Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Tuesday of the first week of Lent, February 24th, 2026

Delivered by Ria from the Parish of Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Isaiah 55: 10-11; Rs psalm 34: 4-5.6-7.16-17.18-19; Matthew 6: 7-15.ABUNDANT FRUITS FROMTHE WORD OF GOD  The title for ourmeditation today is: Abundant Fruits from the Word of God. God's work to savemankind from sins culminates in the presence of the Son of God becoming man in Jesus Christ. This divine work is a majortheme to be pondered in the heart of every believer, and especially to be moreeffective during Lent. This is to strengthenour faith in the events of Jesus Christ that we celebrate during the Holy Week.We who celebrate Easter, preparing ourselves during Lent, experience aprivilege closeness with the Lord by participating in the events of Christ.Jesus always emphasizes the principle of self-sacrifice that is to do the willof the Father to be realized in this world. That sacrifice signifies how eachof us is not just His people or His followers, but also His own brothers andsisters. He himself says that the greatest love is menifested in the sacrificeof oneself for the goodness and salvation of his or her brothers and sisters. We as children of Godthrough the sacrament of baptism that raises us to become His beloved sons anddaughters, have a special dignity of one brotherhood with Jesus Christ. Withhim, we call God in heaven as our common and beloved Father. All followers ofChrist affirm and embrace their brotherhood with Jesus, their dignity as sonsand daughters of God, and their personal and filial relationship with God asthe Father. The expression of this intimate relationship is manifested in theprayer of "Our Father". In Lent, of course wepray "Our Father" with the best quality of faith, as one form ofdiscipline in our Christian piety. This prayer confirms our brotherhood withChrist, and together with Him we greet God as "our Father". We saythis prayer many times every day because we want to strengthen our fidelity tothe One Father in heaven, who endows His gifts upon each one of us that make usremain close to Him. This happens in this way because of our communion withJesus Christ. The abundance offruits in us remain certain through the gift of God's word which is present toenlighten, strengthen, and renew the life of every believer. Jesus is no longerpresent in His body, but in His word. Through that word, each of us grows and bearsfruit, especially in the form of prayers that unite us with our Father inheaven. Prayer reveals what we do in fasting, such as forgiving and refrainingfrom falling into temptation. Through prayer we also express the intention todo good for our neighbors.Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O Father of mercy, send your Spirit to help us and to accompany us to praylike Jesus Christ. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit... In the name of the Father ...