Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 396
Reading 1
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You have withdrawn all your wrath;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.”
Reflection 1
Catholic Daily Reflections
Obedience to the Father
“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.” Matthew 12:48–50
These questions of Jesus were posed by Him to a crowd of people who were inside a house where He was teaching. His mother and brothers arrived outside asking to speak to Him. First of all, it should be noted that the word “brothers” in ancient Hebrew, Aramaic and other languages did not necessarily mean siblings. The same word was used to refer to anyone within the same extended family, such as cousins. Therefore, it is clear that Jesus’ mother and some other male relatives were coming to see Him.
Jesus uses that opportunity to continue teaching the crowd about the family of God. He clearly states that we become a member of His family simply by obeying the will of the Father in Heaven. Thus, Jesus’ definition of family exceeds blood relationships to include everyone who is spiritually united to Him through the unity of their wills with that of the Father.
One reason this is so helpful to understand is because it reveals to us our identity. God wants us to belong. He wants us to understand who we are called to be. We are called to be children of the Father, brothers and sisters of Christ, and even mothers and fathers of our Lord in a spiritual sense. We become His mothers and fathers in the sense that we bring Him into this world through our obedience to the will of the Father.
Children, from the earliest ages, want to belong. They want friends, they want to be included, they want to have relationships with others. This innate desire is placed within us from the moment of our creation and is central to who we are. And that desire can only be completely fulfilled through our spiritual membership within the family of God.
Think, for a moment, about your own desire for friendship. Oftentimes when two people are the closest of friends, they refer to each other as a brother or sister. The bond of friendship is deeply fulfilling because this is what we are made for. But true friendship, true spiritual family bonds, are only fulfilling in the most pure form when they are relationships that result from our unity with the will of the Father. When you are united with the will of the Father and when another is also united to the will of the Father, then this creates a family bond that fulfills on the deepest level. And that bond not only unites us with other Christians, it also deeply unites us with Jesus, as He mentions in this Gospel passage.
Reflect, today, upon these words of Jesus as if they were a form of invitation given to you. He is inviting you into His family. He wants you to belong. He wants you to take your identity in Him. As you seek to enter into full obedience to the will of the Father, consider also the effect that that has on your relationships with others who are also seeking to live the will of the Father. Rejoice in the bond that your mutual obedience to God creates and savor those bonds with much gratitude.
Reflection 2
One Bread, One Body
RISING ABOVE PROBLEMS
“Whoever does the will of My heavenly Father is brother and sister and mother to Me.” —Matthew 12:50
Jesus experienced one fight after another with the religious leaders of His day. They fought about the proper observance of the sabbath (Mt 12:2) and whether healing was permitted on the sabbath (Mt 12:10ff). They accused Jesus of freeing and healing a blind and mute man by depending on the devil’s help (Mt 12:22, 24). After Jesus performed signs, they even asked for other signs (Mt 12:38), which Jesus refused to provide on demand, for they were part of an evil and adulterous age (Mt 12:39). Jesus fought round after round with the religious leaders.
We all have people and situations in our lives which present one problem after another. What are we to do? We are simply to do the will of our heavenly Father (Mt 12:50). This may or may not solve our problems, but will certainly make us “brother and sister and mother” to Jesus in a special way (Mt 12:50). This intimate relationship with Jesus will transcend and dwarf our problems. Love will cover a multitude of sins (1 Pt 4:8). Rise above your problems by submitting your will to Jesus.
Prayer: Father, may Your love take precedence over the problems in my life.
Promise: “You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins.” —Mi 7:19
Praise: St. Bridget, a widowed mother of eight children, received profound revelations of the Passion of Jesus and spread devotion to the sufferings of Jesus.
Reflection 3
Shared from God's Word
In today’s gospel, Jesus identifies his sisters and brothers as those who do the will of the Father. Jesus, while teaching the Lord’s Prayer, taught us to call God ‘Our Father’ for we are His children. The gospel reminds us that we belong to a family, with God as our loving Father. While saying those who do the will of my Father in Heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother, Jesus does not deny his family ties, but shows that he came to establish the larger family of God united in love. Establishing this family is the ultimate aim of his mission. Lord, grant us the grace to do your will and serve others with love and generosity of heart.
Prayers
My loving Lord, You have established the human family for unity and love. You invite all people to share in Your family in love. I accept Your holy invitation, dear Lord, and pledge my wholehearted obedience to the will of the Father in Heaven. As I do, I rejoice in the reward of a deepening relationship with You and with all who are united to You. Jesus, I trust in You.
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 neighbour 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 honour and glory.
Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy
Reflection 204: The Calyx of Your Soul
The calyx of a flower is the outer leaf surrounding the forming petals, keeping them safe as they develop. It forms a sort of “nursery” for the tender petals to grow. As they grow within this hidden place, the calyx keeps them safe. And once they become developed, the calyx opens and reveals the beauty within. So it is with your soul. The “calyx of your soul” is a gift from God protecting your inner virtues as the dew of His Mercy gently seeps in so as to nourish the budding virtues within. And when fully matured, the radiance of these virtues shines forth so that the fragrance of grace becomes visible to all who gaze upon this work of God (See Diary #1064).
Look into your own soul this day. What do you see? Do you see sin and corruption? If so, repent of this and allow the Mercy of God to heal it through your confession. From there, allow Mercy to also nourish your inner soul so as to create a hidden inner sanctuary of His splendor. God desires to make your soul beautiful and as He forms you from within, He will allow those virtues to shine forth at the proper time. Wait on Him, let the dew of His gentle care sink in, creating His masterpiece. Reflect upon this sanctuary within you, this day. Rejoice in the protective covering of your soul as God does His miraculous work and be comforted by what you see forming. Surrender all to grace and allow the Creator of all to transform you into His radiant and fragrant gift to the world.
Lord, I thank You for the safety of this inner sanctuary in my soul. I thank You for gently entering in so as to nourish me as You form Your new creation within. May the dew of Your Mercy bring healing and forgiveness to the corruption of my sin, and may it strengthen me so that You can form the virtues that You desire to create. I thank You for Your perfect wisdom and power and give myself to Your gentle care. Jesus, I trust in You.
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