THE WORD
Prov 21,1-6.10-13 / Lk 8,19-21
[Jesus] mother and his brothers came to him but were unable to join Jesus 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.”
IN OTHER WORDS
In today’s gospel Jesus encountered his mother and brothers, i.e. his immediate cousins and relatives. Jesus as a brilliant Rabbi took this occasion to teach an important lesson to his disciples and the crowd around him.
First, when he said: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word and act on it”. Jesus did not repudiate his mother and brothers but acknowledged the importance of family and blood relationship. He made faithfulness to the Word as a new basis for this relationship, giving examples of his Mother and brothers as good listeners and actors of the word of God worthy of emulation. Mary did not only listen well to God but really did his will when she said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) With humility and openness we can become receptive to God’s word. We become a mother, brother or sister to Jesus when we attentively listen to his word and act on it.
Second, when Jesus started his public ministry, he literally left Nazareth, his home. He detached himself from his mother, cousins and relatives to be completely focused on his Father’s business: to proclaim God’s Kingdom; bring back the lost sheep of the house of Israel; and do his Father’s will, i.e. to take the suffering servant’s role. The Gospel challenges us to be detached from whatever prevents us from fully following Jesus: money, power, prestige and pleasures. I myself nd detachment difficult. The temptation to seek recognition and appreciation, be popular and successful, be materialistic and powerful is always there. It is only by having the spirit and the heart of Christ that we can let go of all these and consequently be committed to doing his will. As Prov 21:3 says: “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacri ce.”
- Fr. Jerome Cayetano, SVD | USC, Cebu City
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
