Readings and meditation on the Word of God on the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 6, 2026

Delivered by Oscar Hadisandjaja, Gracia Meirissa, Antonius Fitrianto, and Bernadetta Lembayung Hapsari from Saint Peter's School Kelapa Gading, Jakarta Utara, in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. Ezekiel 33: 7-9; Rs psalm 95: 1-2.6-7.8-9; Romans 13: 8-10; Matius 18: 15-20.ONE IN LOVE The theme for our meditation today is: One in Love. Ina family room, gathered all the family members: they were father, mother andtheir three teenage children. There were also two cousins ​​who joined them.They had a play which is commonly known as to deliver the correct message,which is received by guessing the gesture being played by the one has firstreceived the message. The message started from the father of the family whoreceived a written message from someone about an event or an animal. Hedelivered that message by showing his gestures to his wife and the other familymembers—who were standing with their backs to the person delivering themessage—followed suit one by one. We can imagine how complicated and difficultit is to receive a message and deliver it correctly and properly. According to one of the children, it is normal to havedifficulty in receiving messages and passing them to others. There are alwaysdifferences of opinion and misunderstanding that happen among us in the family,community, church and society. However, it is true to say that God neverdisagrees with us and creates conflict with us. He surely enlightens and guidesus with His words, but on our side, we normally have limited understanding thatcauses disagreement and conflict among us. The owner of the Word is only one, namely the God. TheWord conceives one main teaching, namely the law of love, which is the subjectfor all other teachings, rules, exhortations and reflections. Saint Paul, whowas inspired by the teaching of Jesus Christ, says that all the teachings aboutgoodness and truth of God are summed up in the main law, which is love forothers as we love ourselves. One of the main functions of love is to unite. Thosewho act in the name of love through sacrifices and hard works but do not buildunity, do not love in its true sense. An act of love is prohibited fromdestroying the existing differences by dividing and creating conflict. Everyact of love really values and respects the differences and encourage thebuilding up of unity and togetherness between us. Our readings today encourage us to overcome our faultsand shortcomings with the power of love, not with curses or punishments. Wemust be able to create closeness towards one another, especially among thosewho involve in dispute or conflict, so that they can find way to communicatebetween them over the problems that they together face. They need to promote anapproach which we call a brotherly correction that prioritizes mutual respect foreach party. This brotherly correction should not cause hurt, division andprolong conflict, but to bring peace, joy and healing. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O good Father, may this Sunday celebrationsanctify us with Your blessings and love. May we grow in this love to fosterunity among us your beloved children. Our Father who art in heaven ... In thename of the Father ...