Word to the Wise
Tuesday, September 26, 2023 - Tuesday in the 25th Week in Ordinary Time
[Ezra 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20 and Luke 8:19-21]The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you." He said to them in reply, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it." [Luke]
The perspective of the evangelist Luke, as I noted in yesterday's reflection, is "longer" than that of the Gospel According to Mark. In Mark, Jesus' family is at the door to "seize him, for they said, 'He is out of his mind.'" Luke does not mention this at all. Mark has Jesus saying, "Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." Luke has Jesus saying, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it." The "long haul" perspective of Luke is clear. For most of us "cradle Catholics," the immediacy of Jesus' life, death and resurrection reflected in Mark is long gone. What we have, in Luke now, is the word of God and are challenged to act on it.
Jesus says that if we hear and act on his word we become his family! This is a powerful relationship if we take to heart what he says. We also know from our own experience that family relationships do have their ups and downs. When do we "hear" his word? Only at Eucharist? How good are we at acting on it? This will not be an "in one day and out the next" type relationship. Our baptism makes us members of the "household of God" and "adopted sons and daughters." Again, as disciples and family members to Jesus, we have to be with him for the "long haul" and continue to get up when we stumble. AMEN