Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Monday of the 10th week in ordinary time
June 7, 2021.
Reading is delivered by Brother Noel, SDB and meditation delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB (from Salesian Don Bosco Comunity in Jakarta, Indonesia).
The reading is taken from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Our meditation today has the theme: Consolation Brings Happiness. Man naturally seeks consolation, and after finding it he becomes happy.
However, any available consolation that brings happiness depends on the intention of every person. When someone has bad and evil intention, the way to do things and the goal achieved should be an unkind or an inappropriate consolation. Furthermore, the pleasure attained is a product of carnal or worldly desire, which in that regard is considered as a happiness too. The followers of Christ are not taught and endowed in the Spirit of the Master Jesus Christ to have such kind of intention, comfort and pleasure.
The genuine follower of Christ and the apostle for the nations, Saint Paul, spoke about comfort or consolation as the key point in his second letter to the Corinthians as our first reading today. His highlight point says that consolation indeed comes to us from Jesus Christ in order to strengthen us in all difficulties. We in turn should also share that consolation to others who are in need.
Saint Paul strongly expected that we are to follow his examples and become parts of the entire plan of God’s salvation. That plan manifests itself in the way of Jesus Christ which is the way of the cross. From the sacrament of Baptism, we the followers of Christ have been convinced in our true faith that with the cross we can bear all kinds of suffering until the moment when we obtain joy and victory. This is the content of our consolation.
Jesus certainly does not abandon or forsake us in all our troubles and sufferings in the world. His presence through the Word proclaimed, the ministry of the sacraments of the Church served, worship, devotion and the work of the Church offered, are considered the major parts in the life of the Holy Church that provide comfort and consolation to every follower of Christ. Today Jesus speaks to us and makes us believe all the more that He is truly our Comforter or our Consoler. His word gives us happiness. Consolation from Jesus is only for our happiness. There is no other purpose from Himself than to give us happiness and salvation for our souls.
That consolation must refers also to certain physical or mental suffering from which one seeks God for help. For example, when I was so patient in hearing someone’s complaints or cry, I actually have put myself to be participating in his difficult moments, even though I have not provided any other significant assistance except my being silent and at his side to hear him. I have kept him consoled and feeling calm. He indeed experienced what the happiness was. There are many other practices of such kind that we can do in our respective place and situation through which we may provide consolation to our neighbors.
Let’s pray. In the name of the Father… Through these proclamation of Your Word, O Lord Jesus Christ, kindle our spirit so that we can work wholeheartedly to provide consolation to our neighbors who are really in need. Our Father… In the name of the Father…