Readings and meditation on the Word of God on the 20th Sunday in ordinary time, August 17, 2025, Solemnity of the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia

Delivered by Tanti and Jhony from the Parish of Mother Teresa Cikarang in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, and Father Peter, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Sirach 10: 1-8; Rs psalm 101: 1a.2ac.3a.6-7; 1 Peter 2: 13-17; Matthew 22: 15-21. HONEST CITIZENS AND GOOD CHRISTIANS The title for our meditation on thisIndependence Day of the Republic of Indonesia is: Honest Citizens and GoodChristians. Every time the anniversary of the Independence Day of the Republicof Indonesia comes, a double feeling of happiness rises. The sense of being anindependent nation is strong. And, the celebration of independence is expressednationwide in the form of flag ceremonies and celebration of faith with solemnliturgy. So there are celebrations as a nation and also as Christians faithful. For us in the Catholic Church, life inthis One State of the Republic of Indonesia is a very important blessing. Wehave a fundamental value in the Catholic Church, that every follower of Christmust live a life in this world being an honest citizen and a good Catholic.This corresponds with the meaning of the anniversary of the Republic ofIndonesia, which every year leads us to this celebration as citizens of thisnation and as members of the Catholic Church who celebrate it in its specificliturgy. We can put these symbolic rituals inline with today's Gospel which also uses the symbolization of citizens'obligations in their lives. "Give to the Caesar what belongs to Caesar andgive to God what belongs to God." This might give the impression that weintend a sharp distinction, but what we mean really is that the Lord wants tolead us to where we are heading for, specially we as a nation. The meaning of our being a nation isvery fundamental for Indonesia, especially regarding our national identity.Indeed, the existence as an Indonesian country cannot become a reality if thereis no Pancasila (the five principles), the 1945 Constitution, the One State ofthe Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and the motto of Unity in Diversity. We arecreated and determined as one Indonesian nation with these precious gifts ofthese four strong pillars. In order that these four pillars are able to guideus as a nation, our government must be firm, strong and truthfull in itscharacter as Indonesian civilized people to govern and to lead all Indonesiansto the achieved goals. The meaning of our being independentas a nation is clearly a design of God in giving us freedom as children of God.Every member of the Catholic Church experiences a life that has been set freeby the Lord Jesus Christ. Every Christian lives in the light of the Holy Spiritsent by the risen Lord. So this life in the nation like that of Indonesia, isas a person who experiences the resurrection of the Lord. A person who lives inthe spirit of resurrection is the one who walks with his feet on the ground andlooks forward at the salvation where he will live with God in the heavenlykingdom. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O Lord, may we always walk in this life in the freedom as Yourbeloved children. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ...In the name of the Father ...