Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Tuesday of the 7th week of Easter, June 3, 2025, Memorial of Saints Charles Lwanga and companions, Martyrs

Delivered by Ria from the Parish of Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 20: 17-27; Rs psalm 68: 10-11.20-21; John 17: 1-11a.EMBRACE THE GLORY OF GOD The title for our meditation today is:Embrace The Glory Of God. Jesus has explained so much about the Holy Spirit whoteaches us everything about Him, including about the cross and suffering. If weas His followers love and accept the cross that the Lord has given us, we mustbe so loved and blessed by the Holy Spirit. For example, the Apostle Paul saidthat suffering and the cross had become his daily food. The Holy Spiritstrengthened and comforted him to accept it with pleasure, and he enjoyed it tothe end. To endure to the end with this cross, Jesus makes it the greatestchallenge for His followers. There are people who are ready for it like Paul,but there are more not yet or even not ready. So He prays for them so that theydo not need to worry about all kinds of suffering and the cross. Blessed are wefor the Lord Jesus Christ prays for us! His prayer for us and His promise ofthe Holy Spirit that helps us to carry our crosses, aim to make us always likethe cross, embrace it, and carry it. Before carrying the cross, we must embracefirst. That means we want, we like and we accept it. If we embrace something orsomeone, that means we love, also we are careful to keep it from falling. Wetry to make sure that the cross does not fall from us and can even move toanother person. This means we embrace the glory ofGod. The cross signifies victory and glory for us, which is achieved byovercoming error and sin. What does embracing God's glory mean? First, becauseJesus Himself reveals that glory to us, especially when He prays for us.Second, Jesus offers an abundance of blessings without limit and this describesreally the glory of God. The glory of the Lord refers to His abundant mercy andkindness. Third, by embracing the glory of Godthrough His cross, we are certain to know God personally. In principle, if wecan get to know someone about his situation that is most difficult, then wecome to know him deeply and personally. With the cross of Jesus, we can knowmany people who are suffering around us because of the various problems.Fourth, the glory of our Lord is also experienced through the fellowship oflove that endures to the end, precisely when love is expressed in serving thosewho suffer. The cross signifies the unity of Jesus Christ with the sinful andsuffering human beings. Let us prepare ourselves for the Solemnity of thePentecost by embracing the glory of God.Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O Good and loving God, help us to always choose for Your glory inall our efforts and duties. May we faithfully carry our crosses in all times.Hail Mary full of grace ... In the name of the Father ...