DAILY GRACE
September 22, 2020, Tuesday of the 25th Week of Ordinary Time
Scripture: Luke 8:19-21
Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.’ But he said to them, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.’
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Meditation:
“‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.“
At first glance, we may find these words of Jesus puzzling. Does he really mean that those who act on God’s word are closer to him than his own blood relations? Pondering the question makes us ask: what is the word of God and what does it mean to do it?
A favorite movie of mine is The Blind Side. It is the story of the selfless sacrifice of the Tuohy family. This well-to-do white family welcome into their home Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youth. In the process the family finds a joy that only following Jesus’ teaching to “love one’s neighbor” can give.
We are made for the good and noble life. When we act on the word of God, we make the words of Jesus a reality in our daily life. Let us ask our Lord to give us the grace to examine in our hearts how we put the word into practice. In doing so, we become members of Jesus’ family of disciples.
Prayer
Jesus, Word of Life, make your word take root in my heart today so that I may live it out.
Contemplation
“Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105).