Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Thursday of the third week of Lent, March 12, 2026

Delivered by Vivian from the Parish of Saint Thomas the Apostle in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. Jeremiah 7: 23-28; Rs psalm 95: 1-2.6-7.8-9; Luke 11: 14-23. GOD SETS THE LIMITS Our meditation today is entitled: God Sets the Limits. “Does God havelimits?” asked a high school boy to his parish priest. The Pastor replied as hesaid, “Yes, God set certain limits, from the moment of the first human beings,that we basically have freedom but we must be also responsible for the trustGod has given us. "Then why is God also said to be forever"?continued the teenager. The priest came closer to him and explained to him morepassionately. “For God Himself, there is no limit in His will, His mercy, and Hisexistence. God is eternal and He is not bound by place and time. However, whenGod teaches and commands human beings, He sets the limits. So, we have a numberof limits or boundaries expressed in His commandments such as: “Do not lie, donot steal, do not commit fornication, do not be lazy, and so on.” After he understood the Pastor's explanation and returned home, hebegan to write down a number of God's commandments that he must follow in hisdaily life. He realized that he often forgot about his main tasks, then he setlimits on his many desires, namely playing on the cellphone one hour in theafternoon and another hour in the evening. He rather spent more of his times todo what his parents asked him to do and to review lessons or doing some home works. In this period of Lenten observance, the teenager has several lists oflimits that control him in his conducts. He strictly follows the direction andadvice of the Parish Priest and his parents. In general, for us the followersof Christ and members of the Church, the Lord God sets certain principalboundaries for us to follow and obey. These should be applied to all people,every place and all ages. Today, from the inspiration of our readings, we as persons andcommunity who believe in Christ and constitute the one and holy Church, confirmour commitment of faith. We belong to Jesus and not to Satan. We are part ofJesus and not Beelzebul. Our identity as Christians, namely people of JesusChrist and of God is our common boundary that we should maintain and guard. There are two important reminders for us today, namely we should keepwell this boundary, to be a community of people who always listen to God.Stubbornness and selfishness in choosing one’s own path, is absolutely againstthis identity. Furthermore, we maintain this by remaining forever with JesusChrist, because He says that those who live outside of Him are against Him. Let'spray. In the name of the Father... O Lord Jesus, thank you for the grace ofunity that always keep us together as Your people. Glory to the Father and tothe Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father ...