“Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him,
he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’” (LK 9: 18)

Luke regularly presents Jesus at prayer at important points in his ministry. Prayer is important for His identity and His mission. Without prayer we can’t properly recognize who we are and where God wants to send us. Like Our Lord’s identity, “The Son of Man” and His mission, is “to give his life as a ransom for many.’

“The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

“But Herod said, ‘John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?’ And he kept trying to see him.” (LK 9: 9)

It doesn’t matter what the reason was—curiosity or admiration—the most important thing was: “he kept trying to see him.” It happened several chapters later (in LK 23: 8-12). He expected Jesus to show power or to perform miracles, but Herod didn’t recognize in Him the Savior of the world. Sometimes we expect from Jesus things different from His mission.

“I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.” (MT 9: 9)

It doesn’t matter where we are, what we do, or what our occupation is; Our Lord can look at our hearts directly, without any obstacles—“he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.” And He has the same message for everyone—“Follow me.” The only difference will be in our response: “he got up and followed him.”

“We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise you.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” (LK 8: 21)

The family of Jesus is not constituted by physical relationship with Him but by obedience to the word of God. We are family with Him not only when we are in Him but also when we are “obedient to the word of God.” Could you imagine how He looks at us?—“my mother and my brothers are those who hear.”

“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Refuse no one the good on which he has a claim when it is in your power to do it for him. Say not to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give,’ when you can give at once.” (PRV 3: 27-28)

There is only today when we can do something for our neighbors. The past is behind us, and the future belongs to God, not to us. When “it is in our power to do the good for our neighbor,” we should “give at once.”

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.” (1TM 2: 1-2)

St. Paul shows us the importance of a “life [lived] in all devotion and dignity,” suggesting that “supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings should be offered for all in authority.” To “lead a quiet and tranquil life,” we need to work on it; it doesn’t come without any effort from us.

“Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable.” (LK 8: 4)

This is a two-way street—Jesus journeyed to them, and they journeyed to Jesus, to listen to Him and to be united in listening. All of us need to listen to Him because He knows what we need and how we should hear the word of God and act on it.

“Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.” (LK 8: 1)

Always running, always traveling, always looking for people in need, “from one town and village to another,” He proclaimed “the good news of the Kingdom of God.” Today we do the same—from one town to another—knowing perfectly well that there are more people in need than we can help, but still we can start and ignite or inspire more people to proclaim the good news, bringing hope to others and mobilizing others to act.

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (JN 19: 26-27) 

We are His disciples too. What would happen if we did the same thing—“take her into our homes”? She takes care of us, she is Our Mother, and she can turn our homes into an environment of life and love. She knows how to do it. What we can do is to invite her.

“Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary; without dying you won the martyr’s crown beneath the Cross of the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” (PHIL 2: 6-8)

Our Lord “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness” to be closer to us, not to understand us more but to love us more. Our every problem and our every concern we can give to Our Lord, and He will take care of everything because He cares.

“We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Cross you have redeemed the world.” (Gospel Acclamation)