REFLECTION/Homily for Tuesday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time26TH SEPTEMBER 2023

REFLECTION/Homily for Tuesday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time26TH SEPTEMBER 2023

Ezra 6:7-8,12b,14-20. Psalm 122:1-2,3-4ab,4cd-5. Luke 8:19-21.

The first reading tells of the rebuilding of the temple of Jerusalem after the Jews who were in exile in Babylon returned to Jerusalem. God wanted the temple to be rebuilt for him.

The temple of Jerusalem was to be the visible dwelling place of God on earth. It is true that God is present everywhere. Yet, in his condescension, God manifests his presence in a special way in his sanctuary.

Each one of us is building a temple for God, not a material one, but a spiritual one. It must occupy all our time, our energies, and our skills.

Jesus tells us in today's Gospel, "My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of God and do it" (Luke 8:21). In saying this, He is calling us beyond our natural families and to be fully part of the divine family of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

These words are not slight to Mary. In fact, these words elevated Mary in her relationship with her divine Son. In addition to being the biological mother of Jesus, she is closely related to her in the spiritual sense because she hears God's word and put them into practise. Hence, she was able to tell the servants at the wedding at Cana, "Do whatever He (Jesus) tells you" (John 2:5). Since she is closely related to her Son as a mother, she is closely related to the Father as a daughter and closely related to the Holy Spirit as a spouse.

Let us emulate the Blessed Virgin Mary that as we hear God's word, we may be able to do them to be brothers and sisters of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May God grant us the grace to allow his words to bear fruit in our lives that will last through Christ our Lord. Amen.