Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the 24th week in ordinary time, September 18, 2026.
The theme for our meditation today is: The Lord Jesus' Attractiveness. There was a 12 year old boy who was watching an action film and he enjoyed it through following the subtitles given. He was together with his parents. The actors who conversed to each other often expressed amazement or surprise through an exclamation like this: "Jesus Christ" or "Oh my God". This literally pointed out at the Lord Jesus Christ who is our Lord and Master. So the boy spontaneously exclaimed: "Jesus Christ is great, He always plays in movies".
His father responded by saying: "Jesus Christ's attractiveness has no boundaries of time or place. Even though He does not play a movie, he certainly attracts the attention of everybody including the actors. He really attracts the attention of all people." The attractiveness of the Lord Jesus can be compared with the internet that attracts all people in the world of today. Let us consider one element of the attractiveness of the Lord to us. His teachings are always the basic reference for our lives in all times. His teaching of love is a universal teaching that is recognized and practiced by all people.
Saint Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians underlines a central point about the most interest element in the Lord Jesus Christ. According to him, all aspects that are amazing and which attract everyone's attention derive their strength from the truth of the resurrection, namely the Lord Jesus rose from the dead. The attractiveness of resurrection from the dead truly surpasses all forms of power, miracles, and any natural and supernatural happenings in the world. Therefore Saint Paul says that if Christ is not risen and if the proclamation of the Gospel does not contain the resurrection of Christ, then the faith that we confess and build up in our lives is useless. Our faith is just a rubbish.
Our life as followers of Christ must also have an attractiveness, because we carry the Lord wherever and however our lives is. There are two ways we can propose in order to remain attractive. First, our unity or being with Jesus is the absolute standard of our lives. Just as the disciples both men and women followed and lived with Jesus, our Christian vocation is not enough to be registered as members of the Church and we have common spiritual activities. We need to have an active role in strengthening and building up our fellowship of faith. Second, our discipleship is a school and training process in the following of Jesus so that we are able to maintain the attractiveness as Christians. Christian discipleship consists of self-denial, taking up the cross and following Christ at all times. These two proposals are suitable for making us attractive and thus contributing to build the Kingdom of God in the world.
Let's pray. In the name of the Father ... O Lord Jesus Christ, we praise You always for Your light and strength that help us in our journey towards You. We thank You for the special gift for each of us to be Your disciples and we promise to follow You always even in carrying the cross together with You. Glory to the father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father ...
