Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Tuesday of the seventh week of Easter, May 19th, 2026

Delivered by Samuel Ivan Gunarta from the Parish of Mary of All the Nations in the Diocese of Bogor, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 20: 17-27; Rs psalm 68: 10-11.20-21; John 17: 1-11a.EMBRACING THEGLORY OF GOD The theme forour meditation today is: Embracing the Glory of God. There was a young man whosaid that he maintained a relationship with his girlfriend through LDR (longdistance relationship). Her girlfriend lived in her home close to the church,so she often shared photos of praying rosary in basic ecclesial community,church services and Holy Mass celebrations. This was different from the youngman who lived in a remote area far from the church. The visit of the ParishPriest to the village was almost impossible. The spiritual life of the peoplethere was very dry.  Whenever he gotpictures of his girlfriend's spiritual activities, he would pick up the crucifixof the Lord Jesus and draw close to his body or hug it. He often also held therosary tightly and kissed it. He made the crucifix of the Lord Jesus a sign ofrelationship and closeness to God. For him it was an expression of embracingthe glory of God. If we embracethe cross, we embrace the glory of God. Saint Paul experienced how thesuffering of the cross became his daily food. The Holy Spirit helps him and allof us to be able to embrace and bear the cross in our lives. There are peoplewho are ready for it like Saint Paul, but there are many who are not ready. So,the Lord Jesus prayed for those who were not ready for their crosses, so thatthey would not have to worry or be afraid. He always helps them to take up theircrosses. Jesus' prayer isrealized through the Holy Spirit who helps us to carry our own crosses. TheHoly Spirit helps us to love the cross, embrace it, and bear it. We must holdfirst before carrying it. That means we are willing and confident to accept it.If we hold or hug something or someone, we love it, and we are careful not tofall to the ground. We love the cross we carry and keep it from falling ormoving to someone else. The cross is ourvictory and glory. Through the cross comes the conquest of sin and salvation isachieved as righteousness for us. What does embracing God's glory mean? First,because Jesus Himself reveals that glory to us, especially when He prays for us.Second, Jesus offered an infinite abundance of life and this illustrates aglory of God. The glory of God means the abundance of His mercy and goodness. Third, we thusknow God personally. A person can be known personally and deeply through thesuffering of his life. We know the Lord Jesus personally and deeply through Hissuffering and cross. Fourth, we also experience the glory of God throughservice to those who suffer. The cross signifies Jesus Christ being united withsinful and suffering people. So we embrace the glory of God basically meansthat we experience God very clearly in our lives. Let us pray. In thename of the Father... O good God, help us to always put Your glory first in allour efforts and duties. Hail Mary, full of grace... In the name of the Father...