New Relatives

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest 

and Doctor of the Church

~~~ 2 Samuel 6:12b-15, 17-19 ~~~ Psalm 24 ~~~ Mark 3:31-35 ~~~

“Who are my mother and my brothers?”

I used to be shocked by these words
until I learned to see them differently.

Jesus' family did not really fully understand that he
had to go out to the people.
Inside Jesus was teaching those
who would become his disciples...his new family.

Jesus could not rely on his immediate family to be his disciples.
He had to go out to the people. He had to make his mission known.
Those who came to listen to him teach were usually
the ones who then became his disciples.

His family came because they loves him and wanted him to be safe.
Jesus knew that being safe was not going to be
the way of his life.

...For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother.

Doing the will of God is what is required to become a true disciple.

Knowing the will of God is not enough;
one must do the will of God.

We must go forth practicing
and spreading the message of salvation.
Once we have become a disciple we will also
be a part of the family...
the family of Jesus.

Would you have been sitting in that group
 around Jesus that day?

Through his blessings we are in His family too.

Seated in the Circle

~~~ Hebrews 10:1-10 ~~~ Psalm 40 ~~~ Mark 3: 31-35 ~~~

 

 

And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,
“Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother.”

 

If you are seated with those encircling Jesus he considers you a part of his family.

If you are spiritually related to Jesus he names you more than just friend,

but actually his mother and brother (or sister).

 

If you are seated with Jesus are you also willing to do the will of God?

Or do you just want to sit at his feet and be a passive participant?

You cannot be apathetic and be in the company of Jesus.

 

When what we want is congruent with what God wants

from us everything is going well.

But look at what Jesus endured and sacrificed to do the will of the Father.

 

If you think following Jesus will be easy you are not living in reality.

One sure way of making this journey better though is to

give thanks for all that you have received...

for all that God has done for you.

 

We can go through all sorts of forms of prayer

making ourselves appear to be more holy,

but unless we can echo the words...

Here am I Lord; I come to do your will.

we are wasting our time.

 

 

It is our heart that must be willing to let the will of God

manifest itself in our life....

actually through our life in our actions and intentions.

 

Making a commitment to allow God's will to be first in our life

 is a constant act of surrendering.

Daily we must submit ourselves to,

his will in our lives.

Daily we must accept those things we cannot change.

Daily we must face the challenge to become better

than we were the day before.

 

If we are striving to do the will of God in our lives

we will find greater joy.

We will be more at peace with ourselves and with those around us.

The will of God in our lives requires more love;

loving beyond what we think is possible.

 

So we come back to the question...

can you sit in the circle surrounding Jesus and speak the words

Here am I Lord; I come to do your will.

 

Lord, it is only through your grace that we can follow in your footsteps.

Lead the way...but please be patient with me.