Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Tuesday of the third week in ordinary time, January 27th, 2026

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. 2 Samuel 6: 12b-15.17-19; Rs psalm 24: 7.8.9.10; Mark 3: 31-35.REJOICE, GODEXISTS!  Our meditation today is entitled: Rejoice, God Exists!Believers believe that God exists. God also works to protect, nurture and savemankind. The evidence that God exists and is always working for us isundoubted, namely in the scriptures with all their narratives and explanations.Believers need to always read and meditate on the scriptures so that they canhave more faith that God exists and continues to work. Apart from reading and hearing God's words, there aremany other ways used by believers to acknowledge that God exists. One of themis to live in joy. Although we are not free from sins and sufferings of life,joy is always a strength that we desperately need. On this day we are taught tostrengthen our joy and grow in the spirit of joy and happiness. Why?  Because joy in us often passes away quickly, flieswith the wind, lost in the seasons. When work and busyness pile up, joy islost. When we have illness and find difficulties, joy goes away. When competinghelplessly in the pursuit of sustenance, achievements, and propectful progress,joy seems difficult to present. When failure comes, joy disappears somewhere.  David, when entering holy city with all the people, herejoiced in carrying the ark of God to be put in its proper place. The joyfulresponse of David and his people was certainly extraordinary. All the elements andsupports for the celebration were complete. Their joy was full. All rejoicedbecause God was with them. Jesus Christ assures us that He is with us. Heassures us that the words he is speaking enter into every one who hears them.And when it is implemented in one’s life, joy grows healthy and develops withinhim. The Word is the person of God Himself, as says theevangelist John. He comes in and dwells in us, then embraces and unites us allas brothers and sisters in the one Lord Jesus Christ. Here lies the great joybecause we are all united as one people. When there is separation, division andclaim of one group to be better and more privileged than another, joy loses itsmeaning and value. The holy Eucharist must be the most importantexperience that always strengthens our joy as believers. We receive the Wordthrough the reading and reflection of the scriptures, then we come to the HolyCommunion where the Word becomes flesh for our meal; this is where joy comes tous. Our joy becomes complete. So if you want to fill yourself with the joy fromthe Lord, come to the Eucharist. There is no other way. Let us pray. In the name of the Father... O most loving Father,may we be blessed with the fullness of joy in the celebration of the Eucharistin Your Church. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit... Inthe name of the Father ...