25th Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 22nd September 2020 — Gospel: Lk 8,19-21
Jesus’ compliment
In his response to the crowds, Jesus highlights a new dimension of ‘relationship’, namely that of faith. According to him, blood descent or natural privilege is no longer adequate to qualify for inclusion into God’s redemptive family. The key to being close to Jesus or to belong to his family consists in being obedient to God’s Word. Jesus’ mother Mary is shown in Luke’s gospel as the ideal disciple, who practices obedience to God’s word. Therefore, we need to take Jesus’ response as a compliment to her willingness to listen to God and who did whatever God asked of her. This obedience has brought honour to her by giving birth to the Son of God. Likewise, this wonderful privilege of being close to Jesus is also open to anyone who walks in obedience to Him. His brothers and sisters are those who allow God’s truth to shine, who nurture the Word of God and allow it to bear fruit in the world. Since God’s truth is revealed in Jesus, we must listen carefully and obediently to his teachings. And when you follow Jesus everything changes, including the strongest and most natural ties a creature can have.
