Proverbs 21:1-6.10-13,
Psalm 119:1.27.30.34.35.44,
Luke 8:19-21) Full Readings
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and CompanionsBecoming Part of God's Family
How would you feel to be a mother of the president? What about being a sister or a brother of Bill Gates? What about a child of the Queen of England? I can imagine that feeling; you can feel that you are the top of the world. Brethren, if you can feel like that with these worldly and mortal people, what about if you are the mother, or brother or sister of Jesus or a child of God?
Unfortunately, if you are not a mother of a president or brother to Bill Gates or a child of the queen, it might not be easy to become one by mere talking or wishing. But fortunately according to today's Gospel Jesus assures of becoming a mother to Him, or a sister or a brother to Him and all of us becoming children of God. This is only possible when we do the Will of God.
Brethren, when we do the will of God, we become members of God's family, mothers, sisters, or brothers of Christ, with one Father, God who is in heaven. Through baptism, we have become “members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19). We share a family name: Christian. As part of this family, we are called to do God’s will and “love each other like brothers and sisters” (Romans 12:10). All Christians therefore are our mothers, sisters and brothers.
Each time we come together for Mass, we come for our family meal. We hear our stories proclaimed in the Scriptures. We pray together and sing our family songs. We affirm that we are one family of brothers and sisters in many ways.
Firstly in the Confiteor, we confess to and ask God and our brothers and sisters to pray for us: “I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned…” Secondly, when we pray The Lord’s Prayer, we affirm that we are children of God: “Our Father, who art in heaven…” Finally, we share the bread of life, our Communion with God, and with one another: The Holy Eucharist. Christ feeds us himself and we become “one body and one Spirit” in him (Ephesians 4:4).
An early Christian martyr once said that "a Christian's only relatives are the saints" - namely those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and adopted as sons and daughters of God. Those who have been baptized into Jesus Christ and who live as his disciples enter into a new family, a family of "saints" here on earth and in heaven. Jesus changes the order of relationships and shows that true kinship is not just a matter of flesh and blood. Our true family is the family of God and that's why nothing should stop us from serving God and doing the will of the Father.
Do you want to become a mother of Jesus? Become a brother or sister of Jesus? If Yes do the will of the Father. We should all strive to become part of God's family by doing the will of the Father which involves a relationship of trust, affection, commitment, loyalty, faithfulness, kindness, thoughtfulness, compassion, mercy, helpfulness, encouragement, support, strength, protection, and so many other qualities that bind people together in mutual love and unity. We have to show love to each other as Christians the way you show it to your mother or sister or father or brother. It's when we do this that we will become true members of the family of God.
Our invitation today is to strive each day to remain members of God's family. If in any way we fail, let us come back with a contrite heart and God will receive us back as Micah pleaded to God to give a second chance to Israelites in the first reading so should we plead for a second chance when we fail as members of God family. Reflect today on how you have lived as a member of God's family by showing Love and mercy to your brothers and sister. Reflect on the whole book of Ephesians where St Paul encourages us to live in love as brothers and sisters. (eg 5:1)
Let us Pray.
O my God, you are our Heavenly Father. Jesus, you are my brother. Mary, you are my mother. Help me to see all the baptized as truly my brothers and sisters. Help me to work alongside them to build your church. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment