Gospel: September 24, 2024

(Tuesday)

25th Week in Ordinary Time

Psalter: Week 1 / (Green)

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 119: 27, 30, 34, 35, 44

Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.

1st Reading: Proverbs 21: 1-6, 10-13

Gospel: Luke 8: 19-21

Then his mother and his relatives came to him; but they could not get to him because of the crowd. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and wish to meet you.” Then Jesus answered, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Reflection: “Who is my mother and brothers?”

Hearing the word of God is one thing; doing it is another thing. Hearing God’s word is not enough should we want to participate in God’s work of raising his family among us. We have to practice God’s word so that it can change us. The only way for God’s word to become part of us is to constantly practice it. In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ mother and relatives came but they could not see Jesus because of the crowd. Jesus said that his mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it. Here, Jesus is actually accentuating what his mother, Mary, did. Mary listened to the word of God and she acted on it (cf. Lk 1:38). With Mary’s fiat, the possibility of God raising his family among us was opened. We are challenged not to merely hear the word of God but act on it. However, we may reflect first and foremost on the kind of relationship we have with God’s word. Unless we have this relationship with God’s word, it will be impossible for us to be transformed by it. The person who can act on God’s word is the one who already experienced its transforming power.