GOSPEL MT 12:46-50
While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
REFLECTION
“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Who is my mother? My mother is a special person whom I dearly love. She is special to me not only because she bore me in her womb, but she nurtured me with her love and sacrifices.
I love my mother. When I was little, I loved to go into her room and look at a picture she had on her dresser. She was dressed in a yellow gown and she looked like a princess. In the picture frame there were two pictures one behind the other.The other picture was of her wedding day. I loved both pictures. Mother is beautiful. Not because she looks like a princess, but because of her beauty inside.
My Mother would always take us, my sisters and I (before my brothers) to collect for charity door to door. We would visit the Home of Incurables in New Orleans and volunteer to help bring the people to Mass. During Lent we would walk to 9 Catholic Churches praying as we walked to each church. We would visit and pray at the St. Joseph altars on March 19th and make an offering.
When I was younger and heard this Gospel about Jesus’ saying, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” I used to get upset! Why would Jesus deny that His beloved Mother was outside looking for Him? She raised Him, sacrificed for Him, and loved Him so dearly. But Jesus clarifies His statement, “For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” He was complimenting His Beloved Mother. He was showing us that if we submit our wills to the Father, then we are like His mother and we too are in Jesus’ family, His brothers and sisters.
A mother’s love is special! I treasure my biological mother’s love. I believe that Jesus treasured His Mother’s love. Mother Mary is our Mother, too. Let us pray together that she will teach us to submit our wills to “our heavenly Father.”
Let us pray for our brother Priests to submit their wills to God the Father and lead us to follow them. Pray with us the PAPA Prayer for Priests.
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