Monday, July 23, 2018

16th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 24-07-18

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 / Matthew 12:46-50

It is said that every family has their own problems and difficulties, and of course we know how true that is.

It can be anything from inheritance disputes to parent-children tensions to a family member that marches to a different turn.

All these problems and difficulties result in anxieties and worries and it would be very challenging to keep the family together and in such situations.

In the gospel, we read that the mother and the relatives of Jesus were anxious to have a word with Jesus as He was speaking to the crowds.

Obviously, they had heard what Jesus was doing, and also the rising opposition against Him, and certainly they were anxious for Him. It also goes to show that even Mary had to struggle in her understanding of God's plan as the life and mission of Jesus unfolds.

But in the midst of all these anxieties and uncertainties, Jesus has this to say: Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.

Jesus was clear of what the will of God was for Him, though He Himself would have to struggle through the difficulties of carrying out that will.

So we can sympathize with Mary and the relatives for being anxious and wanting to have a word with Jesus and find out what was going on.

But with what Jesus said about God's will, then the anxiety now would be to know what God's will is.

As much as we are anxious for the people we care for, especially when we can't understand what is happening with them, let us listen to Jesus as He points us to God's will.

In our anxiety, let us also pray that we will know what God's will is and to do it. Mary went through that anxiety. Let us ask her to pray for us so we will follow Jesus and do the will of God and be His brother and sister.