“A crowd seated around him told him, ‘Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.’ But he said to them in reply, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’” (MK 3: 32-35)
We are not only children of God but also relatives of Our Lord, who called us: “brother and sister and mother.” It is so good to remember His words, especially when we feel alone, abandoned or misunderstood. He is always with us because He loves us, and He wants us to be with Him in the best possible relationship.
“Now the ruler of the world will be driven out, says the Lord; and when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms; I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks; yet, though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer.” (HOS 11: 1. 3-4)
We are God’s children and He really takes care of us as His children. He teaches us everything we need to know to go to Heaven. And He loves us the same way we love: “with human cords, with bands of love.” Because He loves us, He knows what we need and how to answer to our needs. In His Most Sacred Heart, we can put all our needs.
“Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord; and learn from me, for I am meek and gentle of heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” (2 TM 2, 11-13)
St. Paul gives us an example of Our Lord’s unconditional love: “If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” We are loved, because we are God’s beloved children, not because we did something which deserves God’s love. This is one of the most certain things in our lives—we are loved because “He remains faithful.”
“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.” (2 TM 1: 7-8)
God gave us a spirit “of power and love and self-control.” Our Lord always supports us and helps us, so we can bear our “share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.” He loves us and knows what we need to properly answer to His calls.
“I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever believes in me will never die.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“‘Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?’ Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, ‘Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.’ They brought one to him and he said to them, ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ They replied to him, ‘Caesar’s.’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.’ They were utterly amazed at him.” (MK 12: 14-17)
From time to time, Our Lord was tested by Pharisees; Jesus’ answers were often a trap for them, showing “their hypocrisy”: “’Whose image and inscription is this?’ They replied to him, ‘Caesar’s.’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.’” When we follow God’s will and listen to His words, we can expect that “our Lord Jesus Christ will enlighten the eyes of our hearts,” and we “may know what is the hope that belongs to his call.”
“May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to his call.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“He had one other to send, a beloved son. He sent him to them last of all, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come, put the tenants to death, and give the vineyard to others.” (MK 12: 6-9)
Whatever God did, He did it for us and for our salvation. He created this world for us and invited us to go through this world and find ourselves in heaven. When everything failed, “He had one other to send, a beloved son. He sent him to them last of all, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’” They didn’t, but we can.
“Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead; you have loved us and freed us from our sins by your Blood.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“He sent two of his disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’” Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready.” (MK 14: 13-15)
The ancient fathers used to see in the Bible, whenever water was mentioned, a symbol of Baptism: “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him.” When we follow Baptism, where we are totally immersed in Our Lord’s passion, death and resurrection, we are naturally directed to the Eucharist: “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” We are Catholic and Christians because we would like to be like Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (in Poland we celebrated this on Thursday this week), and we will go with Him, to present to Him our streets and our homes and to show our faith in His presence. This is how we follow our Baptism.
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. On those who waver, have mercy; save others by snatching them out of the fire; on others have mercy with fear, abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh.” (JUDE 21-23)
We personally experience Our Lord’s mercy “that leads to eternal life.” We have to follow His example and do the same: “have mercy.” When we see sins, we need to answer like Our Lord—“have mercy”; only mercy is the right response to sin, not offense or disgust. He is merciful, not because we are perfect but because we are imperfect. Love is the only solution.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Gospel Acclamation)
