Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Wednesday of the 23rd week in ordinary time, September 9, 2026

Delivered by Rachel Dermawan Permadi and Madeline Meggie Kurniawan from Saint Peter's School Kelapa Gading, Jakarta Utara, in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. 1 Corinthians 7: 25-31; Rs psalm 45: 11-12.14-17; Luke 6: 20-26.THE WORLD OF A MORINGA LEAF The theme for our meditation today is: The World of aMoringa Leaf. This statement of thetheme is an allegory. The world is so big, which is seen from the four poles isbeing redesigned as big as a moringa leaf. We know that a moringa leaf is asbig as the surface of the fingers of our hands. Looking at the world as big asa moringa leaf, it is clear that this style of expression wants to reveal someparticular meanings in our behavior and our life in general. Based on the fact that people walk or move fast andtowards many directions, with the frequency of encounter between persons thatis so big in different context or situation, we somehow feel that this world isso small. For example, it was around 10 am, there were two or several peoplemeeting somewhere in the corner of the city, then at 12:00 they met again in anothercorner of the city in a different context of business. For them the world istoo small, it's like a moringa leaf. In another point of view, the world like a moringa leafis an expression to signify the type of human attitude that is humble andinsignificant in the face of the real world which is very large and speed inits development. There is a religious discipline that teaches and guidesbelievers to live simple, to live this life with self-denial towards thesplendor and riches of this world, and even a life that does not belong to thisworld. This spirituality teaches that the lifestyle offollowing Jesus Christ is to have a small world like a moringa leaf. Thisteaching guides the believers to be pleased with what is given by God, which isin accordance with the abilities of our human nature. This teaching isemphasized again by Saint Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians, as hesaid that they who believe are those who are “using the world as not using it fully, for the world in its presentform is passing away." God's power and grace are sufficient for us to liveour lives in this passing world. If we please with our fellow brothers and sistersaround us to be who they are and with what we have for our daily sustenance,all are according to the standard of the world, this is normally regarded aspoor and humble life. But Jesus strengthens our faith by saying that this styleof life is a happiness, and the kingdom of God is our real treasure. Thislifestyle seems to indicate there are hunger, sadness, suffering, distress orfeeling useless that we should endure, but the Lord Jesus emphasizes that thisway of life really brings us happiness both here on earth and after. So theworld as big as a moringa leaf is the path to happiness. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O merciful God, make us Your children whoare humble and full of generosity, so that we can be more open in sharing withothers. Our Father who art in heaven... In the name of the Father ...