance attitude when a problem weencounter shows only a little sign for solution. Reliance or being dependentmeans giving up and stop to speak or to do action. But an act of reliance isnot becoming despair then aggravated with disappointment and sadness. The onewho relies or depends his problem to another person still leaves space forhope, because he is aware that the solution will eventually come with the helpof supporting factors such as time, other people, luck, even God. The most common one is our surrenderand reliance to God. For example, a fight between two parties that never ends.Family, religious and civil laws have their roles to offer solutions but theyare unable to come up with the best solution. The one who feels unlucky alwaysdisagrees and continues provoking the fight. Because they are sure that therewill be no point to end it up, they just give up. The last hope is for God todecide and judge. The trial will be done later on when ecah of them dies. Each mustbe responsible for his life in front of God. This example illustrates how Goddetermines the end of our earthly journey or exactly the problems we face inthis world. Jesus gives us the appropriate parable for this, namely that in theend the judgement in heaven will decide who is right and who is wrong. God doesnot make big decisions and judgements when there is still time for people inthe world to resolve their problems. God is very patient and tolerant toprovide sufficient opportunities so that we who are already bad and sinful canturn out to be good before we finally die. This strategy is of course theopposite of the way people commonly want to win over the problems they encounter and the loser will be certainly forothers. This mentality simply believes that the joy of victory achieved or thesadness of losing is already final. We need to believe that even only a small partof problem that comes along our way, it is not perceived to be the end orfinal. Our judgement is of this world, while the highest and final one is ofGod. Therefore the decision of God is the end that is for salvation or eternalpunishment. Like Moses and the people of Israelwho were guided by the power of God during the time of wandering in the desert,we are also guided in our pilgrimage in this world until we finally reach thefinal judgment. We only have the choice to believe and accept the judgement,because fearing and even rejecting it means we reject God Himself. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O Lord Jesus Christ, Your teaching through this parable reallyreminds us to welcome the final judgement for each one of us. May we alwayslook forward to that moment with faith and optimism. Our Father who art inheaven ... In the name of the Father ...