Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Tuesday of the eleventh week in ordinary time, June 16, 2026

Delivered by Vici from the Parish of Saint John the Baptist in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. 1 Kings 21: 17-29; Rs psalm 51: 3-4.5-6a.11.16; Matthew 5: 43-48.ONE WORD FOR GOD Our meditation today has the theme: One Word for God.There is a young couple, who have been in a love relationship for three years,planning for their marriage. However, there was a complicated problem theyneeded to face. They should follow a matrimony celebration according to one ofthe religious rituals, since each embraces different religion. The young womanwho is a Catholic really wanted the wedding to be celebrated in the Catholicway, but she did not want to oblige this to her future non-Catholic husband. All other preparations have been done so well. Theyonly had that problem of the religious ritual which has not found a sign ofsolution. They both and also each family were just waiting for what God reallywanted to give them a way out. Then finally came what God really wanted. Theyoung man with courage and sincerity told his future wife, his own family andhis fiancé's family, that he wanted their weeding celebration tobe in the Catholic way. The young woman wanted to know why he was so sure ofhis decision, and with confidence he answered her, as he said: "God hasgiven us so much and so good. We just need to follow Him by giving like what Hedoes." In short, he wanted to make things smooth, and as far as possiblethey should avoid make things more complicated. The young man based his conviction on God himself. Onekey word for God is giving. The nature of God is to give and God's fundamentalaction is all the same, namely to give. We deserve to have the same convictionas that of the young man, that God has done everything and made everythingpossible so that we can live and be allowed to fill our lives with growth. Somefill it with services, others fill it with works, others do it well and buildfellowship together in this world. Our  today'sholy readings teach us about a form of giving which is always a big challengefor us to do. To give something good, either spiritual or material, to peoplewho are hostile and have done us wrong is our common difficulty. This is a kindof an extraordinary act of giving. The Lord Jesus Christ had done this, and Hewants us to do the same. Jesus says that those who do evil or those who areagainst us deserve to be loved, namely we give them what is precious from usthat is to pray for them. Everyone of us realizes that there are people who donot like us. They have their own reasons being hostile to us. And we know howseriously or not seriously they are against us. They may not realize theirright to be prayed for, but from our parts, we must realize our obligation topray for them. This is one of the important acts of giving taught by the LordJesus. Let'spray. In the name of the Father … O Father of Mercy, may we always beresponsible praying for those who are hostile and who are against us. Glory tothe Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father...