What does it mean to be considered part of Jesus’ family? Fr Richard reflects on today’s readings from Mass.
Readings for Tuesday of week 25 of ordinary time can be found here.
Family history research has become increasingly popular in recent years as a result of the TV programme Who Do You Think You Are?, and the easy availability of thousands of records online. During the first Covid lockdown I got into my family history in a big way. Just as interesting as going back in time was discovering present-day relations. My grandmother had 31 first cousins, all of whom had multiple children and grandchildren. I started counting how many cousins I have of my own generation but stopped when it got over 200! I considered trying to contact some of them but soon realised, having never met the majority, we’d probably have little in common. I’m much more interested in spending time with friends who I share interests with and who care about me. They are much more like family than a list of names on a family tree.
In today’s Gospel Jesus also talks about two different kinds of family. Like all of us, he had blood relations, such as his mother and brothers and sisters who he is told want to see him. But then he describes another kind of family, a bit like me and my close friends. These are the people who show their commitment and their care not through genealogy but through their actions. Of course there can be an overlap. I have family members I am close to, as well as those hundreds of anonymous cousins. Mary, Jesus’ own mother, is surely an example of one who heard the word of God and did it; she received the angel’s message and then played her crucial part in bringing salvation to the world through giving birth to God’s Son. In Luke’s second volume, Acts, we see Mary taking her place with Jesus’ wider family, the apostles, on the day of Pentecost.
Throughout Scripture there is an emphasis on words being matched with deeds. Our reading from Proverbs today says that “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice”. Here in the Mass, we offer the sacrifice, and we praise God with our lips. Let us take to hearts the command at the end of every Mass, to go out and serve the Lord, as his beloved brothers and sisters.
Mass today is in St Mary’s at 6.30pm.
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