July 21, 2015 Tuesday,
16th Week in
Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Exodus 14:21—15:1 Gospel: Mt 12:46-50
While Jesus was still talking to the people, his mother and his brothers wanted to speak to him and they waited outside. So someone said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are just outside; they want to speak with you.”Jesus answered, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look! Here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is for me brother, sister, or mother.
”D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Jesus said, “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is for me brother, sister, or mother.” The immediate implication of this statement is that Mary is twice the mother of Jesus. She is not only Jesus’ biological mother but also his spiritual mother, having done the Will of the Father by saying “yes” to the proposal of the angel at the Annunciation. Normally, one does not need to do anything to perfect blood relationship. A baby does not need to perform any act in order to become the child of his mother. On the part of the mother, she only needs to go though the biological process that happens to a normal pregnant woman. But in becoming the mother of Jesus, Mary did more than going through the process of child bearing. She made the biggest decision of her life to be at the service of God’s plan.
This circumstance of Mary’s twin motherhood opens for all of us the possibility of being as close to Jesus. We can even be closer to Jesus than his blood relatives, many of which did not believe in him. Of this John the Evangelist testifies: “For his brothers did not believe in him” (John 7:3-5). (The terms ‘brother’ and ‘sister’ were also used by the Hebrews to refer to relatives). If like Mary we obey God’s Will, we can even be closer to Jesus than his blood relatives.
In obeying the Father, we need not give up the free exercise of our willpower. Jesus had asked the Father to take away the cup of suffering from him when it was time to undergo his Passion. Then in freedom he said: “Not my will but your will be done”. Neither is it necessary to give up our free exercise of intelligence. Mary had asked for explanations at the Annunciation. But when her intelligence had already reached its limits she declared in faith: “Be it done unto me according to your Word.”
That Mary is twice the mother of God establishes her as sure path to holiness. We may not be doubly related to Jesus as she is, but we can be as close to God if like her we will do God’s Will. – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM . Email:[email protected]. Website:www.frdan.org.
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