True Brothers And Sisters of JESUS
Introduction
By transferring the Ark to Jerusalem, the new political center, David made the city also the religious center of Israel. Always interested in worship – is he not at the origin of the first collection of psalms? – he sang and danced before the Ark. For liturgy is life and joy. It is a confirmation and deepening of life related to God and a new source of strength to do God’s will with love and joy.
Jesus assures us that what brings us close to God and makes us his relatives is doing the will of the Father. This is all that matters, more than ties of blood. This mission was the core and meaning of Jesus’ life and death. Let us pray that his faithfulness may also be ours.
1 Reading: 2 Samuel 6:12b-15, 17-19
David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David amid festivities. As soon as the bearers of the ark of the LORD had advanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. Then David, girt with a linen apron, came dancing before the LORD with abandon, as he and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn. The ark of the LORD was brought in and set in its place within the tent David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. When he finished making these offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. He then distributed among all the people, to each man and each woman in the entire multitude of Israel, a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raisin cake. With this, all the people left for their homes.
Responsorial Psalm PS 24:7, 8, 9, 10
R. (8) Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in! R.
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle. R.
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in! R.
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory. R.
Alleluia cf. Matthew 11:25
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 3:31-35
The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 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.”
Commentary
The day that David brought the ark of the covenant to its new home in Jerusalem is a moment of unmatched joy. He realizes that the true sovereign of this fledgling country is not himself but the Lord. David’s intention to build a temple is thwarted by the Lord; that is to be the lot of his son Solomon. As mysterious as God’s presence is, the ark still localizes the presence of Yahweh, and Jerusalem is its fitting resting place.
The Gospel underscores a new relationship to Christ that comes with discipleship. Adhering to him and his teaching, we become brothers, sisters, and mothers. What was the entire purpose of our being educated in the faith? Was it not to actualize God’s will in our lives? Think of those years of instruction, the attendance at Catholic school or Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD), the countess homilies heard over many years. All of it pointed to the daily task. The Christian life is not complicated, but neither is it simplistic. The opportunities to go astray are always present, but with it there is the master’s voice: “Will you remain faithful?”
Pastoral ministry presents the various facets of life. There are people who have departed from the faith for years but then realize they have squandered a rich heritage. They realize how far they have wandered and want to return home. They do so, and life takes on a new meaning. Other people have never wandered. There might have been mistakes along the way, but they were never far from the beaten path. They have the joy of being the brothers, sisters, and mothers of Jesus. In the words of the psalmist today: “Be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.”
Blessing
Brothers and sisters of Jesus… How much are we united with him and like him? We pray very often the “Our Father” and ask him that his will be done on earth as in heaven. That’s what we pray for, so that’s what we are committed to. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
St Thomas Aquinas – Pray For Us!