Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Tuesday of the 23rd week in ordinary time, September 9, 2025

Delivered by Vivian from the Parish of Saint Thomas the apostle in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. Colossians 2: 6-15; Rs psalm 145: 1-2.8-9.10-11; Luke 6: 12-19.THEY ARE TWELVE Our meditation today is entitled: TheyAre Twelve. "The next day, when it was noon, He called His disciples andchose from among them the twelve whom He called the apostles." This is thesentence of the gospel of today. Jesus chose the twelve who had passed theselection criteria for three years living together with Him. This is differentfrom the selection to the public offices that need professionalism andspecialization. The selection of the twelve apostles is based only on Jesus'own standards. One criterion is to choose people whoare very simple. The stasdards are very simple such as fishermen, sinners, taxcollectors, manual workers, servants in the community. They are not educatedpeople and have no social influence. Jesus chose and made them the closestpartners in His work, not because of who they are, but to become what and wholater on according to His guidance and power. This is really a very subjectivestandar, but at the same time very appropriate in all aspects of propriety andtruth. There was no protest from anyone regarding this selection. Interpretation of number 12 gives usan important meaning. They represent the twelve tribes of Israel. They are thepeople of Israel who were the first intention for Jesus to be sent by theFather. In the real sense, we all followers of Christ are these chosen people.Therefore the 12 apostles are all of us members of the Church, marked bybaptism by the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. We also experience lifeand work with Jesus, then are chosen and given the responsibility to form acommunity of faith, or the Church. We are chosen to be brothers and sisters inChrist. Being those who belong to Christ, saidSaint Paul in the first reading, says that we should continue to live unitedwith Him. Our lives are rooted in Him and built on Him. We should be able toprevent our community of believers from other empty and false teachings comingfrom the spirits of this world. We are personally called faithful Christians,but it is far more convincing if we are actively building our community, one ofwhich is to counteract the falsehoods of the teachings of this world. It is true that we are called to go tochurch together, pray together, work together, but it is far better andstronger that we are called to the fellowship of the Holy Trinity, becoming onelike Jesus with the Father as one. This is our only point that we always holdon, in understanding that we are twelve, united in God. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... Almighty Father, we ask You to open all possibilities for us to livethe promises of strengthening our community in the Church towards its fullness.Glory to the Father ... In the name of the Father ...