DAILY- HOMILY

20 September 2016   

Tuesday, 25th Week in Ordinary Time

Sts. Andrew Kim Taegon, Priest, Paul Chong Ha-sang 

and Companions, Martyrs

Memorial.       Red.           

Prv 21:1– 6, 10 – 13 / Lk 8:19 -21

Sts. Andrew Kim Taegon (d1846), the first native Korean priest, Paul Chong Ha-sang (1795 – 1839), a lay Korean associate, and 111 Korean martyrs gave their lives for the Faith from 1839 – 1867

Gospel Reading: Lk 8:19 - 21

Then his mother and his relatives came to him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and wish to meet you." Then Jesus answered, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."

Reflection

Early in our childhood, we have been taught the value of family and relatives.  "Blood is thicker than water" we were often reminded.  

I remember in the early days of Boys Town, an orphanage for young boys, there is this story of two orphan brothers, (barely teenagers, I was told) who loved each other so much.  Because one was a cripple, the healthier one would carry the other wherever they went.  One day they were at the beach.  The brother was enjoying himself so much that when he saw his handicapped brother sitting by and just watching, he longed to share the fun of the waves, the sand, the sun and the wind with his brother.  And so he carried his brother while frolicking at the beach.  When asked by the warden whether it was difficult to take care of a handicapped brother, his simple reply was "He ain't heavy.  He's my brother."

Such is the noble potential of family relationships.  Love for one another transcends all difficulties. 

Two things strike me in today's Gospel passage. First, Jesus said, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."  He is actually testifying to the discipleship of Mary and his relatives.  They listen and they do the word of God.  

Second, anyone who hears the word of God and does it is a member of God's family. 

This is good news, indeed!  The family of God extends beyond blood relations. Even at his time, Jesus was already preaching "inclusivity" as against exclusivity.  If I hear the word of God and if I do it, then, I am a member of God's family!

Members of the family, as we know and experience, care for each other. We look after each other.  As the orphan boy would remind us, "They ain't heavy.  They're our brothers and sisters."

What am I doing to help my family hear and do the word of God? Who are these members of the family of God within my circle of influence? What am I doing for my brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers in the family of God who need help, who are poor, who are sick, who are lonely?  What does it take to be a member of the family of God?

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     Liao E. Lian

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the special intentions for Nick Lucena and Leonard John Koh

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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