A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 8:19-21)
The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”
Today’s Gospel picks up where yesterday’s left off. After Luke relates Jesus’ parable of the lamp, he describes a time when Jesus had before him a great crowd. Someone tells him that his mother and his brothers, or brethren, stand outside, unable to get to him. Jesus’ reply to him seems brusque. Yet, before him at that moment were people intent on hearing the word of God. No one else supported Jesus’ mission and fulfillment as the Messiah as much as Mary did, so how is it possible that Jesus was rejecting Mary and his brethren? A central message of the Gospel is unity, as Jesus prays in John’s Gospel, “so that they may all be one.” Rather than pointing out divisions among those who come to hear him, Jesus has in Mary and the brethren members of a spiritual family united in God.
God, deepen in me the desire to hear your word and act on it. Through your grace, help me see beyond superficial divisions within relationships and nurture unity among people I encounter by acting on your word—your word, which alone is the source of all unity in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Luke says that Mary was unable to join Jesus because of the crowd. Teach me what I need to take to heart: whether I am aware of it, you always take initiative to make your nearness known. In obedience to your word and your Church, Lord, I become your adopted son, confident in your presence.
From the responsorial psalm: “I rejoiced because they said to me, ‘We will go up to the house of the LORD.’ And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” Lord, guide me in your ways today; teach me to observe your word.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.