“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)
“When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you, arise!’ The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.” (LK 7: 13-15)
Our Lord came to us as a Redeemer and Savior. He takes care of us and our relationships. When we give our lives to Him, we can expect from Him a renewal of our relationships—“Jesus gave him to his mother.”
“A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my Body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my Blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’” (1 COR 11: 23-25)
Our Lord gave us His Body and Blood to protect us and to keep us strong in our faith; It is not only a “remembrance” but also a re-presentation of His appearance among us and within us. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we are close to Him and united with Him.
“God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 TM 1: 14-15)
We can listen to this saying again and again and will never tire of it—“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” He came not to blame sinners, not to punish them, and not to condemn them, but to save them—“this saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.” We are not only saved but also chosen to be His children. “Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant.”
“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” (Gospel Acclamation)