Day 294: My Mother and my Brothers are Those who Hear the Word of God and Act on It
Luke 8:19-21
When reading the Scriptures from the beginning, one can see that when God establishes a covenant He grows His Family from two, to a family, to a nation, to a kingdom, and now to the whole world through the divine sonship that His Son has made accessible to us through His life, death, and resurrection. With this in mind, we can understand what Jesus says in today’s Gospel; my mother and brothers are those who hear the Word of God and act on it.
Recall the parable of the sower and the seeds. Some of the seeds are scorched by the sun but others take root; however, shortly after they begin to grow they have no roots or are choked out by weeds. Only the seed that grows to maturation is the one who embraces the Word and perseveres in, with, and through it. His mother, Mary, and his brothers, the Disciples, are examples of people who followed the Word and acted on it. Jesus does not dismiss Mary and the Disciples but rather exalts them to be the models of how people should follow Him.
“Take care of your body as if you were going to live forever; and take care of your soul as if you were going to die tomorrow.”
Saint Augustine
How differently would we live if we knew when we would die or that we would die tomorrow? What would be do to prepare ourselves for the afterlife? Jesus said He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Would we be willing to risk not listening to what He said to His Disciples? Jesus said that if one followed Him that they would have eternal life. By hearing Him and following the rules of the Church we are able to enter into the divine sonship that the Father offers through Him. Let us become brothers, sisters, and mothers of Christ. Let us follow the example of Mary and the Disciples along with the example of the Saints. It is the law that one can experience the fullness of life. Jesus says that He came not to condemn, but to give life and life to the fullest. Let us live by the commands that Jesus gave so that we may become perfected in Him.
Prayer: Lord, enlighten the darkness in my heart. Give me truth faith, certain hope, and perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Lord, so that I may follow Your commands