Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Wednesday of the 17th week in ordinary time, July 29, 2026, Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus

Delivered by Leon from the Leon Satyawan from the Parish of Santa Helena in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. 1 John 4: 7-16; Rs psalm 34: 2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9.10-11; John 11: 19-27.OVERCOMING WORRY          Our meditation today has the theme: Overcoming Worry.There was a woman named Martha, married to a husband who was so patient,understanding and responsible. They were blessed with three children. Marthaonce shared her personal experience, that in their first years as a family, hervery kind husband really helped her to overcome her innate attitude which wasworry. She worried about many things that made her so reluctant to relate withother people. But as time passed, that worry was finally overcome. Today as Martha reminisces that past experience, shesees herself not only a person who was tormented by her own worry, but shefinds out that the profile of Martha in the Gospel had the same problem ofworry. Every human being and all of us have worries. Martha in the Gospel ismentioned at least in two instances when she was reminded by Jesus Christ ofher too much worries of the things that she was not supposed to have. She hadworries on the what would lead her to a fragile faith. She was reprimanded byJesus when she was so busy with works at home to serve Jesus, while her sisterMary sat near Jesus to listen to Him. She was also reminded by Jesus when shewas not sure that her brother Lazarus must had risen from the dead only by havingfaith in God. The prophet Jeremiah also worried when in spite offeeling grateful for his birth from his mother, he so worried about his being aman of God but who was so powerless in the face of his enemies. He seemed toloose faith in God. All these worrying experiences we have just mentioned giveus enough understanding that human anxiety and worry has weaknesses thatmust be overcome. If it is not overcome, it will become fear which is moredetrimental than to be a blessing for us. The nature of worry must be overcome and we canreplace it with our initiative and creativity in bringing goodness to our lifetogether. Let us remind ourselves, that with just one worry to occupy our mindand attention, we would have missed one opportunity to do good. When it isovercome, we will have more confidence in God who is with us all the time andworking within us. With just one worry to occupy our lives, we would have goneone some distances away from God who is actually with us. Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus would remind us withthis conviction: although we often worry about people and things that affectour lives, one thing that cannot escape from our attention is our beingattentive to look and to listen to God who reminds, who greets and whoilluminates our lives. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O Lord Jesus Christ, we ask that our livesand works will always be in the service of Your mission on earth. Our Fatherwho art in heaven ... In the name of the Father ...