Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Wednesday of the 20th week in ordinary time, August 19, 2026

Delivered by Dwi Setyo from the Parish of Our Lady of Assumption Mamajang in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Ezekiel 34: 1-11; Rs psalm 23: 1-6; Matthew 20: 1-16a.JEALOUSY AGAINST GENEROSITY Our meditation today has the theme: Jealousy AgainstGenerosity. What we mean by heart in this reflection is not something preciselyrelated to such part of human body which is inside the stomach. We use theheart here refers to the character of human nature that defines someone as agood person or not, as a person with moral quality or not. Both jealousy andgenerosity indicate the mental situation in a person, which motivates him toact as a jealous or a generous person. The jealous person is like a mother or a wife whodoesn't like to see her neighbour housewife who has a more handsome and capablehusband. She has such hatred attitude because her own husband is not handsomeand capable. The story would be different, if she could engage in a goodrelationship with her neighbours around, and in friendship she welcomed ormingled with them, then for sure she would certainly accept that fellowhousewife as a good friend of her. Despite the fact that her neighbour'shusband is more capable and handsome, she was not dominated by negativethoughts and feelings. Their relationship as good friends could free her fromthe negative self-image. Therefore, this mother really had a generous or kindheart. Jealousy is always the opposite of generosity. Thisopposition can only stop when one of them is terminated. If it turns out thatgenerosity is missing, the life in this world is fully dark, just like theSatan's kingdom which is full of evil and sins. On the other hand, if it turnsout that jealousy does not exist, the life of this world is full with light,just like a bright light in Jesus’ teaching about the Beatitudes. Jesus says:Blessed are those who are pure of heart and blessed are those who always dogood, and so on. As disciples of Jesus, avoiding to be jealous personsis our obligation. We are not encouraged by our faith observance to increasejealousy and to decline in generosity. Jesus' parable of the hired men who wereso jealous of God's generosity, intends to teach us not to be jealous likethem. The virtue of generosity that we manifest through words, actions orsymbols really needs to be respected and preserved as our sacred act. Becausewhen we practice it in truth and with faithfulness, we actually become as generousas the Lord Himself who commands us to follow His example. Our Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary, as our generoushelper, is a sign of God's generosity. Our Lady always prays for and protectsus because she is so generous to us, so that we will be freed from the threatsof enemy who will endanger our lives. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O Lord and our God, protect and deliver usfrom all threats of the enemy who wants to separate us from Your Kingdom .Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name ofthe Father ...