Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Wednesday of the fourth week of Easter, April 19th, 2026, Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church.

Delivered by Johanna from the Parish of Saint Thomas the Apostle in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 12: 24 - 13: 5a; Rs psalm 67: 2-3.5.6.8; John 12: 44-50. ALL NATIONS PRAISE THE LORD Our meditation today has the theme: All Nations Praise the Lord. This sentence istaken from the responsorial psalm of today’s liturgy. Yesterday we reflectedupon the reality of the presence of Catholics in all corners of the earth andhow we feel connected to each other as one flock, as followers of Jesus Christ. One way to express thisunity and connectedness among us believers is that we admit the truth that all nations of the worldpraise the same God. In the first reading, Acts of the Apostles say that word of God continuesto spread and increasingly grows inthe life of the Church. Messages, words, information of the Gospel reach theears and hearts of people faster than any high-speed machines even of the most recent technology. Even with the widespread use of today’s media information and communication, thefastest reaching out of God's word to each individual's heart is undeniable. Asan outcome, not only more people are addedto the flock, but they also rely themselves daily on the Word of God. This isone of the important reasons for all nations to praise God. The fact reveals that truth about word of God reaching out to the hearts of all nations of the world, is not only the act of God. It very muchdependson the messengers, missionaries and workers of the Lord'svineyard who tirelessly preach the Gospel. The early church indicated this reality to us, for example by sending Barnabas and Paul to a greatermission expanding beyond the boundaries of their territory. We are grateful forthe initiative of the early Church, of course thanks to the works of the Holy Spirit,to the zeal and sacrifices offered for mission and evangelization of people. The workers of the Lord's vineyard today are not onlypriests, religious men and women, whohave been recorded so well in the history of the Church. At present, we know well that there are many membersof the Church, lay persons, who are truly committed to be missionaries in everyplace of they are and work. Their testimonies are truly trustworthy anddown-to-earth because they come into direct contact with real-life situationand other people, who are interacting with them in all times. This is alsoanother important reason for all nations to praise the almighty God. Jesus Himself says that light does exist in the world.BecauseHe himself is the light, hence, darkness disappears. How can His followersnot perceive and enjoy that light, then?They should be the ones who first experience the light, then become the lightitself, and eventually enlighten this world. The most concrete form of the presence of light in our midst is the Word of the Lord, that Jesus Christ has it in the communionwith the Father in heaven. Thus,as we persevere in listening to the Word of God and live it out properly in our daily lives, we basically are the lights for this world. This is also anotherimportant reason for all of us to praise the Almighty God. Letus pray. In the name of the Father ... O Jesus Christ, help us to always be the light of thisworld through living out Your Word, after listening and pondering it. May we always come topraise God in all our lives. Our Father who art in heaven ... In the name ofthe Father …