FAMILY OF GOD! ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Tuesday, 23^rdJanuary 2018,

Third Week in the Ordinary Time

First reading: 2 Samuel 6:12-15,17-19

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23:7-10

Gospel: Mark 3:31-35

FAMILY OF GOD!

Jesus said many shocking things throughout His public ministry. In today’s Gospel there was a sort of hush that came over the crowd when Jesus spoke about his family. Many who listened most likely thought Jesus was being rude to His mother and relatives. But was He? Is this how His Blessed Mother took it? Certainly not.

What this highlights is that His Blessed Mother, above all, is His mother primarily because of her obedience to God’s will. Her blood relationship was significant. But she was even more His mother because she fulfilled the requirement of perfect obedience to the will of God. Therefore, by her perfect obedience to God she was perfectly the mother of her Son.

Many a times Jesus message was misunderstood. Why is that the case? Because Jesus knew how His message is communicated and best received. He knows that His message can only be received by those who listen with an open heart and with faith. And He knows that those who have an open heart in faith will understand, or at least ponder what He said until the message sinks in. The message of Jesus cannot be argued and defended in the same way as some philosophical maxim can be. Mary listened to those words of Jesus with her perfect faith she understood and was filled with joy. It was her perfect “Yes” to God that enabled her to understand all that Jesus said. Consequently, this enabled Mary to claim the holy title of “Mother” far more than her blood relation. Her blood relation is no doubt greatly significant, but her spiritual bond is so much more.

We too are called to be a member of the intimate family of Jesus. We are called into His family through your obedience to His holy will. We are called to be attentive, listen, understand and then act on all that He speaks. Let us say “Yes” to our Lord, this day, and allow that “Yes” to be the foundation of your familial relationship with Him.

Prayer: Lord, help me to always listen with an open heart. Help me to reflect upon Your words with faith. In this act of faith, allow me to grow deeper in my bond with Youas I enter Your divine family. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen