Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Tuesday of the 4th week in ordinary time, February 1, 2022

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Community Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. 2 Samuel 18: 9-10.14b.24-25a.30 - 19: 3; Rs psalm 86: 1-2.3-4.5-6; Mark 5: 21-43 GO ON AND KEEP THE SPIRIT The theme for our meditation today is: Go on and Keep the Spirit. Similar expression to the phrase of this theme is: the game must go on. The Italians call it "sempre avanti". We realize that demons do not stop or are not tired tempting us. Likewise we understand that difficulties and suffering will be always part of our lives. We remember the temptation of Jesus three times when He fasted for 40 days in the desert. It is said that when Jesus drove Satan away with the command: "You Satan, go away!", the tempter did leave, but he was still waiting for another appropriate time to fulfill the mission of tempting and defeating Jesus. Today our readings seem to give the impression that the demons are taking a break. They stayed away from Jesus for a moment and this would be a good chance for Jesus to attend to the sick and providing them healing which they mostly needed. Maybe Satan was feeling pity toward the sick people too, for it would bring more sufferings to them because Jesus was disturbed while doing his regular works. Or maybe true that they respected Jesus and His works. David who was being opposed by those close to him was also free from the threat for his death. His son Absalom who threatened him was found dead. In his palace David was sad and wept for his son. But he must continue his duty to lead the kingdom because it was a mandate from God. Sadness is natural and continually coming, but it cannot remain forever. We have to go on and being always motivated. The main task, mandate, mission, and responsibility must remain as our concerns at all times. Even though there are temptations, challenges, distractions, difficulties, or even threats of whatever form, we just go on and keep the spirit. God knows we are struggling and threatened  in life even only once, but He allows us to go on and He will intervene to help when we are no longer able to endure. This at least prevents us from the two bad habits that we often do. First, when we have passed a test or difficulty, we become relaxed, less attentive, and not preoccupied with the things we should attend or do in its right time and place. This would be a good opportunity for Satan to come closer and do his job, that is to tempt us. Second, when we have passed certain obstacle or difficulty, but after that struggling moment another one, maybe bigger than before, comes along and we do not expect it. Many of us have been in such situation. As a result people become discouraged, tired, and give up. This is also an opportunity for the devil to get close and much excited to tempt us. So to overcome these habits of not being vigilant and despair, we need to have one quality of life, which is to go on and keep always the spirit. Let's pray. In the name of the Father ... O Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen our faith so that we can overcome our being insensitivity and easily give up to the problems we encounter. Glory to the Father  ... In the name of the Father ...