Delivered by Novy from the Parish of Holy Spirit Cathedral in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Isaiah 40: 1-11; Rs psalm 96: 1-2.3.10ac.11-12.13; Matius 18: 12-14.

THE NEED FORCONSOLATION

Our meditation today isentitled: The Need for Consolation. An elementary school boy has just returnedfrom Sunday school. He was curious by a single word he had just heard from theteacher at Sunday school. At home he approached his mother and asked:"Mama, what does consolation mean?" The mother found it ratherdifficult to explain in words.

Seeing her son hadjust finished playing, sweating, and was tired, she gave him the cold juice shehad prepared. The boy was enjoying the juice so joyfully and mother came toshare her son's joy. He looked refreshed and excited. He began to tell manythings about Sunday school activities, especially about the content of teachingand children who were very happy with the teachings.

Mother said:"There is consolation for you. You feel so hot, sweaty and look tired. Icejuice is available for you, and you enjoy it. You are refreshed and excited.You get consolation for the difficulties and some sufferings you experience.The child understood and looked very satisfied with his mother's explanation.We all have ever done some acts consolation to others, as well as receivingconsolation from them.

Maybe on manyoccasions we don't feel the need to explain the meaning and characteristics ofthe acts of consolation, but we show them more through our actions. Basicallywe as humans need consolation. Everyone has the right to receive consolation.This means that there is an obligation from other persons or neighbors tocomfort and to concole those who need it.

The main reason weneed consolation is because we always meet problems, difficulties andsufferings. If a person who has never experienced losses, difficulties, illnessand failure, of course he does not need consolation. In this world we are notfree from all forms of hardship and pain. Medicine, accompaniment, moralsupport, closeness, and prayers are all means of consolation. Consolation isdone through symbols, words and actions.

All of these helpsare intended to enable us to endure pain or hardships with the confidence inGod's power to help. God commands us to comfort each other, and He alwaysenables us to do that. The Lord Jesus makes himself an example of being a goodshepherd, who always looks after everyone who has difficulties, illnesses andlost. This is an inspiration for us to always console one another.

Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O most loving Jesus, we pray that we may able to console our neighbors  who are in this moment in the midstdifficulties and hardships. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the HolySpirit ... In the name of the Father ...