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Bonds of Blood and Obedience

Homily of the Day
September 25th, 2012
Food For Thought

Tuesday, September 25, 2012 by Food for Thought

FirstReading: Prv 21:1-6, 10-13
Psalm: Ps 119:1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44
Gospel: Lk 8:19-21

Jesus’ mother and brothers were terribly frustrated because they couldn’t get through the crowd to meet and talk with him. Jesus jumped up, parted the crowd and welcomed his mother with a great hug. That’s what you’d expect, isn’t it? But no, Jesus instead comments, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

Clearly Jesus did not mean to make little of either the importance or the beauty of natural family relationships. Think of his concern for his mother’s welfare as he hung dying on the cross, “This is your mother … this is your son.”

Jesus was simply making use of a very human situation to teach a principle of spiritual living: blood ties and lineage lines do not assure anyone of entrance into the kingdom of God. Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, wondered, it is true, that the mother of her Lord should visit her but she extolled Mary as blessed because she “trusted that the Lord’s words to her would be fulfilled.” The Lord’s disciples are
those who hear the word of God and act on it.

One Bread, One Body

<< Tuesday, September 25, 2012 >>

Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13
View Readings

Psalm 119:1, 27, 30, 34-35, 44

Luke 8:19-21

"DOING THE HONORS"

"He was told, 'Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.' He told them in reply, 'My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act upon it.' " —Luke 8:20-21

If your mother came to visit you, would you leave her standing outside while you were talking with other people? That's what Jesus did. Was Jesus disobeying the fourth commandment by not honoring His mother? No, Jesus was not refusing to honor His mother. He was honoring her even more for her hearing God's word and acting on it, even to the point of the Word becoming flesh in her womb (Jn 1:14). Furthermore, Jesus extended His honor of Mary to include anyone willing to hear God's word and act on it. So Jesus was not dishonoring Mary but honoring her more, and even honoring those who choose to live honorably by hearing and obeying His Word.

Will you let the Lord honor you with Mary? Will you choose to be as close to Jesus as His mother, brothers, or sisters? Will you live a life of obedient faith (see Rm 1:5) in God's Word and thereby receive the intimacy, security (Mt 7:24), and happiness (Lk 11:28) that He died on the cross for you to possess? Get on God's honor roll.

Prayer: Father, open my eyes and heart to obey You in areas where I have been traditionally disobedient.

Promise: "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." —Prv 21:3

Praise: After ten days of waiting for work for his newly-formed business, John began a novena to Jesus under the title of the "Infant of Prague." The next day, calls came in for as much work as he could handle.