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A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mk 3:31-35)
The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house.
Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him.
Mark goes on to describe the setting in which Jesus’ family comes looking for him. At the house where Jesus teaches, a crowd sits in a circle around him. It is a very intimate depiction of Jesus among those who desired to hear his every word. Yet, when Mary, Mother of the incarnate Word, stands outside his door, how does Jesus respond? He does not ignore her; rather, he goes on doing the work God sent him to accomplish. “Who are my mother and my brothers?” Jesus says, “And looking around at those seated in the circle he says, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Although her Son remains inside and she wishes to speak to him, Jesus is doing the will of his Father, and he invites everybody into that same circle to hear his Father’s will.
Father in heaven, help me remain close to you today, as in the two images from the Gospel: the crowd surrounds Jesus to hear his word, and Mary comes asking for him. Whatever drew them to Jesus in the first place, the crowd remained encircled around him. And whatever particular desire they had, the mother of Jesus and his brothers wished to be close to Jesus in the midst of his teaching. What they both learned is that to be close to you, to sit at your feet and hear your word, is to do your will. Lord, grant me peace from the distractions and anxieties of this day so that I have the presence of mind to seek you out and find you by doing your will. Help me, God!
From the responsorial psalm: “Who is this king of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!”
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.