Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Tuesday of the 22nd week in ordinary time, September 1, 2026

Delivered by Afnita Laura Carolina from Saint Peter's School Kelapa Gading, Jakarta Utara, in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. 1 Corinthians 2: 10b-16; Rs psalm 145: 8-9.10-11.12-13ab.13cd-14; Luke 4: 31-37.SPIRITUAL PERSON The theme for our meditation today is: SpiritualPerson. There were several non-Catholic students who took part in a spiritualpilgrimage to a remote island in the east ​​Indonesia. There in that island,all the pilgrimage sites belong to the Catholic faith and devotion. Even thoughthose non-Catholic students felt themselves out of context, they were confidentand happy to join all the activities of the group. Of course, the non-Catholicsasked many questions about the Catholic faith, and this was just normal andnothing to be worried about. What made it difficult was too many questionsraised, then the Catholics would find it difficult to answer all the questions. Finally, rather than having uncomfortable feelingsbetween them and dissatisfaction for the many unanswered questions, anon-Catholic young student spoke up as he said the following: "We areaware that as human beings who lack some spiritual qualities, we recognize thatour perspective about the Catholic faith is very limited". With thishumble self-acknowledgment, the anxiety and feeling discomfort graduallydiminished and the non-Catholics were able to follow the entire pilgrimageactivities in peace and joyful participation. Honestly speaking, we need to admit that when we arebusy with all our works and undertakings from morning to night, there are somany happenings and situations that make us distracted. This world pushes us tomake, to do, to think, and to feel according to its will. This should remind usof the importance of the opportunity for mental examination and awareness thatcan help us to reflect upon all those happenings. At least, before going tosleep, we take an opportunity to reflect on the day past. Perhaps it revealsthat we are less spiritual of that day than to our business in the world. If the Catholics are required to attend Holy Massesevery Sunday, it has a point to be relied upon. They should free themselvesfrom merely having an obligation or being motivated by other hidden or untruemotivations. The real motivation is certainly the resolution to always renewthemselves, so that the spiritual person maybe created in every one of them whowill receive Christ, and eventually live with Christ. This is what we mean bythe spiritual person that today Saint Paul emphasizes in the first reading ofour liturgy, the first letter to the Corinthians (2,10b-16). Every follower of Christ should aspire to become aspiritual person with Jesus who lives in him or her. Through sufficientspiritual richness, we can do great things like Jesus Christ, among otherthings, to drive out evil spirits that always threaten our lives. The spiritualpersons with adequate spiritual qualities have their fragrance and light that attractothers to come to them, then they together strive for the development in theirspiritual lives. Although the evil spirits who might show-off in whatevermanner, they already notice right away that the quality of spiritual persons isfar superior and powerful than their evil forces.Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O God, strengthen our faith so that we canfight against all the evil forces around us. Hail Mary, full of grace ... Inthe name of the Father ...