FIRST READING
Micah 7:14-15, 18-20
Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, That dwells apart in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old; As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt, show us wonderful signs.
Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, As you have sworn to our fathers from days of old.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 85:2-4, 5-6, 7-8
R. (8a) Lord, show us your mercy and love.
You have favored, O LORD, your land; you have brought back the captives of Jacob. You have forgiven the guilt of your people; you have covered all their sins. You have withdrawn all your wrath; you have revoked your burning anger.
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.
Restore us, O God our savior, and abandon your displeasure against us. Will you be ever angry with us, prolonging your anger to all generations?
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.
Will you not instead give us life; and shall not your people rejoice in you? Show us, O LORD, your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.
ALLELUIA
John 14:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Matthew 12:46-50
While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
REFLECTIONS:
Who do you love and cherish the most? God did not
intend for us to be alone, but to be with others. He gives us many opportunities
for developing relationships with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
Why does Jesus seem to ignore his own relatives when they pressed to see
him? His love and respect for his mother and his relatives is unquestionable.
Jesus never lost an opportunity to teach his disciples a spiritual lesson
and truth about the kingdom of God. On this occasion when many gathered
to hear Jesus he pointed to another higher reality of relationships, namely
our relationship with God and with those who belong to God.
What is the essence of being a Christian? It is certainly more than
doctrine, precepts, and commandments. It is first and foremost a relationship
a relationship of trust, affection, commitment, loyalty, faithfulness,
kindness, thoughtfulness, compassion, mercy, helpfulness, encouragement,
support, strength, protection, and so many other qualities that bind people
together in mutual love and unity. God offers us the greatest of relationships
union of heart, mind, and spirit with himself, the very author and source
of love (1 John 4:8,16). God's love never fails, never forgets, never compromises,
never lies, never lets us down nor disappoints us. His love is consistent,
unwavering, unconditional, and unstopable. Nothing can deter him from ever
leaving us, ignoring us, or treating us unkindly. He will love us no matter
what. It is his nature to love. That is why he created us to be united
with him and to share in his love and unity of persons (1 John 3:1). God
is a trinity of persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and a community
of love. That is why Jesus challenged his followers and even his own earthly
relatives to recognize that God is the true source of all relationships.
God wants all of our relationships to be rooted in his love.
Jesus is God's love incarnate God's love made visible in human flesh
(1 John 4:9-10). That is why Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd
who lays down his life for his sheep and the shepherd who seeks out the
sheep who have strayed and lost their way. God is like the father who yearns
for his prodigal son to return home and then throws a great party for his
son when he has a change of heart and comes back (Luke 15:11-32). Jesus
offered up his life on the cross for our sake, so that we could be forgiven
and restored to unity and friendship with God. It is through Jesus that
we become the adopted children of God his own sons and daughters. That
is why Jesus told his disciples that they would have many new friends and
family relationships in his kingdom. Whoever does the will of God is a
friend of God and a member of his family his sons and daughters who have
been ransomed by the precious blood of Christ.
An early Christian martyr once said that "a Christian's only relatives
are the saints" namely those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ
and adopted as sons and daughters of God. Those who have been baptized
into Jesus Christ and who live as his disciples enter into a new family,
a family of "saints" here on earth and in heaven. Jesus changes the order
of relationships and shows that true kinship is not just a matter of flesh
and blood. Our adoption as sons and daughters of God transforms all of
our relationships and requires a new order of loyalty to God first and
to his kingdom of righteousness and peace. Do you want to grow in love
and friendship? Allow God's Holy Spirit to transform your heart, mind,
and will to enable you to love freely and generously as he loves.
"Heavenly Father, you bless us with many relationships and you invite
us into the community of your sons and daughters who have been redeemed
by your son, Jesus Christ. Help me to love my neighbor with charity, kindness,
compassion, and mercy, just as you have loved me. In all of my relationships,
and in all that I do and say, may I always seek to bring you honor and
glory."
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